Re: Rarity and Pricing

[russotto@wanda.vf.pond.com (Matthew T. Russotto)]

In article <3a1e610c_2@news3.prserv.net>,
Tom Zuchowski <tzuchow@attglobal.net> wrote:
}There are further rarities in the Apple ][ category. Revision 1-6 of this
}motherboard had jumper blocks on the motherboard RAM rows so that you could
}configure it to use 4K or 16K RAM chips (16K RAM was quite expensive back
}then, running about $50 per chip.) The Rev.7 motherboard did away with the
}jumper blocks, added some sort of enhancement to video (I forget what,)
}replaced the character generator chip with a 2516 PROM, and had the new
}keyboard that permitted you to optionally use control-reset instead of the
}bare reset key.

The main enhancement to video was the 'half-dot shift'.  Before that, you
had only four hires colors.  (purple, green, black, white).  According
to the Apple II Reference Manual, the earlier ][s also lacked the
color killer circuit (so text mode wouldn't show colored fringes).
And it didn't have a power-on reset.  I suspect these ][s are quite rare.

}I don't know how many, if any, of the Rev 1-5's were sold, and I don't know
}if Apple actually ever sold any ]['s with 4K RAM chips. But when I started
}with my ][+ in 1980 the Rev.6 ]['s were quite common.

I'm pretty sure my ][+ had the jumper blocks.  The Apple II Reference
manual refers only to Rev 0 and Rev 1 boards; I don't know if these
correspond to your numbers.

(FWIW, the number in the rear left corner of my board was in the
8000s, but I don't remember exactly what it was.  The board numbered
7907 is pictured in the manual and it was a Revision 1 board not used
for a II+, my board looked the same except the D8/D0 ROM locations
were filled)
-- 
Matthew T. Russotto                                russotto@pond.com
"Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice, and moderation in pursuit
of justice is no virtue."