Re: Apple IIc Plus System Disks?

[Linards Ticmanis <ticmanis@gmx.de>]

On 05/23/2011 04:03 PM, Your name wrote:
> Hello, I recently acquired an Apple IIc Plus computer, monitor and stand 
> all in the original boxes. There is a joystick, but no mouse. Everything's 
> hooked up and working, but I have no disks. It's been so many yeas since 
> I've used something this ancient. I'm 42 and have been using computers 
> since the mid-80s, but can't recall what's needed to get any use out of 
> this. Guess I need to wrap my head around the idea of a system where each 
> program you use requires disks that be loaded. My question is where to 
> begin? Can anything be done without disks? What commands can be used? What 
> is a good resource for the beginner with this system? Any tips or pointers 
> are appreciated. Thanks, Gary

On the non-Plus //c, you can enter BASIC and play around a bit even
without a disk, by pressing Ctrl-Reset at the startup screen that
prompts you to insert a disk. But of course you can't load or save any
programs then, so it's really only useful for playing around. I guess
this will work on the //c+ too, though I've never tried it as I don't
own one.

As for BASIC, google e.g. for "The Applesoft Tutorial" and "The
Applesoft BASIC II Reference Manual", or "A Touch of Applesoft BASIC".
These were original Apple manuals shipped with various computer models,
they should get you started. Applesoft BASIC is similar to the BASIC
used on the Commodore VIC-20 and C64 (only better), so if you ever used
one of these, you shouldn't find it hard to get started.

Also, you should be able to start the self-test by powering up while
holding down the "Option" key (which corresponds to the "Closed Apple"
key of previous Apple II models).

Get your hands on some DD (720K) 3.5" disks (1.44 MB HD disks will NOT
work right), and then check out ADTPro http://adtpro.sf.net to transfer
an operating system (most likely ProDOS 2.0.3) or anything else to a
//c+ disk. You'll need a PC or modern Mac with a RS-232 serial port (can
be built-in or an external USB adapter), and you'll have to buy or build
a null-modem cable that fits the //c+ serial port and whatever RS-232
connector you have on the PC side. It's all explained very well on that
web site.

What's unfortunately NOT possible without highly special hardware or
extremely evil hacks: writing a disk the //c+ can read on a PC floppy
drive, or vice-versa.

> P.S. I have a whole box of old Mac software from a system I briefly had 
> years ago. Can any of that be used?

No, unfortunately the //c+ is not at all Mac compatible. But you can use
almost all software written for the Apple II, II+, //e and //c on it,
which is thousands of titles including many classic games, most of which
can be found on the web somewhere. Many will not work from 3.5" disks
though, since the most common storage medium for the Apple II series by
far was the 5.25" floppy disk, so I'd get an external 5.25" disk drive
if I were you. All Apple made 5.25" disk drives with the 19-pin
connector should work equally well on the //c+ as far as I know. Such as
the Apple Disk 5.25", the Unidisk 5.25" and the DuoDisk 5.25". You can
use the old "Disk II" type drive with a simple adapter (the connector is
different but the signals are the same, so it's just a matter of
wiring). I don't know whether the //c+ will auto-boot from the external
drive, if it does not, enter BASIC as described above, type PR#6 and hit
return. Many older games will require "Caps Lock" to be activated since
the early Apple II models didn't support lower-case letters at all.

-- 
Linards Ticmanis