Re: Apple built monitors for //e?

[dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff)]

I somehow missed the original question, but...

The video output of the //e (and the RCA video jack on the IIgs, for that
matter) is almost NTSC composite color video.  It's close enough that I
can run the signal through a time-base corrector (i.e. framesync) and feed
it to a broadcast video switcher with no trouble at all.

For some long time, the Apple monochrome monitor was that big
Hitachi-built (I think) monitor called the "Monitor ///".  I think it is
the only part of the Apple /// line that Apple sold a potful of...it's a
green-screen with a contrast knob and power switch on the front, and a
built-in fabric anti-glare screen.  Personally, I don't much care for
them.  It was a long time before Apple came out with a color monitor.

I believe the first Apple color monitor was the AppleColor 100, which
required the use of a special RGB card.  This is the monitor that came
with the motorized tilt-screen (what a dumb idea...), and as I recall, the
color rendition left a bit to be desired on the one I saw.

Later, Apple introduced the Monitor //, which is what I have.  I believe
it was also built by Hitachi, and it has a *manual* tilt-screen (i.e.
push in at the top or bottom), green monochrome display, power switch on
the front and contrast control on the side.  It also corrected the main
problems of the Monitor /// in a couple of major ways.  First of all, the
cabinet is the proper size to fit on top of the Apple ][.  The Monitor ///
is a bit too wide, hence the existance of the monitor stands for the ][
series.  Second, the back surface of the CRT is etched to give the monitor
an anti-glare surface, but a smooth outside finish.  This provides a good
looking display, which is a lot brighter than the Monitor /// with cloth
filter, and can actually be cleaned.  This is arguably the nicest NTSC
monochrome computer monitor around.

Finally, Apple introduced the Composite Color Monitor.  This comes in two
flavors...beige and platinum.  Like the Monitor //, it fits nicely atop a
][e case.  As a color monitor, it is beautiful, high resolution, nice
color.  As a computer monitor, it is also very nice, because...unlike most
composite color monitors...it has high enough resolution for 80-column
text.  This also includes a color-killer switch, which eliminates color
fringing in graphics modes.  The monitor can normally detect the NTSC
color burst signal...the ][e sends burst in any graphics mode, but drops
it from the signal in all-text modes...and respond accordingly.  Or if you
are running a program that uses hi-res text, or a mixed display, you can
push a button and force the monitor to monochrome.

This monitor has only two major shortcomings.  First, the input jack is
mounted on the rearmost surface of the monitor, which means if you shove
the computer and monitor back against the wall, you'll break the cable
connector.  Second, many of them shipped with incorrect fuses, which would
blow unexpectedly for no reason at all.

And of course, Apple sold monitors specifically for the IIc and IIgs, but
that's another story.

--Dave Althoff, ][.
(who has dealt with all of these monitors, plus bunches of Amdeks and
Taxans and assorted others, thanks to years on the school district's
summer computer equipment crew...)

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