Re: Identify Apple II vrs Apple II+ Serial Number #, Date Code, Vintage Apple II

[Wayne Stewart <waynes@intergate.ca>]

Simon wrote:
> 
> Okay, I have been collecting Apple IIs for a short while and want to
> clarify what I understand the difference between an Apple II & Apple
> II+ is...  I have also done a lot of reading in this newsgroup and
> others, and nobody has decoded the early Apple II serial # for me.  I
> need the oldtimer, smart Apple II guys to correct me where I am wrong,
> here goes:

I'll give an opinion, no guarantee that everything I say is right 
though :-)
 
> A2S1-10966 = Apple II Serial #
> ?- Does this mean (A)apple, (2)II, (S)series, (1)rev 1 motherboard -
> 10,966 machine manufactured
 
Don't know but I have a Rev 4 that has the # A2S1-37232. I'd check 
others but most early stuff is packed away.
 
> 7801= Date Code
> ?- Handwritten number on the left top of the motherboard = Date Code,
> Year 1978, 1st week in that year.

That's my understanding
 
> Rev (0) vrs. Rev (1)
> ?- Single Pin by the Video, would mean that it is a Rev (1), not Rev
> (0) because the pin is there

Rev 1 or later but earlier than the RFI machines which had 2 pins
 
> ?- Power Key light, not flush, looks like the other keys,but is a
> false key, means Apple II, not II+

I believe all of those were IIs

> ?- Copyright Apple 1978, would suggest it's an Apple II, not II+

There were II+s with that copyright date but most were IIs.
The change from II to II+ wasn't a hardware change. It's really 
deciding when during production they started installing the Applesoft 
ROMs in the machine. All II+ means is that Applesoft was in ROM 
instead of Integer Basic.
 
> ?- No Autostart in the ROMs, would suggest it's an Apple II, not II+,
> IE I turn the machine on and a bunch of "?" appear and it dumps into
> monitor mode with the "*"  I have to type 6 [cntrl] p enter, to boot
> the disk-- These are all signs of an Apple II, not II+

I believe that's the case as long as it's the original ROM. Some 
hackers and programmers didn't like the autostart ROM and swapped in 
the older ROM.
 
> ?- Missing the 'Programers Aid' ROM chip, would suggest it's an Apple
> II, not II+

Having the Programmers Aid would guarantee it has Integer Basic ROMs 
not Applesoft. Applesoft Basic and the autostart ROM used up all 6 ROM 
sockets, there was no place left to install the Programmers Aid in
the II+.
Integer Basic and the monitor ROM only used up 4 sockets. 

 
> ?- The 16/16/16 printed on the motherboard, left of the RAM, would
> suggest it's an Apple II, not II+

I don't recall it being printed on the motherboard on any version.
If you're referring to the 3 memory select blocks then not necessarily.
I believe the change from II to II+ was while the Rev 4 was in 
production. I've seen a number that were II and some that were II+
In the Rev 4s they soldered in the Memory Select blocks. 
 
> ?- Is there an Apple II motherboard that has a Copyright 1977, or did
> the motherboards on the Apple IIs start with Copyright 1978?

The early ones had �1977
 
> ?- Is there an Apple II copyright 1977, Rev (0) that's older than the
> Apple II copyright 1978, Rev (1)s?

Yes

The very early Rev 0 also had green slots. One of our User Group members 
has # 92, supposed to be the second one sold in Canada. I think it was 
3 years ago he brought it out to a meeting. Really wish someone had 
brought a camera. I got a few screen shots from a camcorder but they're 
pretty poor.

	Wayne