Re: Need info on following IO cards and the Apple IIe Platinum version

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article timf@interlog.com.die.email.spammers (Mr. T. Foley) writes...

>I'm looking for some info on the following cards:
>
>Apple I/O Controller
>655-0101-B

    That is the card originally packaged with the DuoDisk 5.25, however
it is an ordinary 5.25 drive controller card and can also be used with
the Apple 5.25, UniDisk 5.25, Disk IIc and even old Disk II drives with
an IDC20 to DB19 adapter. It handles two 140K drives by daisy-chaining.

>Apple 3.5 Floppy Disk Drive Interface Card
>603-9107-A
>820-0117-A
>1-616-130-12
>IF-98
>LIRON
>ASCO
>508

    That is the controller for the UniDisk 3.5  (aka "Liron" card).
It should operate up to two drives by daisy-chaining, possibly even
as many as four if it is similiar to the to GS's Smartport (but I
wouldn't count on it).

>Apple UniDisk 3.5
>A2M2053
>P/N 825-0640-A

    That is the UniDisk 3.5 drive that connects to the card above.
It is an 800K double-sided "intelligent" drive, which operates a
fair bit slower than the regular "dumb" Apple 3.5 drive.

>1)  What is the I/O controller used for? (Duodisks?) and can a UNIdisk
>or the external 5.25 floppy (uni-style) be connected to it?

    Any standard Apple or Apple compatible 5.25 drive with a DB19
connector (see above).

>2) Can the 5.25 uni style drive be connected the 3.5 unidisk card
>chained to the unidisk 3.5?

    No, they each require separate controllers (which you have).

>3) What is the port on the back of the Platinum IIe?  Is it I/O
>compatible or UniDisk compatible or both??

    There are only three built-in connectors on the Platinum IIe, and
they are the same ones found on the original IIe. The RCA connector is
for composite/NTSC video-out, the two 1/8" phono jacks are for an old
cassette tape drive (though they can be used for other things as well)
and the DB9 connector is a pair of paddles or a joystick.

    Any other "ports" you see were later added by placing a slot card
inside the IIe and running a connector out the back (i.e. the floppy
drive controllers above, a serial interface, mouse interface, etc).

>4) Where can I find some docs and info on the Platinum IIe?  It seems
>to be a well kept secret...

    The difference between the original Apple IIe and Platinum IIe are
mostly cosmetic, functionally it is no different from any Enhanced IIe.
Here are the differences off the top of my head:

- Improved keyboard (matches layout of IIgs and Macintosh SE, including
  a numeric keypad squeezed in. Keys colored dark grey. Changes include
  larger Return and Open-Apple key, shorter space-bar, Solid-Apple key
  replaced with Option-key and Reset moved above Esc and 1).

- Case color changed to platinum, name plates removed and replaced with
  silk-screened name ID "Apple IIe" in Garamond font. Power light moved
  above keyboard, Apple logo moved from lid to case (placed in square
  recess, smaller). Back panel also changed to platinum color.

- Minor changes to motherboard: Two 8K ROMs (CD and EF) replaced with a
  single 16K ROM now called "CF". Eight 64Kx1 DRAMs replaced with two
  64Kx4 DRAM chips. Shift-key mod made standard (can be done to original
  IIe by shorting a connection with a drop of solder) and Extended 80
  Columns Card is also standard, which was drastically reduced in size
  (almost looks like a SIMM I recall). In summary, there are 7 less
  chips present and 128K (80 columns and Double-Hi-Res) given straight
  out of the box.

>5) How many drives can I connect to a Platinum IIe port?

    Same as if it were a regular Apple IIe, it depends on the type of
floppy drive controllers installed and how many (usually it is just
two drives per card). These days I would invest in a Focus internal
hardisk card, which start at US$59, rather than multiple floppy
drives which are just plain silly today.

>6) How many drives can I connect to a Unidisk card?

    At least two, possibly four (verify that with someone here first
though, I'm not familiar enough with the card to know if it supports
more than two drives). My advice is to keep one 3.5 drive, one 5.25
and then save your money (and desk space ;) and get an internal 20 MB
or greater Focus hardrive.

>7) What device ID (6 or 5?) is the built in port on the Platinum IIe?

    Once again, other than the Joystick and cassette port (not too
mention the 16-pin Game connector on the motherboard) there is no
other built-in I/O on the Apple IIe. I'm not sure what your talking
about here.

>8) Will a Unidisk card interfere with a Platinum IIe built in port?

    Maybe your referring to the Apple 5.25 disk controller? If that
is the case, they will not interfere with each other. Just have the
5.25 card installed in slot 6, and the UniDisk 3.5 controller in
slot 5 (and if you bought a Focus card, that would plug into slot 7
and everything would get along nicely :)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca