Macintosh 512Ke
The budget Mac that borrowed the Plus floppy drive and ROMs.
Overview
When the Macintosh Plus arrived, the 512K needed a refresh to stay relevant at a lower price. The 512Ke took the old logic board and added the 128 KB ROM and the 800 KB floppy mechanism from the Plus.
Memory remained fixed at 512 KB and there was no SCSI port, so it was an entry-level choice rather than a growth platform. Owners of earlier 512K machines could buy an upgrade kit that brought them to the same level.
The lower price made it popular with schools and first-time buyers who wanted the full Mac software library without paying for the Plus.
Why it mattered
It gave Apple an affordable Mac during the desktop-publishing boom while the Plus served as the premium compact.
At a glance
- Announced
- April 14, 1986
- Released
- April 14, 1986
- Launch price
- $1,999
- Chip / processor
- Motorola 68000, 8 MHz
- Display
- 9"
- Storage
- 800 KB floppy
- Status
- Vintage
Highlights
- 800 KB drive and 128 KB ROM from the Plus
- Lower price than the Plus
- Aimed at education and entry-level buyers
- Upgrade kit available for 512K owners
Tech specs
Specifications as published at launch. Some values (like battery life) are manufacturer estimates.
Display
- Size
- 9-inch
- Type
- Monochrome CRT
- Resolution
- 512 x 342
Chip
- Chip
- Motorola 68000, 8 MHz
Memory
- RAM
- 512 KB
- Storage options
- One 800 KB 3.5-inch floppy drive
- ROM
- 128 KB
Ports
- Ports
- 2 serial, external floppy, mouse, headphone jack
Expansion
- Slots
- None
Availability
- Announced
- April 14, 1986
- Released
- April 14, 1986
- Launch price
- $1,999
Colors
- Finishes
- Platinum Beige
How it compares
More in the Macintosh family
Macintosh 128K
The beige box that put a mouse and icons on millions of desks.
Macintosh 512K
The "Fat Mac" quadrupled memory to make the Mac usable.
Macintosh Plus
SCSI, SIMM sockets and an 800 KB drive in the long-lived compact Mac.
Macintosh SE
A compact Mac with an internal drive bay and its first expansion slot.
Macintosh SE/30
The fast, hackable compact Mac that collectors still adore.
Macintosh Classic
The first Mac under a thousand dollars.
Macintosh Classic II
A 68030 Classic: faster, but still a black-and-white compact.
Macintosh Color Classic
The last compact Mac, now with a color Trinitron screen.