Macintosh SE/30

Hardware

Although the Motorola 68030 in the SE/30 supports 32-bit addressing, the SE/30 ROM, like the IIx ROM, includes some code using 24-bit addressing, rendering the ROM "32-bit dirty". This limits the actual amount of RAM that can be accessed to 8 MB under System 6.0.8. A system extension called MODE32 enables access to installed extra memory under System 6.0.8. Under System 7.0 up to System 7.5.5 the SE/30 can use up to 128 MB of RAM. Alternatively, replacing the ROM SIMM with one from a Mac IIsi or Mac IIfx makes the SE/30 "32-bit clean" and thereby enables use of up to 128 MB RAM and System 7.5 through OS 7.6.1.

A standard SE/30 can run up to System 7.5.5, since Mac OS 7.6 requires a "32-bit clean" ROM.

Additionally, the SE/30 can run A/UX, Apple's older version of Unix that was able to run Macintosh programs.

Though there was no official upgrade path for the SE/30, several third-party processor upgrades were available. A 68040 upgrade made it possible to run Mac OS 8.1, which extended the SE/30's productive life for many more years. Also extending the useful life of the SE30 were Micron Technology video cards. Three cards were available, which fit into the SE/30's Processor Direct Slot: the 8-bit Gray-Scale 30, the SE/306-48, 640x480 resolution 8-bit color, and SE/3010-78 1024x768 resolution 8-bit color. With the first, the internal display was 8-bit greyscale; the latter two were used with 13" and 14", respectively, external color monitors, while retaining 1-bit (black and white) on the internal monitor.

Models

• Macintosh SE/30: Available in multiple configurations.
  • : 1 MB RAM, No hard disk
  • : 1 MB RAM, 40 MB hard disk
  • : 4 MB RAM, 80 MB hard disk

Reception

Nick Baran of BYTE in February 1989 approved of the SE/30's performance improvements over the SE and II, stating that the only reasons to instead buy a IIx were the latter's NuBus slots and official support for A/UX. Bruce F. Webster wrote in Macworld in March 1989 that the SE/30 did not "break new ground. It does, however, establish Apple's commitment to the classic Mac product line, and it provides users with an Apple-supported alternative to either a small, slow Mac or a large, powerful one. More important, it fills a gap in the Macintosh family ... a new level of power and portability for the Macintosh community".

In a January 2009 Macworld feature commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh, three industry commentators – Adam C. Engst of TidBITS, John Gruber of Daring Fireball, and John Siracusa of Ars Technica – chose the SE/30 as their favorite Mac model of all time. "Like any great Mac," wrote Gruber, "the SE/30 wasn't just a terrific system just when it debuted; it remained eminently usable for years to come. When I think of the original Mac era, the machine in my mind is the SE/30."

The SE/30 remains popular with hobbyists, and has been described as “the best computer Apple will ever make,” with used models selling for a significant premium relative to other machines of the era. Contemporary PDS upgrades allowed an SE/30's internal monitor to be upgraded to support 256 shades of gray (the only original-design Macintosh to support such an upgrade) or a 68040 processor, and the SE/30's standard RAM limit of 128 MB greatly exceeded even that of much later models such as the Color Classic and Macintosh LC II. In 2018, add-ons and software became available to add WiFi and even make the SE/30 work as a remote control for Spotify.

In popular culture

In the NBC TV series Seinfeld, Jerry has an SE/30 sitting on the desk of his apartment during the first few seasons. This would be the first of many Macs to occupy the desk, including a PowerBook Duo and a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh.

In the FX series It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, the Waitress is seen with a Macintosh SE/30 on her bedroom desk in the episode "The Gang Gives Back".

In the film Watchmen, Ozymandias has an all-black TEMPEST-shielded SE/30 on his desk.

Timeline

References

sv:Macintosh SE#SE/30

References

1. (March 12, 2014). "Mac Classic II, a Compromised Mac".
2. Pogue, David. (1999). "MacWorld Mac Secrets, 5th Edition". [[IDG Books]].
3. (January 19, 2014). "25 Years of the Mac SE/30".
4. "Lowendmac".
5. "A/UX FAQ".
6. (September 2, 1999). "SE/30 GrayScale ScreenShots".
7. "Macintosh SE/30: Technical Specifications". Apple.
8. Green, Doug. (January 24, 2014). "Mac flashback: Original InfoWorld review of the Macintosh SE/30 (3/27/1989)".
9. Baran, Nick. (February 1989). "The Mac SE Takes Off".
10. Webster, Bruce F.. (March 1989). "The Mac SE Turns 030".
11. Benchoff, Brian. (2018-09-26). "Apple's Best Computer Gets WiFi".
12. (1999-09-02). "Micron Xceed for Mac SE/30".
13. Coward, Cameron. (2018-12-26). "A Macintosh SE/30 Spotify Music Player".
14. Warren, Christina. (2015-06-23). "Hulu's 'Seinfeld' apartment is now perfect".
15. Diaz, Jesus. (2009-03-06). "Watchmen's Old School Macintosh SE/30".