New Macintosh Can Use Other Computers’ Disks
Apple Computer Inc. on Monday unveiled a new Macintosh computer that is faster than its current model and can work with data disks of other Apple computers and IBM-compatible machines.
Another leading personal computer maker, Houston-based Compaq Computer Corp., unveiled a high-powered new computer aimed at the office market.
The Macintosh IIx computer, which had been widely expected, will advance the ability of the graphics-oriented Macintosh to use data files generated on other computers.
It is the first Macintosh to provide a 3.5-inch floppy disk drive that can read and write to Microsoft MS-DOS, the operating system used in International Business Machine Corp. personal computers, and Apple’s own Apple II formats.
Available as Upgrade
Apple said the new computer provides users with a 10% to 15% performance improvement over Macintosh II and runs virtually all Macintosh II-compatible software without modification. The enhanced processing is attributed to the use of Motorola Inc.’s new 68030 microprocessor.
The IIx comes standard with a 1.44-megabyte floppy disk drive and four megabytes of random access memory. It said the 1.44-megabyte floppy disk drive will be available as an upgrade for the existing Macintosh II later this year.
The company said a four-megabyte random access memory, 80-megabyte hard disk Macintosh IIx system has a suggested retail price of $9,369 and a system with a high-density floppy disk drive, rather than the hard disk, is priced at $7,769. Systems will be available in quantity in October.
Apple said the 1.44-megabyte Floppy Disk Drive Upgrade Kit for the Macintosh II will be available from dealers after October, and is priced at $599. A chip that provides upgraded memory management of Macintosh II is available now at a price of $499.
The company said a Logic Board Upgrade Kit for Macintosh II has a suggested retail price of $2,199.
32-Bit Machine
Apple also said it is introducing a new configuration for its Macintosh SE, featuring two megabytes of random access memory and an internal 40-megabyte hard drive, available immediately and priced at $5,069.
In Houston, Compaq introduced the Deskpro 386/20e personal computer, a 32-bit machine based on Intel Corp.’s 386 microprocessor and incorporating Compaq’s Flexible Advanced Systems Architecture.
Compaq said the Flex Architecture provides a high-speed 32-bit memory assembly and a separate industry-standard peripheral expansion bus compatible with popular 8- and 16-bit add-on boards and peripherals.
The company said there are three models of the Deskpro 386/20e. Model 1 comes with a 1.2-megabyte diskette drive and one megabyte of random access memory and has a suggested price of $5,199. Model 40 includes a 40-megabyte fixed disk drive and has a suggested price of $6,599.
Model 110 includes a 110-megabyte fixed disk drive and has a suggested price of $7,999.
