Q: I hear that CD-ROM-equipped Macs come with one single CD, instead of 50 million floppies, with the System software and Installer. But I didn’t even know that a Mac could start from a CD-ROM disc at all. Can it?
A: According to Apple, the only models that can’t use a CD-ROM as a startup disk are the Macintosh 128K, 512K, 512Ke, Plus, SE, SE/30, Portable, II, IIx, IIcx, and Classic. All other models can, and all future models will. We like the way that CD-ROM—equipped Macs come with the complete set of System software on a single disc. This arrangement makes life simpler and easier.
If you want to start a Power Macintosh from a CD-ROM, by the way, here’s a tip: Make sure that the CD-ROM is in the drive. Press the C key as the computer starts up.
