April 14, 1986: The “low-cost” Macintosh 512Ke brings {hardware} upgrades — and a little bit of confusion — to the low finish of the Mac lineup.
The Mac 512Ke is an “enhanced” (therefore the “e”) mannequin of the Mac 512K. The improve addresses complaints that the unique Mac lacked sufficient reminiscence. The 512Ke provides a double-density 800KB floppy drive and a 128KB ROM to the Mac 512K formulation.
Macintosh 512Ke: A ‘low-cost’ Mac. Kind of.
The fourth Mac mannequin launched, the Macintosh 512Ke served as a lower-cost different to the Macintosh Plus, which shipped three months earlier. Whereas the Mac Plus value $2,599 when it launched (the equal of greater than $7,100 at present), the Mac 512Ke value $1,999 (the equal of a still-not-exactly-cheap $5,500 in 2023).
Patrons of the Mac 512Ke may commerce of their machine for a Mac Plus for a one-off cost of $799. Nevertheless, that meant they might pay greater than if they simply purchased a Mac Plus outright.
For his or her cash, Mac 512Ke patrons acquired an 8MHz 68000 processor (the identical as the sooner Macs), 512k of RAM and that 800KB floppy, however no onerous drive. This got here packaged in a beige (at first) all-in-one case, with a 9-inch monochrome show. It shipped with Mac OS System 3.0, however may very well be upgraded to assist System 6.0.8.
Though Steve Jobs was already out of Apple, the Macintosh 512Ke retained his philosophy that Macs shouldn’t be expandable. Apple was already shifting away from this stance with its higher-end computer systems, for the reason that Mac Plus allowed reminiscence growth.
The Mac 512Ke got here with no memory-expansion slots. Nevertheless, it was among the many first Macs (perhaps even the primary?) that may very well be used as an AppleShare server.
Mac 512Ke: What’s in a reputation?
As older Apple followers may keep in mind, the corporate’s product line names may show complicated. The identical Macs typically acquired completely different names relying on the gross sales outlet. As somebody whose early reminiscences of Apple come from the Nineties, I all the time related this naming oddity with that decade. The Nineteen Eighties loved easy product names just like the Macintosh SE and Macintosh II.
The truth is, this “Right this moment in Apple historical past” decide exhibits that Apple’s unlucky naming conference started comparatively early within the Mac’s lifespan. Whereas common U.S. prospects purchased this machine because the Macintosh 512Ke, Apple additionally offered the pc to the training market because the Macintosh ED. That model got here with a Mac Plus prolonged keyboard.
That very same mannequin, full with Mac Plus prolonged keyboard, additionally offered to non-education prospects exterior the USA underneath the title Macintosh 512K/800.
Extra confusion: Mac 512Ke will get a face-lift
So as to add one last complication for Mac completists, in 1987 Apple gave the Macintosh 512Ke an aesthetic face-lift by switching to the Platinum colour scheme. That meant altering the 512Ke’s entrance bezel to that of the Macintosh Plus. However the internals and title remained the identical.
Apple finally canceled the pc in September 1987.
Do you keep in mind the Macintosh 512Ke? Depart your feedback beneath.
