Macintosh 512Ke
 | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | April 14, 1986 |
| Discontinued | September 1, 1987 |
| Intro price | US$1,999 |
| CPU | Motorola 68000 @ 7.83 MHz |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM (built‑in) |
| Storage | 800 KB 3.5″ floppy drive |
| Display | 9″ monochrome CRT (512×342) |
| Sound | Monaural, 8‑bit |
| Dimensions | 13.6″ H × 9.6″ W × 10.9″ D |
| Weight | 16.5 lbs (7.5 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | System 1.0 – System 6.0.8 |
| Predecessor | Macintosh 512K |
| Successor | Macintosh SE |
| Codename | M0001E |
| Model no. | M0001E |
The Macintosh 512Ke (often called the 512K “enhanced”) was introduced by Apple on April 14, 1986, as a cost‑effective alternative to the Macintosh Plus. It combined the 512 KB RAM and compact case of the Macintosh 512K with the 800 KB floppy drive and 128 KB ROM of the Macintosh Plus, unlocking support for newer System software and utilities.
Features
- 800 KB Floppy Drive – Double‑sided drive offering twice the native disk capacity of earlier models.
- 128 KB ROM from Mac Plus – Built‑in SCSI Manager support (no physical SCSI port), enabling compatibility with SCSI‑based hard drives via third‑party adapters.
- Educational Edition – Late‑life rebadged as the “Macintosh ED” for schools, with identical hardware but educational packaging.
- Limited Expansion – No internal slots; RAM upgrades and SCSI adapters were supplied by third parties, often boosting memory to 2 MB+.
System Software
Shipped with System 3.2; later officially supported up to System 6.0.8. In practice, many users ran System 5.x for a balance of features and available memory.
Upgrade Paths
Official Apple upgrade kit (US $299) for the 512Ke included:
- 800 KB floppy drive
- 128 KB ROM chips
- Macintosh Plus System Tools disk and installation guide
Third‑party kits offered SCSI port cards and RAM expansions (up to 2 MB or more), addressing the machine’s expansion limitations.
Maintenance
The 512Ke shares its PCB layout and servicing procedures with the Macintosh 128K and Macintosh 512K. For cleaning, capacitor replacement guides, and general servicing, see Macintosh 128K/512K General Maintenance.