Photo: Jeff Keyzer / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons · source
Macintosh SE/30
The fast, hackable compact Mac that collectors still adore.
Overview
The SE/30 is the compact Mac that enthusiasts treat as the peak of the form. It used a 15.7 MHz 68030 with a 68882 FPU, a 32-bit data path to a 128 MB-capable memory system, and a standard SuperDrive for 1.4 MB floppies.
Its Processor Direct Slot was a full 32-bit connector, which made it a favorite for network cards, video cards that could drive an external display, and accelerators. Internal 40 and 80 MB SCSI drives were offered, and the audio hardware was stereo.
It cost far more than the Classic that followed, so it remained a tool for publishing, labs and offices. Today it is a popular retro-computing project, often rebuilt around modern parts.
Why it mattered
It showed what the compact Mac could be at its best and remained the ultimate black-and-white all-in-one.
At a glance
- Announced
- January 19, 1989
- Released
- January 19, 1989
- Discontinued
- October 21, 1991
- Launch price
- $4,369
- Chip / processor
- Motorola 68030, 15.7 MHz
- Display
- 9"
- Storage
- 1.4 MB floppy, 40 or 80 MB hard disk
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- Motorola 68030 with 68882 FPU
- RAM expandable to 128 MB
- Full 32-bit expansion slot
- Standard SuperDrive 1.4 MB floppy
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 9-inch
- Type
- Monochrome CRT
- Resolution
- 512 x 342
Chip
- Chip
- Motorola 68030, 15.7 MHz
- Coprocessor
- Motorola 68882 FPU
Memory
- RAM
- 1 MB, expandable to 128 MB
- Storage options
- 1.4 MB SuperDrive; internal 40 or 80 MB SCSI hard disk
Ports
- Ports
- ADB, 2 serial, SCSI, external floppy, stereo audio out
Design
- Dimensions
- 35 x 24 x 28 cm (13.6 x 9.6 x 10.9 in)
- Weight
- 8.8 kg (19.5 lb)
Software
- Launch OS
- System 6.0.3
- Latest supported OS
- System 7.5.5 (Mac OS 7.6 to 8.1 with 32-bit clean ROM)
Expansion
- Slots
- One 32-bit Processor Direct Slot
Availability
- Announced
- January 19, 1989
- Released
- January 19, 1989
- Discontinued
- October 21, 1991
- Launch price
- $4,369
Colors
- Finishes
- Platinum
How it compares
More in the Macintosh family
Macintosh 128K
The beige box that put a mouse and icons on millions of desks.
Macintosh 512K
The "Fat Mac" quadrupled memory to make the Mac usable.
Macintosh Plus
SCSI, SIMM sockets and an 800 KB drive in the long-lived compact Mac.
Macintosh 512Ke
The budget Mac that borrowed the Plus floppy drive and ROMs.
Macintosh SE
A compact Mac with an internal drive bay and its first expansion slot.
Macintosh Classic
The first Mac under a thousand dollars.
Macintosh Classic II
A 68030 Classic: faster, but still a black-and-white compact.
Macintosh Color Classic
The last compact Mac, now with a color Trinitron screen.