<%=————————————————————————-=%> <%=–=%> The Macintosh II <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=–=%> Presented by <%=–=%> <%=–=%> The Dragons Den BBS/Cat-Fur/AE <%=–=%> <%=–=%> (617) 922-1917 <%=–=%> <%=–=%> March 2, 1987 <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=–=%> Written by <%=–=%> <%=–=%> The Dragonslayer <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=–=%> <%=————————————————————————-=%>
Powerful Open Macintosh Expands Applications
AppleWorld, Los Angeles, California, March 2, 1987. Apple Computer, Inc.
today introduced a high-performence, open architecture member of the Macintosh personal computer family, the Macintosh II. The new Macintosh offers users high speed, expansion and fleibility. It modular design and open architecture permit a number of display options, including color displays, and th ability to incorporate add-in cards from Apple and third party for additional functionality.
This top-of-the-line model is intended for advanced applications in business,
desktop publishing, higher education and engineering enviroments.
"Because of its power and expandability, The Macintosh II strengthens Apple's
position in markets in which we are already participating and extends the Macintosh personal computer family into new markets," said William V. Campbell, executive vice president U.S. Sales and Marketing.
At introduction, the Macintosh II operates most existing Macintosh
applications up to 4 times faster than the Macintosh Plus. The Macintosh II offers upward compatability with the majority of existing applications. Apple is working closely with third-party hardware and software developers to ensure that a wide range of software, peripherals and add-on cards are developed to take full advantage of the advanced features of te Macintosh II.
Macintosh II Specifications
The Macintosh II is based on the 32-bit Motorola 68020 microprecessor
operating at 16 megaherta (MHz). It includes a floating point arithmetic chip, the 68881, that can perform mathematical operations up to 200 times faster then the 68020. These features let the Macintosh II process at a speed of 2 million instructions per second (2 MIPS). The Macintosh II also features transfer rates greater then 1 megabyte(MB) per second over its Small Computer Systems Interface(SCSI) interface.
The Macintosh II come standard with 1 MB of random-access memory(RAM),
expandable to 8 MB on the logic board. Additional RAM expansion of up to 1.5 gigabytes(GB) can be achived with add-in boards.
The Macintosh II provides Macintosh Plus-compatable ports for a SCSI
connection, two RS-422 serial ports, an external SCSI disk drive interface and a sound port with four-voice stereo capability. Like all Macintoh computers, the Macintosh II has the AppleTalk network built in.
In addition, the Macintosh II includes six slots that use the
high-performance NuBus protocols. NuBus is a processor-independent, industry standard bus that supports 8-, 16- 32-bit data paths. It permits the fast transferof large quantities of data between add-on cards and he logic board. NuBus features fair arbitration and geographical addressing. Te two characteristics let the add-on cards "identify" themselves so, unlike other computer systems thereis no need to set dip switches to configurethe ystem. Because NuBus lets add-in cards be placed in any slot, thre is exceptional flexibility and ease associated with system configuration. Th six slots let the Macintosh II operate a wide range of performance-driven, deanding applicatons and expand as users' needs expand.
The video interface is provided by the Macintosh II video card which fits in
one of the slots. The card can drive either of the high-resolution monitors introduced today. In its standard configuration, the card can simultaneously generate 16 colors or shades of gray from a standard palette of more than 16 million colors. With the addition of the Macintosh II video Card Expansion Kit, the card can generate up to 256 colors or shades of gray from te same palette.
Users may choose a 12-inch, high-resolution, monochrome monitor or a 13-inch,
high-resolution red-green-blue(RGB) color monitor. Both display units feature 640 x 480 pixel resolution and utilize an analog input format. This formatlets the monochrome monitor display millions of gray values and he color monitor display millions of colors or gray values.
The monochrome monitor, which is capable of displaying the full width and
over half the length of a page, suits a need in productivity applications such as word processing, spreadsheets and business graphics.
The RGB monitor combines the full-width viewing area with te unique
capability of displaying high-resolution text and graphics in both colorand black-and-white. This provides the Macintosh II user with a versatile, high-performance monitor capable of satisfying a broad spectrum of user needs from word processing to advanced graphics. A tilt-and-swivel monitor stand is available as an option for the high-resolution monitors. Users can configure the Macintosh II with multiple monitors by adding video cards in slots. Various monitors and video cards are also available from third parties. The Macintosh II also includes the Apple Desktop Bus(ADB) standard interface for input peripherals. ADB is also used on the Macintosh SE as well as the Apple gs. The ADB lets users connect up to 16 input devices concurrently, including such peripherals as a keyboard, mouse or graphics tablet. Users may also choose from two Apple keyboards: the Apple Keyboard includes a typewriter style layout, a numeric keypad and cursor keys: and the Apple Extended Keyboard includes the numeric keypad, function keys and special purpose keys for sing alternative operating systems, such as MS-DOS or terminal emulation programs. Keyboards are packaged and sold separately. The Macintosh II can internally accomodate, simultaneously, up to two 800 kilobyte(KB) floppy disk drives and one 20, 40, 80 MB hard disk. Both the 40 and 80 MB hard disks feature a very fast access time of less then 30 milliseconds(ms). In addition, up to six storage devices can be daisy-chained through the external SCSI port. For those users who want to back up critical data from thier hard disks, Apple also introduced an optional SCSI 40 MB tape backup unit, which provides file and image backup on preformatted, one-quarter-inch tpae cartridges. Apple also introduced the Apple EtherTalk interface Card, which provides direct connectivity to Ethernet networks for the Macintosh II. Apple will support AppleTalk network architecture and A/UX (Apple's UNIX product) networking software enviroment for use with the EtherTalk Card. Third party vendors are expected to provide software support allowing connectivity to other enviroments. The EtherTalk product will be available in the second half of 1987. Alternative Operating Enviroments A/UX, a version of AT&T UNIX Apple also announced today that it will offer a version of the UNIX operating system for the Macintosh II. This operating system is widely used in universities, in government and by technical professionals. An optional Motorola 68851 paged memory management unit (PMMU) is required for A/UX and will be available from Apple. Unisoft Systems developed a significant portion of A/UX under contract with Apple. A/UX is a full implementation of the AT&T UNIX, System V, Release 2 Version 2 operating system and includes features from Berkeley's 4.2 BSD version. The featurs incorporated from 4.2 BSD provide easy portability of programs from 4.2 BSD to A/UX and andvanced communications capabilities. A Macintosh II running A/UX offers the tradidional user interface of a UNIX operating system: a high-powered command line interpreter. Standard UNIX System V applications can be easily ported to A/UX. Additionally, a key enhancement from Apple lets A/UX developers have full access to the Macintosh Toolbox. A/UX applications can therefore have the complete look and feel of Macintosh programs. New applications, properly designed, can operate in both enviroments. A/UX also offers, through add-in cards, connections to Ethernet, AppleTalk and serial communications networks using standard UNIX communications and electronic mail systems. It can also act as a server or a client on a Sun Microsystems Network File Systems (NFS) Ethernet network. The Apple EtherTalk Interface Card provides direct connectivity to Ethernet networks for the Macintosh II. A/UX is expected to ship this sumer. Pricing and licensing will be announced in May. MS-DOS Apple's goal is to provide data file inter-change with other operating systems, to provide MS-DOS data file compatability, Apple is introducing InterFile, file transfer software, a 5.25-inch MS-DOS floppy disk drive and drive controler cards. In addition, MS-DOS coprocessor cards for te Macintosh II and the Macintosh SE are available from third parties. For example, users who purchase the 5.25-inch drive and controler card from Apple can read in a Lotus 1-2-3 data file so it can be used in a spreadsheet program, such as Microsoft Excel, on the Macintosh. Or, users who choose a coprocessor card from a third party can run dBase III or Lotus 1-2-3 in a window on the Macintosh screen. International Models Apple is Simultaneously introducing the Macintosh II available in 15 localized versions in 10 different languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Flemish, Norwegian, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish and Italian. The Macintosh II features a universal power supply that permits operation with all common voltage. Price and Availablity The Macintosh II will be available in May in two configurations in a new platinum color: a basic system, including 1 MB of RAM and one 800KB floppy disk drive is offeredat a suggested retail price of $3,898, inclusing keyboard; a second configuration, including 1 MB of RAM, one 800KB floppy disk drive and one 40 MB internal SCSI hard disk is listed at a suggested retail price of $5,498, inclusing keyboard. Many of the other products introduced today are available as options for the Macintosh II. Macintosh Technology Macintosh personal computer technology – manfested by ease of use, graphics and unique functionality – features a very high level of software consistancy and tight intergration across all applications, resulting in low requirements for user support and training. These attributes have contributed to the widespread acceptance of the Macintosh personal computer family accross all sizes of business and in higher education and has increased momentum by third-party developers over the past year. Over one million Macintosh computers handle business, education and consumer applications. Call These fine boards. Dragons Den……………….(617) 922-1917 Capital Connection…………(916) 448-3402 Capital Connection ][………(716) 473-8051