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- From: cgarnett@amhux1.amherst.edu (Craig Garnett '87)
- Subject: Re: Classic II vs. SE/30
- Message-ID: <1992Sep2.041350.25264@amhux2.amherst.edu>
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- Organization: Amherst College, Amherst MA
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- References: <par-310892131747@mac127.ugadm.nwu.edu>
- Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1992 04:13:50 GMT
- Lines: 40
-
- The Classic II has no expansion slot, while the SE/30 does. This
- can be a biggie if you think you might want to put Ethernet or an
- external monitor on the thing at some time.
-
- The Classic II has a 16-bit data path, not the full 32-bit path of the
- SE/30. This means that the CPU has to expend two clock ticks rather than
- one to get memory values. As a result, the Classic II runs slower than
- the SE/30. Perceptibly so.
-
- The SE/30 has a worldwide power supply. I'm not sure about the Classic
- II, not having my glossies handy, but the Classic didn't, and they're
- essentially the same machine.
-
- The Classic II is lighter than the SE/30. While I wouldn't call the
- construction of the Classic II "flimsy", the SE/30 definitely feels more
- substantial.
-
- One ADB port of the Classic II, two on the SE/30.
-
- Let's see, what else.
-
- Oh, yeah. Novel memory considerations on the two machines. The Classic
- II will support no more than 10mb of RAM. The SE/30 will theoretically
- support 128mb of RAM, but its ROMs aren't 32-bit clean, so unless you
- use MODE32 (see current postings about this) or are using A/UX, you're
- actually limited to 8mn of RAM. Of course, MODE32 is free, so this isn't
- a big deal, really.
-
- Oh, yes. For the difference that is least likely to mean anything to
- you: The SE/30 will run A/UX. The Classic II won't.
-
- The SE/30 was a great machine, but it cost significantly more to make
- than the Classic II does. The Classic II isn't a BAD machine, but it's
- no SE/30. The best comparison I've been able to come up with is that the
- Classic II is the compact version of the modular LC. The SE/30 is the
- compact version of a Mac IIcx. If the price were the same, and I had
- some kind of warranty on the admittedly used SE/30, that's what I'd
- take.
-
- -Craig
-