# Macintosh SE

> personal computer by Apple

**Wikidata**: [Q1882848](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1882848)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_SE)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/macintosh-se

## Summary
The Macintosh SE is a compact all-in-one personal computer that Apple introduced on 2 March 1987 as the successor to the Macintosh 512Ke. It runs the Classic Mac OS and sits between the Macintosh Plus and the later Macintosh SE/30 in Apple’s early Macintosh lineup.

## Key Facts
- Released on 2 March 1987 and manufactured by Apple Inc.
- Powered by a Motorola 68000 CPU and ships with Classic Mac OS.
- Weighs 7.7 kg and is classified as a desktop computer.
- Includes two Apple Desktop Bus connectors and Parallel SCSI for expansion.
- Designed by Frog Design and part of the broader Macintosh (Mac) product family.
- Preceded by the Macintosh 512Ke and followed by the Macintosh SE/30 (released January 1989).
- Recognized under multiple aliases: Mac SE, マッキントッシュSE.
- Documented by sources such as EveryMac.com and the Centre for Computing History.
- Covered in 17 Wikipedia language editions and holds Wikidata ID Q371049.

## FAQs
### Q: When did the Macintosh SE debut?
A: Apple launched the Macintosh SE on 2 March 1987.

### Q: What operating system does the SE use?
A: It runs the Classic Mac OS, Apple’s original Macintosh operating system.

### Q: How does the SE differ from the Macintosh Plus?
A: The SE adds an internal expansion slot and two Apple Desktop Bus ports while retaining the same Motorola 68000 processor family.

### Q: What model replaced the Macintosh SE?
A: Apple superseded it with the Macintosh SE/30 in January 1989.

## Why It Matters
The Macintosh SE marked Apple’s first major redesign of the compact Macintosh chassis, adding an internal expansion slot that satisfied business and power users who needed more flexibility without abandoning the all-in-one footprint. By integrating SCSI and the new Apple Desktop Bus, the SE improved peripheral options and set the stage for later, more powerful models like the SE/30. Its balance of familiarity and expandability helped solidify the Macintosh line in education and small-business markets, bridging the gap between the closed-box Macintosh Plus and the modular Macintosh II family.

## Notable For
- First compact Mac to offer an internal expansion slot, enabling add-in cards.
- Introduced dual Apple Desktop Bus ports, standardizing keyboard and mouse connections for years.
- Maintained the same 7.7 kg all-in-one form factor while adding SCSI for external storage.
- Designed by Frog Design, giving the exterior a cleaner, more professional look.
- Occupies a pivotal position between the 512Ke and the 32-bit-clean SE/30.

## Body
### Hardware Overview
The Macintosh SE retains the 68000 processor found in earlier compact Macs, ensuring software compatibility while adding a processor-direct expansion slot inside the case. Users can install cards for additional memory, networking, or specialized I/O. Two Apple Desktop Bus connectors on the rear allow daisy-chaining of keyboards, mice, and other input devices, replacing the varied proprietary connectors of previous models.

### Ports and Expansion
Parallel SCSI support lets owners attach external hard drives, tape-backup units, and CD-ROM readers—an important feature in 1987. The internal slot accepts Apple-branded and third-party cards, a first for the compact line. The power supply and fan were upgraded to handle the extra heat generated by expansion hardware.

### Position in the Product Line
Introduced after the Macintosh Plus (1986) and before the Macintosh SE/30 (January 1989), the SE offers a middle ground: more expandability than the Plus, yet cheaper than the newly launched Macintosh II. Apple continued selling the SE alongside the SE/30 for several months, targeting budget-conscious buyers who still needed SCSI and ADB.

### Legacy
Collectors value the SE for its reliability, iconic design, and ease of restoration. Because many units shipped to schools, working examples still surface in educational surplus markets. Emulators and FPGA re-creations often use the SE ROMs to achieve maximum compatibility with late-1980s Macintosh software.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Macintosh SE",
  "description": "Personal computer released by Apple Inc. on 2 March 1987, featuring a Motorola 68000 CPU and Classic Mac OS.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q371049",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macintosh_SE"
  ],
  "additionalType": "DesktopComputer"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://github.com/JohnMarkOckerbloom/ftl/blob/master/data/wikimap)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File