The discontinuation date of both SE models is a topic that has caused much confusion in the vintage Macintosh community.
The SE/30 remained in production until October 1991. In fact, it was in Apple's sales literature from the first half of 1991 as an integral part of the lineup alongside the Classic, LC, IIsi, IIfx, IIci, and Portable. Check out the sales brochure on Mac Mothership where the Classic, IIsi, and LC are first introduced--the SE/30 is there. This advertising was used until the Quadras, PowerBooks, and Classic II came out in October 1991.
Also, bear in mind that the Classic II replaced the SE/30. The Classic II was introduced in October 1991 at the same time the SE/30 was discontinued.
Many publications list the SE/30 as being discontinued in October 1990. These are incorrect, as they are confusing it with the supposed date of discontinuation of the SE (SuperDrive model). Apple's own literature confirms that the SE/30 was alive and well past this date, as do old catalogs and books (plus the personal testimony of people who used Macs in 1991).
In 1990, rumor had it that the Plus was pulled from production in the latter half of the summer, not in October, when the model was formally discontinued. This would make sense, as Apple probably wanted to clear out inventory of an old model that didn't use the same components as the other Macs in the lineup (namely non-ADB input peripherals). This can be confirmed by the third edition of the Macintosh Bible. Also, the Classic started production prior to its October 15, 1990 introduction date. I have proof of that--the Classic sitting directly to my left has an August 1990 manufacture date.
The SE was also said to have been discontinued in October 1990. We've discussed it on the forums before and have found SEs with production dates as late as January 1991, possibly even a few from February. As Mac128 said in his post, cash was a factor. The SE cost more than the Classic at any time during its run, even when it was being liquidated from store shelves. There may have also been back orders or even a demand from some customers for a machine with the expansion slot.
Neil Salkind's Big Mac Book, 2nd Edition, actually states that Apple was hoping to sell certain numbers of Macs in 1991. The number for the Plus was pretty low, probably to cover old inventory, but the SE number was over double that, making me believe Apple did intentionally make SEs and perhaps offer them to dealers into 1991. I'd imagine they would continue to sell for about the same price as an SE did in Summer 1990, maybe a little less since the model was in its final days. I used to have a 1991 production SE SuperDrive but sold it to a fellow MLAer about a month ago.
Mactracker now has the correct discontinuation date of the SE/30, by the way. I know some sites do not have the correct date, but EveryMac has the exact, correct date (10/21/1991). Ironically, Apple's own site is wrong. They have the correct month and date, but not year. In fact, October 21, 1990 was a Sunday--not a day for introducing or discontinuing products, let alone going to work (especially back then, when fewer businesses had Sunday hours and operations).
This goes to show that even Apple can be wrong about their own products--and that they care little about their heritage, neglecting it so much to report an inaccuracy about one of their most beloved models of all time.
The SE/30 remained in production until October 1991. In fact, it was in Apple's sales literature from the first half of 1991 as an integral part of the lineup alongside the Classic, LC, IIsi, IIfx, IIci, and Portable. Check out the sales brochure on Mac Mothership where the Classic, IIsi, and LC are first introduced--the SE/30 is there. This advertising was used until the Quadras, PowerBooks, and Classic II came out in October 1991.
Also, bear in mind that the Classic II replaced the SE/30. The Classic II was introduced in October 1991 at the same time the SE/30 was discontinued.
Many publications list the SE/30 as being discontinued in October 1990. These are incorrect, as they are confusing it with the supposed date of discontinuation of the SE (SuperDrive model). Apple's own literature confirms that the SE/30 was alive and well past this date, as do old catalogs and books (plus the personal testimony of people who used Macs in 1991).
In 1990, rumor had it that the Plus was pulled from production in the latter half of the summer, not in October, when the model was formally discontinued. This would make sense, as Apple probably wanted to clear out inventory of an old model that didn't use the same components as the other Macs in the lineup (namely non-ADB input peripherals). This can be confirmed by the third edition of the Macintosh Bible. Also, the Classic started production prior to its October 15, 1990 introduction date. I have proof of that--the Classic sitting directly to my left has an August 1990 manufacture date.
The SE was also said to have been discontinued in October 1990. We've discussed it on the forums before and have found SEs with production dates as late as January 1991, possibly even a few from February. As Mac128 said in his post, cash was a factor. The SE cost more than the Classic at any time during its run, even when it was being liquidated from store shelves. There may have also been back orders or even a demand from some customers for a machine with the expansion slot.
Neil Salkind's Big Mac Book, 2nd Edition, actually states that Apple was hoping to sell certain numbers of Macs in 1991. The number for the Plus was pretty low, probably to cover old inventory, but the SE number was over double that, making me believe Apple did intentionally make SEs and perhaps offer them to dealers into 1991. I'd imagine they would continue to sell for about the same price as an SE did in Summer 1990, maybe a little less since the model was in its final days. I used to have a 1991 production SE SuperDrive but sold it to a fellow MLAer about a month ago.
Mactracker now has the correct discontinuation date of the SE/30, by the way. I know some sites do not have the correct date, but EveryMac has the exact, correct date (10/21/1991). Ironically, Apple's own site is wrong. They have the correct month and date, but not year. In fact, October 21, 1990 was a Sunday--not a day for introducing or discontinuing products, let alone going to work (especially back then, when fewer businesses had Sunday hours and operations).
This goes to show that even Apple can be wrong about their own products--and that they care little about their heritage, neglecting it so much to report an inaccuracy about one of their most beloved models of all time.