The reason Apple built the Classic line of Macintoshes was to corner the market on computers costing less than $1,500 USD. The problem with doing that is you end up releasing hardware with less performance gain for the price. The Macintosh Classic I cost $999 to $1500 USD, had an 8 Mhz 68000 processor and up to 4 MB RAM supported. The Macintosh Classic II cost $1900 USD, had a 16 Mhz 68030 processor and up to 10 MB RAM supported. Compare that to an SE/SE FDHD costing $2898 and $3900, had an 8 Mhz 68000 processor and up to 4 MB RAM supported. And let's not forget the SE/30 costing $6500, had a 16 Mhz 68030 processor and can support up to an unbelieveable 128 MB RAM (unbelieveable by 1989 standards, of course).
Despite all these machines having the same processors (SE/SE FDHD vs. Classic and SE/30 vs. Classic II), the Classic I and II series were much slower. Here are some excerpts from MacWorld's Mac Secrets, 5th Edition by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr:
Macintosh Classic
After releasing increasingly faster and more powerful computers for several years, Apple released a cheaper, more basic compact Classic model, based on the slower 68000 microprocessor, in October 1990. Why this step backward? Apple was attempting to create a truly competitively priced computer, one that would be especially attractive to new users. The stripped-down Classic without a hard drive listed for about $1,000—a new low in complete-Mac-system pricing that would stand unchallenged for nearly a decade.
The modest price also meant modest equipment. The Classic was only 25 percent faster than the Mac Plus released more than four years earlier. The limited processing power outdated the Classic quickly; it was discontinued less than two years later and replaced by the more powerful Classic II.
Macintosh Classic II (Performa 200)
The Classic II, also marketed as the Performa 200, was the last of the original compact Macs. It runs twice as fast as the Classic and includes a connector for an optional math coprocessor. Unlike the Classic, the Classic II has a microphone jack for sound input.
The Classic II is newer than the SE/30, which it replaced in October 1991. To the chagrin of Mac users who loved the SE/30, however, the Classic II handles most processing jobs about 30 percent slower,even though it’s equipped with the same microprocessor. What accounts for the difference? The data path.
The Classic II is equipped with only a 16-bit data path between the ’030 processor and the RAM chips, whereas the SE/30 provides a 32-bit data path. In other words, the Classic II can move only halfas much data at one time between the computer’s memory and central processor as the SE/30.
When the Classic II was released, it cost about $1,000 less than an SE/30 (which at the time was selling for more than $3,000), making it a good deal despite the slower speed.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo:
Despite all these machines having the same processors (SE/SE FDHD vs. Classic and SE/30 vs. Classic II), the Classic I and II series were much slower. Here are some excerpts from MacWorld's Mac Secrets, 5th Edition by David Pogue and Joseph Schorr:
Macintosh Classic
After releasing increasingly faster and more powerful computers for several years, Apple released a cheaper, more basic compact Classic model, based on the slower 68000 microprocessor, in October 1990. Why this step backward? Apple was attempting to create a truly competitively priced computer, one that would be especially attractive to new users. The stripped-down Classic without a hard drive listed for about $1,000—a new low in complete-Mac-system pricing that would stand unchallenged for nearly a decade.
The modest price also meant modest equipment. The Classic was only 25 percent faster than the Mac Plus released more than four years earlier. The limited processing power outdated the Classic quickly; it was discontinued less than two years later and replaced by the more powerful Classic II.
Macintosh Classic II (Performa 200)
The Classic II, also marketed as the Performa 200, was the last of the original compact Macs. It runs twice as fast as the Classic and includes a connector for an optional math coprocessor. Unlike the Classic, the Classic II has a microphone jack for sound input.
The Classic II is newer than the SE/30, which it replaced in October 1991. To the chagrin of Mac users who loved the SE/30, however, the Classic II handles most processing jobs about 30 percent slower,even though it’s equipped with the same microprocessor. What accounts for the difference? The data path.
The Classic II is equipped with only a 16-bit data path between the ’030 processor and the RAM chips, whereas the SE/30 provides a 32-bit data path. In other words, the Classic II can move only halfas much data at one time between the computer’s memory and central processor as the SE/30.
When the Classic II was released, it cost about $1,000 less than an SE/30 (which at the time was selling for more than $3,000), making it a good deal despite the slower speed.
73s de Phreakout. :rambo: