The Macintosh Classic II

Introduced in October 1991, The Mac Classic II was everything the original Classic should have been. It shipped in a restyled case, had a 16 MHz 68030 processor, and included a microphone. The Classic II cost $1,900 and was discontinued in September 1993. It was bundled with a 2400/9600 baud fax/modem and extra software and sold as the Performa 200 in September 1992. The Performa 200 was discontinued in April 1993. Got a Mac Classic II? Join the System 6 email digest.
Apple's Specs on the Classic
HyperCard Stacks

Classic II Specs

• Codename: Montana, Apollo
• CPU: MC68030
• CPU speed: 16 Mhz
• FPU: none
• motherboard RAM: 2 MB
• maximum RAM: 10MB
• number of sockets: 2 -- 30 pin SIMM
• minimum speed: 100 ns
• ROM: 512 k
• L1 cache: 0.5 k
• L2 cache: n/a
• data path: 16 bit
• bus speed: 16 Mhz
• slots: none
• SCSI: DB-25
• Serial Ports: 2
• ADB: 1
• Floppy: 1.4 MB SuperDrive
• HD: 40-80 MB
• CD-ROM: none
• Monitor: 1 bit (Black & White) 512x342
• Sound Output: mono 8 bit
• Sound Input: mono 8 bit
• Ethernet: none
• Gestalt ID: 23
• power: 76 Watts
• Weight: 16 lbs.
• Dimensions: 13.2" H x 9.7" W x 11.2" D
• Min System Software: 7.0.1
• Max System Software: 7.6.1
• introduced: October 1991
• terminated: September 1993
• Current Value: $10

Upgrades

Check out my Mac store for parts!
Memory - download my Get Your Compact Mac On the Web Tutorial for info on memory and system upgrades.
Accelerators - none
Ram Guide for Macs
Radius PowerView - SCSI converter that allows 256 colors with an external monitor on the Classic (out of production).
Asante EN/SC - converts SCSI port to ethernet.
Performa 550 - you can upgrade the CLassic II to a Performa 550 by swapping motherboards.

Repairs

Internet

Start here for internet info
Get Your Compact Mac On the Web - everything you need.
Worldshare has free internet for 68k Macs - Mac Plus or up. No banners, no proprietary software to download. (Requires minimum $10 donation to the charity of your choice, also requires filling out 1 survey a month. Not available in all cities).
A Mac Plus web server
Tips For Browsing On Older Macs
Info About Browsers On Older Macs
Maximum modem throughput on a older Macs
Surf the web through another Mac - Mac Plus or up
I set up two Macs: (Plus and Color Classic) as web servers at the same time.
NOTE: these servers are only up when I am online, typically 8 pm to 2 am CST.
Surf the web through another Mac - Mac Plus or up
ZTerm HOW-TO. Connect to Unix hosts or Macs and PC's with this terminal emulation program.
Tips on using Eudora on older Macs
Sue Korlan's Internet FAQ - tips and tricks on getting online and staying online
Disc image of system 6.0.8 with Eudora 1.3.1 - use email while booted off a floppy

Hacks

Software

Start here for info on software for the Mac Plus
Classic Mac icons
Software that will work on 68000 Macs
Desktop Manager. Ever switch between System 6.0x and 7.x on a Mac Plus and hate it whe it rebuilds the desktop? Takes 5 min on my 520 meg drive. This will eliminate rebuilding the desktop.
Sim 020 let's your 68000 Mac (Plus, SE, Classic, PB 100, Portable) run 68020 applications.
Formatting third party (non Apple) drives on a Plus.
Init/CDEV is an extensions manager for System 6 Macs.
WindowShade - Gives you the popular window shade effect that came with 7.5 but it works under 6.x and up.
Screen shot of Ram Charger at work - 17 apps on a Plus at once.
SCSI Accelerator will supposedly make your Plus faster, although I have never noticed a difference.

Uses

Word Processing
Web server
Email
HyperCard programming for kids
Learn How To Type
Play old games
Learn Unix
Play network games
Paint programs for kids
Animation creation with HyperCard, Director, VideoWorks (last two are out of print)
Clock
Datase, mailing list, recipes with Filemaker 1-3, HyperCard

Usenet

comp.sources.mac : Software for the Mac
comp.sys.mac.advocacy : Macintosh family compared to the others
comp.sys.mac.announce : Important notices for Mac users
comp.sys.mac.apps : Discussion of Macintosh applications
comp.sys.mac.comm : Discussion of Macintosh communications
comp.sys.mac.digest : Mac info & uses
comp.sys.mac.hardware.misc : General Mac hardware topics
comp.sys.mac.misc : General discussion about Mac
comp.sys.mac.programmer.help : Help with Mac programming
comp.sys.mac.programmer.info : FAQ
comp.sys.mac.programmer.misc : Other issues of Macintosh programming
comp.sys.mac.system : Discussion of Macintosh software system

Other

19.2 modem throughput (faster with loss of data).
Networking a compact Mac to a Linux Box - includes details on how to instlal Linux on an SE/30.
Networking a compact Mac to an iMac While Booted Off A Floppy
Home Automation Links (Mac Plus or up)
Networking compact Macs and USB Macs.
Scanning With A Classic Mac - tips and suggestions.
Using A Zip Drive On A Classic II
Turning your dead Mac into a MacQuarium.