lemke@apple.com (Steve Lemke) (10/16/90)
Just in case this hasn't been posted yet, I saw this on AppleLink: For Immediate Release Contact: Jackie Promes Apple Computer, Inc. (408) 974-3609 Apple Offers Customer-Valued Features in $999 Macintosh FREMONT, California--October 15, 1990--Today, Apple Computer, Inc. brings the advantages of Macintosh personal computing to more first-time business, education and home computer customers by offering full Macintosh functionality at only $999 suggested retail price. The Apple Macintosh Classic personal computer is the lowest cost Macintosh yet and incorporates the most popular features of the company's best-selling Macintosh SE. To offer these features at the lowest possible price, the internal components were completely redesigned. Outwardly, the Classic is an updated version of the traditional all-in-one Macintosh. Apple not only improved the performance, but kept the standard built-in features and small, transportable design. The result is a complete system that offers customers the most affordable Macintosh computer. "We've opened new doors to the Macintosh standard of computing by pricing the Classic within reach of many more people," said Randy Battat, Apple's vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "We know that for some, price has been an obstacle. The Classic offers customers all the most popular, trademark characteristics of Macintosh at a price many more people can afford." Macintosh Classic Features The Macintosh Classic retains all of the most-valued advantages associated with Macintosh computers, such as unparalleled ease-of-use and consistency between thousands of applications. In addition, the Macintosh Classic computer includes the following features: - Improved system performance: The Macintosh Classic performs 30 percent faster than the Macintosh Plus, offering customers a more responsive system. - Optional internal hard disk: A 40-megabyte (MB) hard disk drive provides customers with ample storage for their files and applications, further improving system performance. - High-capacity removable storage: The Apple SuperDrive, a 1.44MB, 3.5-inch floppy disk drive provides customers with almost twice the storage capacity of 800K disk drives and allows users to conveniently transfer data files between Macintosh, OS/2, MS-DOS, and Apple II ProDOS systems. - Easy memory expansion: Customers can add up to 4MB of random-access-memory (RAM) to the Classic without having to remove their existing memory. And, as with every Macintosh since 1984, the Classic has numerous built-in capabilities. These features include AppleTalk networking, which allows customers to easily connect their systems to users, printers and file servers; Small Computer System Interface (SCSI), which lets customers connect such peripherals as CD-ROM drives, external hard disks and scanners; Apple Desktop Bus (ADB), which gives customers a standard way to connect keyboards, mice, trackballs, modems, and graphics tablets; and sound output lets customers play back voice messages and sounds. Classic Design Apple's lowest cost product design, the Macintosh Classic combines a 9-inch monochrome monitor, optional hard drive, and all other necessary components into a small, affordable and easy-to-transport configuration. Students will enjoy the small footprint because they can easily move the Classic from campus to home, or from the library back to the dormitory room. Transportability is also a benefit for professionals who occasionally need to move to a different job site or take a computer home for the evening or weekend. Configurations The Macintosh Classic will be offered in two models: The Macintosh Classic 1/SuperDrive has 1MB of RAM and a built-in SuperDrive floppy disk drive. The Macintosh Classic 2/40 has 2MB of RAM, a SuperDrive floppy disk drive and internal 40MB hard disk drive. Both configurations come standard with a keyboard, mouse, complete documentation, Macintosh System Software, HyperCard 2.0 software, training disks, and a one-year limited warranty. As with all Macintosh computers, the Macintosh Classic will run System 7.0, Apple's next major release of the Macintosh operating system. Pricing and Availability The Macintosh Classic is available in volume worldwide through all authorized Apple resellers. Manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP) on the Macintosh Classic and memory expansion card are as follows: Product MSRP Availability - Macintosh Classic 1MB RAM/SuperDrive Floppy $999 Immediate - Macintosh Classic 2MB RAM/40MB Hard Disk $1,499 Immediate - Macintosh Classic Memory Expansion Card $149 Immediate (Prices and configurations may vary outside the United States.) -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, AppleTalk, HyperCard and ProDOS are registered trademarks; SuperDrive and Apple Desktop Bus are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Classic is a registered trademark used under license by Apple Computer, Inc. -- ----- Steve Lemke, Engineering Quality Assurance, Radius Inc., San Jose ----- ----- Reply to: lemke@radius.com (Note: NEW domain-style address!!) -----