Apple Introduces Macintosh Centris: Affordable, New Midrange Macintosh Line

MACWORLD, TOKYO--February 9, 1993--Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced the Apple Macintosh Centris  line--new midrange personal computers that offer fast performance, flexibility, and expandability to mainstream business and professional users at an affordable price. The new line includes the Macintosh Centris 610 and Macintosh Centris 650, which deliver the power of the high-performance Motorola 68040 microprocessor at significantly lower price points.

"Our goal with the Macintosh Centris line is to deliver a good balance of performance, expandability and affordability," said Eric Harslem, vice president of Apple's Desktop Products division.  "We are delivering systems designed to meet the requirements of a broad range of professional and business users who need a personal computer that will get the job done in a demanding environment.  These users want systems that are flexible enough to grow with their needs.

"With the introduction of these systems, Apple is aggressively migrating 68040 processor performance down the Macintosh product line,"  Harslem added.  "Until now, the entry-level 040 offering in the Macintosh family was a $4,000 investment.  Today we are unveiling an 040 system for less than $2,000--delivering 040 power at half the price."

The Macintosh Centris 610 base configuration is priced at $1,859 U.S. suggested retail price (SRP).  The Macintosh Centris 650 base configuration is priced at $2,699 U.S. SRP.

This product announcement also marks the debut of a new identity for the midrange of the Macintosh family.  Today, Macintosh Centris becomes the line name for the Macintosh midrange.

At the same time, Apple announced that the Macintosh IIvx and IIvi computers will take their place in the Macintosh Centris line as Apple's entry-level, multislot systems.  They retain their current names, and prices have been reduced significantly.  Apple is also offering a Macintosh Centris 650 Logic Board Upgrade consisting of a Macintosh Centris 650 logic board with Ethernet and 8MB of DRAM. This upgrade allows Macintosh IIvx and IIvi users to obtain the full capabilities of the Macintosh Centris 650.

Performance

The Macintosh Centris 610, which features a new low-profile industrial design, is powered by a 20MHz Motorola 68LC040 microprocessor.  The Motorola 68LC040 is a new low-cost member of the 68040 processor family that does not include a floating-point unit. The Centris 610 offers up to two times the performance of the Macintosh IIvx or IIci, and is ideally suited for people who value a highly responsive computer more than extra expansion slots.

The Macintosh Centris 650, based on the same flexible industrial design as the Macintosh IIvx and IIvi, offers the highest levels of performance and expansion in the Macintosh Centris line. Powered by either a 25MHz 68040 microprocessor or 68LC040, the Centris 650 performs up to three times as fast as a Macintosh IIvx or IIci.  With the Macintosh 650 computer's accelerated video architecture, high-speed SCSI and optional on-board Ethernet, Apple continues to offer its customers a wealth of built-in features.

Expandability

Both Macintosh Centris systems come with an 8K cache and 4MB of DRAM standard. The 610 is expandable to 68MB of DRAM and the 650 is expandable to 132MB of DRAM.  Both systems also offer a wide range of expansion slot options.  The Macintosh Centris 610 offers a processor direct slot (PDS) that accommodates either a PDS card, or a 7-inch NuBus card when combined with a special adapter.  The Macintosh Centris 650 has three NuBus slots and one PDS.  Both the Centris 610 and the 650 have a high-speed SCSI port, two serial ports, and an internal 5.25-inch drive bay.  This bay can accommodate devices such as an internal CD-ROM drive, or other high-capacity removable devices such as a SyQuest drive.

Video Support

The Macintosh Centris 610 and 650 systems have built-in accelerated video to support all Apple displays.  Both the 610 and the 650 come standard with 512K of VRAM to render up to 256 colors on monitors as large as 16 inches.  Both new computers can be upgraded to 1MB of VRAM for displaying up to 32,768 colors on monitors up to 16 inches, and up to 256 colors on 19-inch and 21-inch monitors.  The built-in video also allows both new Macintosh Centris computers to drive many VGA and Super VGA monitors (commonly used with DOS PCs) in 32,768 colors up to 800 x 600 resolution.

More Flexibility

The Macintosh Centris is "media-ready," with full stereo sound-out and mono sound-in.  With an optional internal CD300i CD ROM drive, users can have access to the hundreds of exciting CD-ROM titles currently available.  And, with optional on-board Ethernet, interacting with other users on the network is faster than ever. Both the Macintosh Centris 610 and 650 can be purchased with an 80MB, 230MB or 500MB hard drive.

Pricing and Availability

The Macintosh Centris 610 and 650 will be offered worldwide through authorized Apple resellers.  The Macintosh IIvx also continues to be offered worldwide, and the Macintosh IIvi continues to be offered in selected markets outside the United States.

Pricing and availability may vary outside the United States.  U.S. suggested retail prices are as follows:

Macintosh Centris Configurations               U.S. SRP  Availability
Macintosh Centris 610 68LC040, 4MB/80HD         $1,859    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 610 68LC040, 4MB/80HD,
  Ethernet                                      $1,969    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 610 68LC040, 8MB/230HD,
  Ethernet                                      $2,519    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 610 68LC040, 8MB/230HD,
  CD, Ethernet, 1MB VRAM                        $2,899    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 650 68LC040, 4MB/80HD         $2,699    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 650 8MB/80HD Ethernet         $3,189    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 650 8MB/230 HD, Ethernet      $3,559    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 650 8MB/230HD, CD, Ethernet,
  1MB VRAM                                      $3,939    Immediate
Macintosh Centris 650 8MB/500HD, Ethernet,
  1MB VRAM                                      $4,379    Immediate


Macintosh IIvx Logic Board Upgrade
$1,199 for units ordered within the first 90 days
of introduction, $1,599 thereafter                          April

Macintosh Quadra VRAM Expansion Kit               $159    Immediate


Macintosh IIvx Configurations         New U.S. SRP  Previous %Change

Macintosh IIvx 4MB/80HD                  $1,899      $2,949    -36%
Macintosh IIvx 5MB/80 HD, CD, 1MB VRAM   $2,339      $3,219    -27%
Macintosh IIvx 4 MB/230 HD               $2,269      $3,319    -32%
Macintosh IIvx 8MB/230 HD                $2,459      $3,599    -32%

Contact:
Betty Taylor
Apple Computer, Inc.
408-974-3983

or

Kate Paisley
Apple Computer, Inc.
408-974-5453