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Apple Macintosh 128K vs Apple Macintosh XL

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh 128KAppleMacintosh XL
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 19841985
Performance
Processor68000 8 MHz (Macintosh 128K)68000 5 MHz (Macintosh XL)
CPU cores11
Memory128 KB512 KB or 1 MB
Storage–10 MB
CPU8 MHz 68000; maker lists no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor5 MHz Motorola 68000 with a 16-bit, 5 MHz data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor
Memory typeFixed 128 KB RAM and 64 KB ROM, Apple's original SE/30 owner manual Macintosh product-line appendix and contemporaneous reviews. Retained Apple support sheet incorrectly labels RAM 0.125 MB; no built-in expansion, with third-party upgrades described separatelyFactory 512 KB, expandable to 1 MB in Apple's January 1985 announcement; two Lisa memory-card slots using 512K boards. Current support lists a 0.5–2 MB range; configurations retain the original Apple memory options rather than later third-party upgrades. 16K ROM
Storage typeBuilt-in 400 KB removable floppy drive, manually loaded and automatically ejected; no internal hard drive or hard-drive interface. Floppy capacity remains removable-media detail, not main internal storageBuilt-in 10 MB hard disk and manually loaded 400K floppy drive; no internal CD drive. MacWorks versions differ in hard-disk access and startup support; the original revision cannot access a hard disk, while later revisions add hard-disk installation and direct startup
Expansion slotsNoneThree Lisa expansion slots
Display
Screen size9″12″
Resolution512 × 342720 × 364
PanelCRTCRT
Display type9-inch monochrome CRT, 512 × 342 pixels; 9-inch diagonal confirmed in Apple's original SE/30 owner manual, Macintosh product-line appendix; generic maker table 512 × 384 conflicts with its explicit note 512 × 34212-inch monochrome CRT; Apple's model-specific note gives 720 × 364 pixels and overrides the generic resolution matrix. Original pixels are rectangular
Display featuresOne-bit black-and-white bitmap display; no separate text mode, as described in BYTEOptional Macintosh XL Screen Kit modifies the screen to show Macintosh text and graphics with the correct proportions. Apple's current support note states 608 × 431 pixels with the kit. The kit requires updated MacWorks XL and a Macintosh-only hard disk, excluding a disk shared with Lisa 7/7 or Workshop
Connections
PortsHeadphone jack–
Back portsExternal floppy DB-19, printer and modem serial ports, keyboard, mouse and speaker/headphone output; no USB, ADB, SCSI, Ethernet, FireWire or external video. Maker warns serial ports lack handshaking and synchronous modem supportRCA video, printer and modem ports; no SCSI or Ethernet. Legacy ports are retained here because the comparison table does not represent their connector types
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker 16.5 lb and 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth; original units retainedApple publishes 48 lb and 15.2 in height × 18.7 in width × 13.8 in depth; original units retained
Power supplyMaker maximum 60 W, 105–125 V, 50–60 Hz, 0.5 A; 4.5 V alkalineUS specification maximum 150 W, 120 V AC, 50–60 Hz and 1.25 A; no backup battery listed
In the boxSeparate keyboard and mouse; initial MacWrite/MacPaint bundle described by LA Times. Apple introduction 24 January 1984; January retail month supported by actual 29 January LA Times review, not inferred exact first-sale day. BYTE identifies Motorola 68000; support sheet omits supplierMacWorks provides the Macintosh software environment on Lisa hardware. Apple announced the Lisa 2/10 rename on 23 January 1985; the original 1985 Macintosh Office brochure offers the XL through authorised dealers. First-sale year retained because no exact first-sale day or month is established; Apple's support introduction date is not adopted as retail sale

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