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Apple Macintosh Plus vs Apple Macintosh SE

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

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacintosh PlusAppleMacintosh SE
Overview
ReleasedJanuary 19861987
Performance
Processor68000 8 MHz (Macintosh Plus)68000 8 MHz (Macintosh SE)
CPU cores11
Memory1 MB1 MB
Storage–20 MB
CPU8 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 retained8 MHz 68000 with 16-bit data path; no PMMU, FPU, cache or second processor
Memory type1 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 ROM1 MB standard, expandable to 4 MB using four 30-pin SIMM slots; 256K or 1 MB modules installed in pairs, minimum 150 ns; two-chip 1 MB SIMMs unsupported. 256K ROM; standard capacity confirmed by Apple's original product-line appendix
Storage type800K removable floppy drive with automatic loading; no internal hard drive or hard-drive interface. External storage connects over SCSITwo 800K removable floppy drives or one 800K drive plus a 20 MB SCSI hard drive in Apple's original advertisement. Apple support lists an internal range from none to 40 MB; no factory RAM/storage pair inferred for its upper limit. Capacities retained in original units
Expansion slotsNoneOne SE processor-direct slot (PDS)
Display
Screen size9″9″
Resolution512 × 342512 × 342
PanelCRTCRT
Display typeBuilt-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 tableOne-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 generic 512 × 384 table
Connections
PortsHeadphone jackHeadphone jack
Back portsDB-25 SCSI, DB-19 external floppy, printer and modem serial ports, speaker/headphone output; separate keyboard and mouse connections. No Ethernet or external videoTwo ADB ports, DB-25 SCSI, DB-19 external floppy, printer and modem serial ports, speaker/headphone output; no Ethernet or external video
Keyboard and mouseSeparate mouse and keyboard; BYTE describes the keyboard's numeric keypad and cursor keysOriginal Apple advertisement offers a choice of two keyboards
Design and power
TypeAll-in-oneAll-in-one
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Size and weight detailMaker 16.5 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.6 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original unitsMaker 17 lb; 13.6 in height × 9.69 in width × 10.9 in depth, retained in original units
Power supplyMaximum 60 W, 105–125 V, 50–60 Hz, 0.5 A; 4.5 V alkalineMaximum 100 W, 90–270 V, 47–63 Hz, 0.83 A; backup-battery specification unpublished
In the boxOriginal system software 1.1; maker introduced 16 January 1986, discontinued 15 October 1990. Release month from Macworld's historical timeline; exact first-sale day unverifiedOriginal system software 2.0 package; maker introduced 2 March 1987, discontinued 1 August 1989. Original Apple advertisement confirms retail offering by April 1987, without establishing earliest sale month; released year only

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