August 1, 1989: Apple provides the Macintosh SE a storage bump, courtesy of the brand new SuperDrive within the new Mac SE FDHD. The high-density floppy disks the SuperDrive makes use of provide an astonishing 1.4MB of storage.
When it comes to moveable storage, it’s a giant step up for many Mac house owners. The HD floppy disks examine very favorably to the 400KB single facet double density (SSDD) disks and 800KB double facet double density (DDSD) disks in use on the time.
Apple SuperDrive makes Macintosh SE FDHD super-versatile
Launched in 1987, 4 years after the launch of the unique Mac, the Macintosh SE was overshadowed by the launch of the technically superior Mac II that very same 12 months. Apple marketed the Mac II because the first Macintosh to help shade. And, in a transfer that may have upset Steve Jobs had he nonetheless been at Apple, the Mac SE was the primary Macintosh to incorporate an inner fan to chill elements. That made it noisy to make use of, however led to higher life expectancy.
Including the Apple SuperDrive to the Mac SE FDHD gave the pc a critical enhance within the storage division. Along with the 1.4MB discs that had been its bread and butter, it might learn and write IBM-format floppy disks and three.5-inch DOS disks (offered you had the precise software program). Like the quantity of cupboard space, each of those codecs sound antiquated now. However on the time, they made the Mac SE FDHD one of the vital versatile Macs round. It might learn and write all industry-standard floppy disk codecs.
(By the way, for those who’re looking out to purchase a classic Mac SE, the Mac SE FDHD is by far your best choice. Studying or writing 400K or 800K 3.5-inch floppy disks immediately is just about inconceivable utilizing fashionable know-how.)
Mac SE good points a loyal following
The Macintosh SE FDHD attracted a loyal following. The primary compact Macintosh with an inner drive bay for a tough disk or second floppy drive, it was additionally the primary expandable Mac. It was an try at making a Mac for companies. And whereas it appeared a lot the identical as the unique Macintosh, it included some spectacular enhancements below the hood by way of processing energy.
“The Apple Macintosh SE FDHD options an 8 MHz 68000 processor, 1 MB of RAM, and both a 20 MB or 40 MB laborious drive in a compact all-in-one case with a 9-inch monochrome show,” in accordance with EveryMac.com.
A formidable laptop
The Mac SE was one of many first Macs I ever noticed. It undoubtedly took me a couple of years to grow to be a fan. Nevertheless, it’s a pc I’ll at all times bear in mind for simply how far forward of the competitors it appeared.
I’m definitely not alone in my Mac SE love, both. A Mac SE sat on Jerry’s desk for the primary few seasons of Seinfeld, earlier than it was outmoded by a PowerBook Duo, a Macintosh 6100 and at last a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh.
Do you bear in mind the Macintosh SE FDHD? Go away your ideas and recollections under.
