|
|
|
|
| Welcome, Guest | Home | Search | Login | Register | |
| Author | Getting a Mac SE/30 a good idea? (Read 55547 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
LanceTheLance
1 MB  Posts: 1 System 7 Newcomer! 
|
on: January 18, 2023, 14:53
People online are talking so much about problems with the old SE/30s ... are things really that bad? I'm planning on buying one so I'd like to know what to expect before I get there. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
rjkucia
|
1 MB Posts: 1 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #1 on: January 18, 2023, 16:44
|
The major problem with SE/30s is that their capacitors are known to leak. If you are buying one, you'll want to either buy one that's already been recapped, or plan on recapping it once you get it. Other than that, they're fantastic machines. If you're looking for a compact Mac, want something faster than a 68000, and aren't interested in a Color Classic, this is the one to get.
|
cballero
|
1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #2 on: January 18, 2023, 23:09
|
Wait, besides recapping, isn't there also a way to upgrade the monitor to color? 
|
ReleaseTheGeese
|
32 MB Posts: 37 Division 1 Computer Support
Reply #3 on: January 19, 2023, 13:00
|
Yeah it's highly regarded for good reason. I'd grab one even if the caps were bust. Lots of fun options, it is a great System 7 machine. It even runs A/UX. Details: https://se30forever.com/operatingsystem.html It also runs NetBSD, if you're bold and just the right amount of crazy. You can also slot in an ethernet card and get online. I'm sure some of the SE/30 owners will be happy to gloat further
Last Edit: January 19, 2023, 23:49 by ReleaseTheGeese
|
Knezzen
|
Administrator 512 MB  Posts: 608 Village idiot
Reply #4 on: January 21, 2023, 17:47
|
The SE/30 is awesome and is by far my favorite machine, but I think it's best appriciated in more or less stock configuration, maybe with a added SCSI2SD and a network card to get online. That's my own oppinion though. I used to be on the "max everything out" team, but I have since come to different conclusions
|
Neal_SE30
|
256 MB Posts: 401 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #5 on: January 29, 2023, 19:16
|
My SE/30 is by far my favorite machine. I can’t put me finger on way. Intrigue maybe. My first macintosh i owned was a colour Classic 4/40 in 1993 my third year at college and i mainly used various II’s in the library and the class rooms as i did graphic design but the staff had the little b&w compacts and was curious. I brought mine as a drunken ebay purchase 7 years ago and i’ve been smitten ever since. Just about powerful enough to do stuff like going online yet limited enough to experiment and challenge its boundaries. There are issues with capacitors, batteries, av/boards but it’s worth a go, it’s a lovely little machine with character in spades.
|
Old Mac Geezer
|
64 MB Posts: 112
Reply #6 on: August 01, 2023, 21:21
|
I took a chance on one on ebay, many years ago, and the risk paid off. Not only was it still working, when I opened it up, the board had been recapped with solid state capacitors, unlike the IIfx, that I took a chance on a few years earlier, that was completely melted inside due to a combination of leaking capacitors, and leaking batteries.
|
Bolkonskij
|
Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #7 on: August 02, 2023, 11:27
|
So it came recapped but wasn't sold as such? I'd call that one lucky shot :-) Unfortunately, half the people I know having SE/30 keep having problems with them all the time. So for all the awesomeness of these little boxes, you really need to be a tinkerer. And one with patience too :-) P.S. My original Mac SE FDHD from 1989 is still running on it's original capacitators. These were very sturdy little machines. Slower than their SE/30 cousins, but extremely reliable.
|
cballero
|
1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #8 on: August 06, 2023, 15:07
|
Wow Bolkonskij, What? That SE truly has lived forever!! 
|
Bolkonskij
|
Administrator 1024 MB Posts: 2023
Reply #9 on: August 08, 2023, 15:42
|
Not at all! A lot of Mac SEs still work very well on their original parts. The SE wasn't suffering from e.g. the PSU problems of the Mac Plus and not the SE/30 troubles either. Most stuff produced before the "capacitor plagues" actually still works with no problems to this day. There was a famous capacitor plague during the early 2000s but another one late 80's / early 90's. For example, if you buy a used C64 computer from 1983 they usually still work fine. Go and buy an Amiga 2000 from 1990 and the caps are gone for sure. Just the other day my neighbour gave me an electric driller from his dad who had passed away. My neighbour is on pension himself already, so that gives you an idea about the age. The electric driller works perfectly fine, it's noticeably much heavier than today's stuff and it's one where you actually still need "a key" to open the drill chuck. I'd assume it was either made in late 1970's or the 1980's. People like wove and others here will surely remember those :-)
Last Edit: August 08, 2023, 15:49 by Bolkonskij
|
MTT
|
256 MB Posts: 394 SSW7 Oldtimer
Reply #10 on: August 09, 2023, 04:41
|
Quote from: Bolkonskij: "A lot of Mac SEs still work very well on their original parts."I have to say that my Centris 660av was also gifted with longevity, as it's now 30 years old, going strong and hasn't yet required maintenance. Although the original caddy loading CD player has since been swapped for a tray loading player and the 250MB HD exchanged with a 4GB drive. Some of those old Macs (still) deserve their built-to-last reputation.
Last Edit: August 09, 2023, 08:05 by MTT
|
Old Mac Geezer
|
64 MB Posts: 112
Reply #11 on: September 09, 2023, 12:27
|
If you can get one that's been recapped using solid state capacitors, then I would say yes. If it hasn't been recapped, then it's a ticking time bomb.
|
joshc
|
8 MB Posts: 9 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #12 on: October 05, 2023, 15:29
|
It depends what you are looking for. The SE/30 is not the best 68k Mac. That would probably be something like the Performa 475, or Quadra 650. But if you want a charming B&W Mac that can also be powerful (with some upgrades), then an SE/30 is the way to go.
|
|
Pages: [1]
|
| |||||||||||||
|
© 2021 System7Today.com. |
