🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <425@yabbie.rmit.oz> rcopm@yabbie.rmit.oz (Paul Menon) writes:
>
>    Concerning the SE,  
>    
>    [[*IGNITE*]]
>
>    * 	Why wasn't the SE based on the 68020?
>	    [Still working on the ROM/Finder/System?  In essence, still
>	    working on the Mac II]
>    *	Is it true that there are 2 clock rates available on the SE?
>	    (8 and 16Mhz)
>		[If so then one assumes this is for a 68020.  By 3rd
>	    parties or Apple or Both]
>    *	How wide is the Data Path on the SE [16 bits?]
>
>    What I am getting down to is...
>	Did Apple intend the SE to be a 68020 machine in the first place?
>	
That's a good question! Software developers  received prototype
machines from Apple which were Mac Pluses with a 68020 processor
replacing the 68000, but running at the same speed as the 68000. What
was the purpose of these machines, really? Were they Mac SE prototypes,
or were they just for debugging software for the Mac II?

My guess is that Motorola can't make the 300,000 or more 68020s that
Apple might need if the SE were based on the 020, and that Apple knew
this early in the product development cycle. Moto would be loath to
second-source licence their premier processor while lesser 68000s are
available from second sources, ergo Apple (and Commodore, for that
matter) are stuck with the 68000 as the processor for really
high-volume production machines.

Both Apple and Commodore have machines out that can be upgraded from
68000 to 68020 in a fairly clean way. Apple, in addition, has a
high-end machine that may be upgradable (via a NuBus card) to the
68030, further stretching its product lifespan.

Apple has, in my opinion, hit the product planning nail right on the
head, given not only consumer demand (pull) but technology (push) as
well. The SE (Somewhat Expandable?) will compete against PC/XTs and in
some cases PC/ATs, while the Macintosh II will compete against
high-end PC/AT configurations, the 386 machines, and mid-range 68020
workstations such as Apollo. Sun will rise above the fray with 25Mhz
68020 machines and other high-end hardware and software, and other
Unix boxes will get trampled in the fight between 386 Unix systems,
Macintosh IIs, and cheap VAXes.

The Macintosh II will be fierce competeition for everyone except Sun
(because Sun customers want Sun's Unix, not some "with Berkeley
enhancements" bogosity). The 68020 system vendors who went with the
PC/AT bus will regret that decision because the Mac IIs NuBus will
yield much better overall system performance (i.e. two disk
controllers running at once will both get adequate bus bandwidth).

Corporate buyers will begin to fall in love with Apple because Apple
will have a wide, compatible range of products that won't soon be
obsolete. Meanwhile IBM thrashes around with the 286 vs. 386 operating
system decision, the window system problem, and the 386 vs. PC/RT
product planning problem.

But hey, NeXT Inc. could turn the world upside down next week.

Have fun,
-Zigurd