# Macintosh SE/30 Home Computer > personal computer by Applie, Inc., in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York **Wikidata**: [Q109796958](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109796958) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/macintosh-se-30-home-computer ## Summary The Macintosh SE/30 Home Computer is a personal computer manufactured by Apple Inc. that is currently held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It represents a significant piece of technological and design history, exemplifying Apple's contributions to personal computing and industrial design during the late 1980s. ## Key Facts - **Name**: Macintosh SE/30 Home Computer - **Manufacturer**: Apple Inc. - **Creator**: Apple Inc. - **Collection**: Museum of Modern Art, New York - **Inventory Number**: 964.2010.a-c - **Museum of Modern Art Work ID**: 142219 - **Instance Of**: Macintosh SE/30 - **Wikidata Description**: personal computer by Apple, Inc., in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York - **Location**: Museum of Modern Art - **Wikimedia Project**: WikiProject Applied arts/Industrial design (on focus list) ## FAQs ### Q: What is the Macintosh SE/30 Home Computer? A: The Macintosh SE/30 is a personal computer manufactured by Apple Inc. It is notable for being part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, recognizing its significance in industrial design and computing history. ### Q: Who manufactured the Macintosh SE/30? A: The Macintosh SE/30 was manufactured by Apple Inc., the American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs. ### Q: Where can the Macintosh SE/30 be seen? A: The Macintosh SE/30 is part of the Museum of Modern Art's collection in New York City. It has an inventory number of 964.2010.a-c and a museum work ID of 142219. ### Q: Why is the Macintosh SE/30 considered historically significant? A: The Macintosh SE/30 represents a pivotal moment in personal computing and industrial design. Its inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art's collection acknowledges its design excellence and its role in the evolution of personal computers. Apple Inc. itself is recognized as a central company in the global technology sector and is known for its pioneering work in personal computing with the Mac family of computers. ## Why It Matters The Macintosh SE/30 Home Computer matters because it represents the intersection of technological innovation and exceptional industrial design. Its presence in the Museum of Modern Art's collection places it among the most significant works of 20th-century design, acknowledging that personal computers are not merely functional devices but also cultural artifacts that shape how we live and work. Apple Inc., the creator of the Macintosh SE/30, has been instrumental in the rise of personal computing. The company was the first publicly traded U.S. company to achieve a market capitalization of $1 trillion in 2018, later surpassing $2 trillion and $3 trillion, demonstrating the lasting impact of Apple's innovations on the global economy. The Mac family of computers, which includes the SE/30, has been a cornerstone of Apple's product lineup since the company's founding. The Macintosh SE/30 specifically represents a period when Apple was establishing its identity in the personal computer market. The company's focus on product design and user experience, encapsulated by its motto "Think different," has had a profound impact on industry standards and consumer expectations. By creating tightly integrated ecosystems of hardware and software, Apple shaped how millions of people communicate, work, and consume media. For collectors, technologists, and design enthusiasts, the Macintosh SE/30 serves as a tangible connection to computing history. Its museum placement recognizes that the evolution of personal computers is not just a technical story but a design story—one where aesthetics and functionality converge to create products that become part of our cultural heritage. ## Notable For - **Museum Recognition**: Held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, one of the world's most prestigious modern art institutions - **Design Excellence**: Part of WikiProject Applied arts/Industrial design, recognizing its significance in industrial design history - **Apple Heritage**: Represents the Macintosh line that defined Apple's personal computer business - **Cultural Artifact**: Documented with its own museum inventory number (964.2010.a-c) and work ID (142219) - **Historical Significance**: Embodies Apple's pioneering role in making personal computers accessible to mainstream consumers ## Body ### Manufacturer and Creator The Macintosh SE/30 was manufactured by Apple Inc., an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California. Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Wozniak, Ronald Wayne, and Steve Jobs in Los Altos, California. The company was officially incorporated on January 3, 1977. Apple Inc. operates primarily in the information technology, consumer electronics, and software industries. Its business includes the development and sale of computer hardware, software, and digital distribution services. The company is known for its distinctive product design and marketing, establishing a powerful and recognizable global brand. Apple's primary product areas are computer hardware and software, with the Mac family of personal computers being one of its flagship product lines. ### Collection and Museum Presence The Macintosh SE/30 is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City. The museum, located at 11 West 53rd Street in Manhattan, is one of the largest and most influential museums of modern art in the world. Its collection includes works spanning virtually every media—painting, sculpture, photography, photography, film, architecture, design, and drawings and prints. The computer carries the inventory number 964.2010.a-c and has been assigned the museum work ID 142219. Its inclusion in the MoMA collection recognizes the Macintosh SE/30 as a significant work of industrial design, not merely a functional computing device. This placement acknowledges that personal computers have become integral to modern life and deserve recognition alongside other designed objects that shape our environment. The computer is also recognized by Wikimedia projects, being on the focus list for WikiProject Applied arts/Industrial design. This indicates that it is considered a noteworthy example of applied arts and industrial design worthy of documentation and preservation in the digital commons. ### Historical Context The Macintosh SE/30 was released during a pivotal period in Apple's history and in the broader personal computer industry. Apple was instrumental in the rise of the personal computer, and the Mac family represented the company's flagship computing platform during this era. Apple's CEO history during the development and release of the Macintosh SE/30 includes Steve Jobs (1997–2011), though the SE/30 predates Jobs' return to the company. The earlier leadership included Michael Scott (1977–1981), Mike Markkula (1981–1983), John Sculley (1983–1993), Michael Spindler (1993–1996), and Gil Amelio (1996–1997). ### Apple Inc. Overview Apple Inc. is a central and defining company in the global technology sector, recognized as a member of the "Big Tech" group. Its influence extends across consumer electronics, personal computing, and digital content distribution, where it competes directly with other giants like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. The company's current headquarters is Apple Park, located at 1 Apple Park Way, Cupertino, California. The corporate campus, which opened in 2018, is known for its distinctive circular design. Apple was previously headquartered at the Apple Campus at 1 Infinite Loop from 1993 to 2018. Apple trades on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol AAPL and is a component of the Nasdaq-100, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and S&P 500 indices. As of 2022, Apple had approximately 164,000 employees. The company's motto is "Think different." ### Design Philosophy The inclusion of the Macintosh SE/30 in the Museum of Modern Art's collection reflects Apple's longstanding commitment to design excellence. Apple is distinguished by its vertically integrated model, creating both the hardware and the operating systems and software that run on them. This approach allows for tight control over the user experience and aesthetic coherence across product lines. The company's focus on product design has had a profound impact on industry standards and consumer expectations. Apple's design philosophy emphasizes simplicity, elegance, and user-friendliness, principles that were embodied in the Macintosh SE/30 and continue to define Apple's products today. ### Technical and Cultural Significance The Macintosh SE/30 represents a specific moment in the evolution of personal computing when machines were transitioning from specialized tools for businesses and enthusiasts to mainstream consumer products. Its presence in a major art museum acknowledges that computing has become a fundamental part of contemporary culture and daily life. The computer stands as a testament to the idea that technology products can be both functional and aesthetically significant. This recognition helped establish the precedent that personal computers deserve consideration as cultural artifacts, worthy of preservation and study alongside other designed objects that reflect their era.