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Well I'm about to leave for work but here is a pic from the back saying it's a 512k
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Is the "Macintosh" actually black, or is that the light doing weird things with the textured metal surface that is supposed to be there?
 
It's black, a sticker it seems. Here it is turned on with the SE system tool disk.

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I'd say that it looks like you have yourself an original Macintosh (128k) that was later upgraded to a 512k by an Apple shop.

What's the serial number?
 
why do you need the serial? just curious? it ends with m0001. Also, I just looked it up on myoldmac.net and it shows it as a 128k macintosh.
 
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The serial notes the manufacture date which could peg it solidly as an upgraded unit.

The first character notes the factory it was made, the second is the year and the third+fourth are the week of the year.

Here is mine made in the 21st week of 1984 at the Fremont factory:

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Many of the old Macintosh serial numbers follow this scheme.
 
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After looking my serial up it states this

"Your Macintosh 128 (M001) ....was the 5384th manufactured during the 29th week if 1984 in Freemont Ca"

So this is an apple upgraded unit? Like when you can order more ram for your mac today? Meaning this is an original Macintosh
 
Videx :)

.. in the case of a Macintosh 512 upgrade, it's an entire logic board swap.

The original motherboard supports only the 4164 DRAMs. The later ones support either 4164 or 41256, and were setup to be built on the assembly line either way, depending on need. They still sold both models side by side for a short time.

Third party upgrades were available, some of which would desolder the DRAMs, make some other changes and return your logic board, or a logic board, depending on how long you wanted to wait/how much you paid. Others created PCBs that stacked and connected to various points on the motherboard, depending on added functions. Typically clamping onto the 68000, and clipping onto a few other points.

But otherwise, a machine with M0001 was originally shipped and badged as a Macintosh or Macintosh 128, depending on date of manufacture.

The upgrade kit consisted of a motherboard and replacement badge for the back of the case.

In the case of the Mac Plus upgrade, it was a replacement case back as well.

Your model number would not change, but it would sport the 512 badge on the back. I've just never, ever, seen a black one. Since those things are stamped aluminum with a painted surface, that's kind of interesting. If it' a flat sticker, then it's not an official Apple one, and likely the upgrade is some type of the others I described.

Functionally wise, they are -all- identical. Sure, a single piece board is probably more "reliable", statistically, since there is not a change of a connection going bad between things. But functionally, it's all the same.
 
So this is a third party upgrade? what does the usual badge look like?
 
Mine looks like it was made specifically for apple to use (the sticker) in upgrades. So is it more rare what I have?
 
The badge swap for the upgrade was the exact same kind. There is a pinhole on the inside that can used to pop the thing out. It's there for air pressure during installation, but serves nicely to get them out, too.

The upgrade kit consisted of the electronics, replacement badge, and shipping label to return the removed logic board.

Here are some of the original badges, un-used (and an assortment of other Apple items) .. a "cheap" sticker never came from Apple.

In looking at your original image with closer scrutiny, it's evident that the sticker is smaller than the area it's inserted into, noticeably. That's not original/OEM at all.

Depending on when that was upgraded, it's most likely a third party upgrade, a non-Apple "authorized" shop using service parts, or a board modified by hand, and whoever propositioned some stickers so the work could be denoted "nicely" outside of the case. But from Apple, not like that.

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Thanks for that explanation. Does this make it less valuable? Not that I plan on selling it
 
Value is ultimately in the eye of the beholder, and the possible buyer.. ;-)

It could be a simple "snap on" upgrade, in which case with the removal of it, it's absolutely original.

It could be an actual Apple 512K board stuck in there.

It could be a hand solder job, with chips stacked on top.

Obviously, the more original, or official, the higher "value". But all in all, there are not that many of these things left to pick from, and the avenues that were available for upgrades make what could be inside be totally varied. You'll never know w/o cracking it open.
 
Well in any case I really like it and am glad I found it so that's all that really matters. Works pretty well except for the high pitch beep that plays the entire time the machine is on. Did pretty well with these newest additions to my Apple collection so I can't complain!
 
So its an original macintosh, with upgraded memory done most likely by an authorized apple dealer making it able to run software designed for more powerful macs.
 
Really got a 512k today after all. $25 with original keyboard/mouse and an 800k apple drive. It unfortunately doesn't work and the drives (both) make a spinning then stopping sound and keep going in this pattern. Blank screen and nothing else.

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Dude where are you finding all these deals? Do you live at the end of the rainbow?
 
A local pawnshop has a 512ke here for $315 in the original box. Is that a good deal?

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