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

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

Macintosh IIvx Logic Board Upgrade

$1,199 for units ordered within the first 90 days of introduction, $1,599
thereafter

Macintosh Quadra VRAM Expansion Kit                        $  159

Macintosh IIvx Configurations            New U.S. SRP    Previous

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

Apple Computer Inc, 20525 Mariana Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010

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