Apple IIc Plus (was: Trading)

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

In article nch@pacifier.com (Nick H.) writes...

>This might sound like a stupid question, but I'll ask it anyway. I have
>the chance to exchange my //c (old 255 rom) for a //c+. 

    If it were me personally, I wouldn't think twice about trading.
The Apple IIc Plus is far less common than the Apple IIc, not too
mention has several significant enhancements built-in. Here are 
some of the benefits you would gain:

- 3.5" disk media (660K more per disk; faster access)
- 4 MHz operation (equivalent of built-in Zip Chip accelerator)
- Enhanced keyboard (much nicer feel and layout)
- Ability to connect external 3.5 drives (both UniDisk 3.5* and Apple 3.5)   
- Built-in powersupply 
- Standardized serial port connectors
- Memory expansion socket*

* = Only compared with the original ROM "255" Apple IIc

>I've heard that they use a 8 pin serial port, is that true? 

    Yes, the DIN5 connectors were replaced by mini-DIN8, the very 
same type found on the Apple IIgs and Macintosh (from the Plus up).
The same signal and five pins are still used, so it won't work any
better with high-speed modems or function with an Apple MIDI device.
(a pair of 6551 UART chips control the ports, just as on the IIc).

    This is an advantage really. If you want to connect a modem,
printer or null-modem serial connection, you can walk into almost
any store and purchase a mini-DIN8 cable (in retrospect, the old
IIc DIN5 connector is very difficult to find unless you go mail
order or build your own).

>Anyway, is there anything I should know about the //c+ that might be 
>a problem? I know that they have a 3 1/2 inch disk drive, is is a good 
>idea to trade? Thanks in advance.

    As far as software compatibility is concerned, I don't think it's
any less compatible than any other Apple IIc (unless you come across
a poorly written piece of software that is hard-coded to start up from
an internal 5.25 drive). There are, however, three short-comings about
the Apple IIc Plus...

    1) The built-in 800K 3.5 drive is very useful, but at the same 
time isn't much good when you consider the majority of Apple II 
software exists only 140K 5.25" floppy disks. For this reason you'll 
almost definitely need an external 5.25 drive (they're dirt cheap 
these days, but make sure you have one).

    2) Like the above, having built-in speed acceleration (4 MHz)
is great to have, but it could potentially be a hassle. You _can_
operate the IIc Plus at a standard 1.024 MHz,  but there is no 
switch or Control Panel to permanently keep it set. Everytime you
power-down or warm-boot the system will return to accelerated speed, 
making certain games difficult to play. You'll have to do a key
stroke each time to slow down (Apple-Control-Esc-Reset).

    3) There is no headphone jack on the IIc Plus. It was removed
as a cost cutting measure, so if this is an important feature you
use on your current IIc, keep it in mind. Thankful there is still
a volume control (it is no longer a dial though, it is a sliding
control that replaced the '40/80' switch).

    4) Although this doesn't affect too many people, the built-in
powersupply (replacing the annoying brick-on-a-rope supply) means 
there's no longer an internal voltage converter. In otherwords,
there's no easy way to power the IIc Plus from a car-lighter or
battery pack. The IIc Plus is more of a "luggable" computer, but
less of a true "portable" computer in that sense (not that the
IIc was ever a true portable, but it came close with the V.C. and
and LCD display :)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca