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Apple Macintosh Classic vs Apple Macintosh Plus

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh ClassicAppleMacintosh Plus
Overview
ReleasedOctober 1990January 1986
Performance
Processor68000 8 MHz (Macintosh Classic)68000 8 MHz (Macintosh Plus)
CPU cores11
Memory1 MB or 2 MB1 MB
Storage40 MB–
CPU8 MHz 68000 with 16-bit data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor8 MHz 68000 with 16-bit data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor. BYTE descriptive coverage identifies Motorola and 7.8336 MHz; maker's nominal 8 MHz retained
Memory type1 MB onboard, expandable to 4 MB using a memory expansion card and two paired 30-pin SIMMs; current support sheet specifies 120 ns modules and 256K or 1 MB sizes, excluding two-chip 1 MB modules. Older Apple technical library lists 150 ns and 32-pin; current support sheet controls. 512K ROM1 MB standard, expandable to 4 MB using four 30-pin SIMM slots; maker lists 256K or 1 MB modules installed in pairs, minimum speed 150 ns, and excludes two-chip 1 MB SIMMs. 128K ROM
Storage type1.44 MB removable floppy; optional 40 MB internal SCSI hard disk. Original capacity units retained. Apple Australia October 1991 brochure explicitly offers 2 MB floppy-only and 2 MB/40 MB configurations; original 1 MB floppy-only base is identified by contemporary model descriptions800K removable floppy drive with automatic loading; no internal hard drive or hard-drive interface. External storage connects over SCSI
Expansion slotsNo processor expansion slot; memory expansion card required beyond 1 MBNone
Display
Screen size9″9″
Resolution512 × 342512 × 342
PanelCRTCRT
Display typeBuilt-in 9-inch monochrome CRT, 512 × 342 pixels; original Apple technical library and Australia brochure corroborate the explicit support-sheet correction to its generic 512 × 384 tableBuilt-in one-bit monochrome CRT; 9-inch diagonal confirmed in Apple's original SE/30 owner manual, Macintosh product-line appendix. Maker's explicit 512 × 342 note corrects its generic 512 × 384 table
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackHeadphone jack
Back portsOne ADB, DB-19 external floppy, DB-25 SCSI, printer and modem serial ports, and sound output; no built-in Ethernet or external video portDB-25 SCSI, DB-19 external floppy, printer and modem serial ports, speaker/headphone output; separate keyboard and mouse connections. No Ethernet or external video
SpeakersFour-voice 8-bit sound at 22 kHz; built-in speaker and headphone output described in Apple technical library–
Keyboard and mouseApple Keyboard II and ADB mouse, according to original Apple technical librarySeparate mouse and keyboard; BYTE describes the keyboard's numeric keypad and cursor keys
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Width × depth × height246 × 285 × 336 mm–
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailApple technical library gives 33.6 cm height × 24.6 cm width × 28.5 cm depth; current support sheet gives 16 lb. Internal drive affects weight, so no single converted weight suppliedMaker 16.5 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units
Power supplyCurrent support sheet specifies maximum 76 W, 120 V, 47–63 Hz and 0.63 A; 3.6 V lithium clock battery. Older Apple technical library states 100 W, retained as a source conflictMaximum 60 W, 105–125 V, 50–60 Hz, 0.5 A; 4.5 V alkaline
In the boxOriginal system software 6.0.7. Apple introduction 15 October 1990 is not treated as exact first sale; October 1990 sale month comes from Wikipedia's historical model account, cross-checked against contemporary November and February retail coverageOriginal system software 1.1; maker introduced 16 January 1986, discontinued 15 October 1990. Release month from Macworld's historical timeline; exact first-sale day unverified

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