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Apple Quadra PR.txt
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1992-08-28
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Date: Mon, 21 Oct 91 21:30:42 PDT
From: "[DCGQAL]ST0566" <XB.DAS@forsythe.stanford.edu>
Subject: [DCGQAL]ST0566!Macintosh Quadra
MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:21 AM, EDT, MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1991.
Contact:
John Cook
Apple Computer, Inc.
(408) 974-3145
Apple Macintosh Quadra Line Sets New Level of Performance; Retains
Macintosh Simplicity
New Computers From Apple Are Up To Twice As Fast As The Macintosh
IIfx
COMDEX, Las Vegas, Nevada--October 21, 1991--Apple Computer, Inc.
today introduced two personal computers that represent the
company's largest, single jump in computing performance since the
introduction of the Macintosh II in 1987. The new Apple Macintosh
Quadra line of personal computers are Apple's highest performance
computers ever and deliver powerful technologies made easy-to-use.
The Quadra computers, built around the latest Motorola 68040
microprocessor, are also among the highest performance computers
in the PC industry.
The new top-of-the line Quadras consists of two models--the
Quadra 700, a high performance desktop Macintosh, and the Quadra
900, a high performance, "tower" design built with configurability
and expandability in mind.
The announcement took place on the opening day of COMDEX, the
world's largest personal computer exposition. The week-long show
draws more than 100,000 attendees from all over the world with
diverse computing interests. In keeping with its goal to reach
more people, Apple introduced the Quadra computers here to attract
new customers who have not historically purchased Macintosh
computers.
"Our goal is to move Macintosh into the mainstream of personal
computing in organizations of all sizes. With the introduction of
the Quadras, we've taken yet another significant step towards
fulfilling the needs of customers in large computing environments-
-whether in government, education or business," said John
Sculley, Apple's chairman and chief executive officer. "The
Quadras offer new levels of performance, connectivity, and
expandability while retaining all the ease-of-use features
Macintosh customers have come to expect. With the Quadras'
leading edge technologies, we'll reach new customers who
consistently demand the highest performance from their computers."
Apple believes that the Macintosh Quadra systems will be
successful with new customers in all segments of the market from
business professionals to engineers to graphic designers to
financial planners. The Quadras run virtually all Macintosh
applications from spreadsheets and databases to desktop publishing
and CAD/CAM to file and networking services.
Both of the new models share impressive processing power
(twice the speed of the Macintosh IIfx), built-in true-color
graphics capability for most monitors, on-board high speed
Ethernet networking and improved SCSI/NuBus subsystems.
Additionally, the floor-standing Quadra 900 can incorporate extra
RAM memory (up to 64MB), additional hard disks or other removable
SCSI storage devices (such as CD-ROM, magneto-optical, cartridge
drives, and others) and offers key lock security.
In designing the Quadras, Apple balanced four technology
areas--processing power, true-color graphics, high-speed
networking and high-speed SCSI & NuBus--to address a broad range
of customer needs.
Processing Power
The 25MHz 68040 is the primary performance component in the
Quadra computers. It's the latest microprocessor from Motorola
and features a number of benefits.
The 68040 contains more than 1.2 million transistors allowing
for a number of important features to be incorporated directly
onto the microprocessor chip including 8K of fast cache memory, a
floating point coprocessor and a memory management unit.
Incorporating these features, which are often separate components
in other computers, onto a single chip improves overall
performance and reliability. The Quadras are up to twice as fast
as the Macintosh IIfx, the company's previous highest performance
system.
In a recent performance benchmark study conducted by Ingram
Laboratories, a subsidiary of Ingram Micro, the world's largest
distributor of microcomputer products, the Macintosh Quadra 900
was rated the fastest computer against 80386- and 80486-based PCs.
In fact, the Quadra 900 dramatically outperforms 33MHz and 50MHz
80486 systems by as much as 63 percent. In the test, seven
applications were timed performing a variety of everyday tasks.
Ingram benchmarked the entire Macintosh product family running
System 7 against IBM, Compaq and clone PCs running Windows 3.0.
True-Color Graphics
Both members of the Quadra line share the highest performance
and most configurable graphics subsystems ever designed onto an
Apple logic board. That subsystem delivers up to 24 bits per
pixel or true-color (16.7 million colors) images on many monitors
and provides built-in support for all Apple monitors. That means
that customers can chose from a 12-inch monochrome display all the
way up to Apple's new 21-inch color display without the need for
an extra display card. The graphics subsystem also supports many
monochrome and color monitors from third-party companies.
Customers not only enjoy millions of colors on the screen, but
everyday tasks like scrolling and moving complex graphics take
place more quickly and smoothly than ever before. This level of
performance is possible because the graphics subsystem features
its own Video Random Access Memory (VRAM) and its own memory
controller, which combine with the 68040 to speed up overall
graphics processing.
The Quadra 700 comes with 512K of VRAM which supports 256
colors or shades of gray on the 12-, 13- and 16-inch monitors and
16 colors or shades of gray on larger displays. By simply adding
SIMMs (Single In-Line Memory Modules), VRAM can be expanded to 2MB
for true-color on the 12-, 13- and 16-inch displays. The Quadra
900 comes standard with 1MB of VRAM which supports 256 colors or
shades of gray on all Apple displays. The VRAM can be expanded to
2MB for true-color on the 12-, 13- and 16-inch displays.
For customers requiring true-color on 21-inch displays, there
are a number of third party NuBus cards available now. (Please
refer to the Fall 1991 Third-Party Product Descriptions for a
detailed list.)
High-Speed Networking
The Quadra line features built-in high performance Ethernet
while continuing the Macintosh tradition of offering LocalTalk.
Both networks offer the plug-and-play simplicity for which Apple
networks are known. For Ethernet connections, the 700 and 900 are
equipped with an Apple Ethernet port, a media independent
connecting system which allows customers to use any standard
Ethernet media including thin coax, thick coax and twisted-pair
wiring.
The recently announced AppleShare Server 3.0 software
operating under the System 7 offers both file service and print
spooling while accommodating up to 120 concurrent users. The
combination of AppleShare software, the Quadra systems'
performance, built-in Ethernet, and other features make these
machines easily adaptable for use as high performance servers.
High-Speed SCSI and NuBus
To properly balance the performance of the 68040, the Quadras
needed a higher performance input/output (I/O) subsystem as well.
New advances in ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)
technology allow the Quadra line to offer up to twice the speed of
SCSI and NuBus performance over previous Macintosh computers.
Higher I/O performance means less waiting time for users
because I/O is critical to accessing storage devices and expansion
cards. The new higher performance I/O subsystem is also backwards
compatible so that virtually all of today's hard disks, scanners,
CD-ROM drives, and expansion cards continue to work. Even greater
levels of performance are possible when new, faster devices take
advantage of these advanced capabilities.
Macintosh Quadra Features
The members of the Macintosh Quadra line share many common
features:
-- RAM Expansion: Up to 20MB on the Quadra 700, up to 64MB on the
Quadra 900 using 4MB SIMMs;
-- Graphics Subsystem: Support for all Apple monitors--true-color
capable for 12-, 13- and 16-inch monitors, high performance
graphics processing, additional support for VGA, Super VGA, PAL
and NTSC modes;
-- NuBus Expansion: 2 slots on the Quadra 700, 5 slots on the
Quadra 900;
-- Sound: sound input (microphone included) and stereo sound
output;
-- SuperDrive: 1.4MB floppy with the ability to read and write
other formats such as MS-DOS, OS/2 and ProDOS;
-- System 7.0.1: Hardware-only system software release to support
the new Macintosh systems--Quadra, PowerBook, Classic II.
In addition, the Quadra 900 also features:
-- Storage Capacity: Up to four 5.25" half-height SCSI devices,
two of which can have front panel access for removable media--CD
ROM, magneto-optical, cartridge drives, etc.;
-- Larger Power Budget: A 300-watt power supply which provides
increased power for the five NuBus slots and four internal SCSI
devices;
-- Key Lock: Three modes of operation--on, off and lock. Lock
mode shuts off the floppy disk drive, mouse, and keyboard
operations.
Quadra 700 Upgrade
Owners of Macintosh IIcx and IIci computers can upgrade to the
power and performance of the Quadra 700 with a simple logic board
upgrade. This dealer installed option offers all the Quadra 700's
features including on-board true-color graphics, high speed
Ethernet networking and sound input. Each logic board upgrade
comes standard with 4MB of RAM and 512K of VRAM.
Pricing and Availability
All of the Apple Macintosh Quadra computers and accessories will
be available through authorized Apple resellers worldwide. Each
machine comes equipped with Macintosh System 7.0.1 software,
HyperCard 2.1 software, microphone, complete documentation,
training software and a one-year limited warranty. Manufacturer's
suggested retail prices (MSRP) and availability in the United
States for the Quadra computers and related products are as
follows:
Product/Configuration MSRP Availability
Quadra 700 4MB RAM/floppy $5,699 Immediate
Quadra 700 4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk $6,399 Immediate
Quadra 700 4MB RAM/160MB Hard Disk $6,999 Immediate
Quadra 700 4MB RAM/400MB Hard Disk $7,699 January 1992
Quadra 900 4MB RAM/floppy $7,199 Immediate
Quadra 900 4MB RAM/160MB Hard Disk $8,499 Immediate
Quadra 900 4MB RAM/400MB Hard Disk $9,199 January 1992
Options
Quadra 700 Logic Board Upgrade $3,599 January 1992
Macintosh VRAM Expansion Kit $175 Immediate
Macintosh 4MB Memory Expansion Kit $425 Immediate
(Prices, availability and configurations may vary outside the
United States.)
-30-
Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, and LocalTalk are registered
trademarks; and Macintosh Quadra and SuperDrive are trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc. HyperCard is a registered trademark of Apple
Computer, Inc. licensed to Claris Corp.
END
Apple Press Releases
PR Express
10/21/91
=END=