Apple IIc Plus questions

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

   I've just recently added an Apple IIc Plus to my collection (finally
have one of each Apple II model, minus a few variants :) and have a few
questions about the machine.

- Is the 34-pin memory expansion connector on the motherboard compatible
  with the one found on the late model (ROM 3 and 4) Apple IIc? It looks
  the same, expect for a small set of male-pins beside it (separate from
  the main connector and not parallel to it). 

- Is the system error "bell" supposed to sound different from other 8-bit
  Apple II's? My IIc+ makes a lower pitched "beep" when turned on. Is this
  normal or was it just changed as it was on the IIgs?

- Is the original character generator/Video ROM the same one found in
  an Enhanced IIe? The chip installed is identical, even has the same
  part number (342-0265-A) and number of pins. I'm curious if someone
  didn't swap chips, since the socket has more pins than the chip and 
  the part number silked-laced on the motherboard is different. As well, 
  the "running man" character is still mapped to 'F' and 'G'.

- The Plus seems to use the same technology as a Zip Chip 4 MHz, there's
  even a TAG and DATA socket with 8K SRAMs installed. :) The machine 
  automatically starts in 4 MHz mode, but I found it rather curious that
  quite often it still seems to be operating at 1.024 MHz. Usually there
  will be short bursts where it'll speed up, but then slow down again.
  ie - A game like Atari's Ms. Pac-Man. The music at the start is not
  distorted (plays as if it were 1 MHz) and as I move through the maze
  the sound and animation continue as normal. However, if I stop moving
  and sit in a corner, all of a sudden it jumps into 4 MHz and the ghosts
  start whizzing around. As soon as I move again, it jumps back to 1 MHz.
  This seems to be the case with all software, it mostly runs at 'Normal'
  speed and every so often gives short bursts of speed (almost like it's 
  struggling to accelerate!). Is this _normal_ or is something wrong?
  I've never seen another IIc Plus or Zip Chip in operation, I'm only
  familiar with the IIgs and it's 2.6 MHz acceleration (or faster) which 
  is a _constant_. 

- I noticed I have to hold down the Open-Apple key longer when doing an
  Apple-Control-Reset to warm boot (otherwise the machine just sees it
  as a Control-Reset). My IIe's, IIc's, and IIgs's are not like this,
  is this normal? Is it a side-affect of the built-in 3.5 drive?

- How many external drives can be connected to it's Smartport? I assume
  one Apple 3.5 and two Apple 5.25 (or a couple of UniDisk 3.5's).

- (Not a IIc+ specific question but..) I found what appears to be a
  no-slot-clock underneath the main ROM, although a sticker on it
  identifies it as "ClockPro/ 4000-90". Is this a clone of the SMT
  chip or the official thing? Where can I find the software to set
  the time and date?

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca