Apple Computer Inc yesterday confounded John Sculley’s no new machines this year dictum with the expected 16MHz 68030+68882 maths chip-based Macintosh IIx. Apple reckons it is 10% to 15% faster than previous models, and with the 68030’s on-board memory management unit will provide an improved platform for Apple’s A/UX implementation of Unix. The Mac IIx adds Apple’s new 1.44Mb 3.5 drives, which using the Apple File Exchange utility can read and write MS-DOS, OS/2 and Apple II ProDOS files as well as native ones. The IIx comes with 4Mb RAM standard, expandable to 8Mb, with two floppies for $7,770, UKP5,000, one and an 80Mb disk for $9,370, UKP6,200; the Mac II 6.0.2 operating system, Apple File Exchange and Hypercard are bundled. Existing Mac II users can upgrade by changing the logic board and adding the new FDHD floppies and memory management unit. A new 2Mb Mac SE and 40Mb disk is UKP3,500; both out October.
