Re: //c vs //c+

[Chad Choi Lin <chadlin@nyetcom.com>]

Jeffery Thomas wrote:

> Dain Neater (dn15236@navix.net) wrote:
> : The only thing that I know of is that the IIC+ is about 4 times faster than
> : the IIC.  Im sure there are more...
>
> Well the drive sure is noisier too. :-)

Having owned an original //c (1MHz clock speed, big heavy external power supply,
only compatible with the //c external 5.25" floppy drive, no memory expansion
option without upgrading the ROMs first) and now owning a //c+, I can attest that
the latter model does indeed have a slightly louder internal drive -- but for
800K per floppy disk, why should I complain? Besides, it remains almost at the
same noise level when it formats a disk, whereas the original //c made an
*incredible* racket when it initialized a 5.25" floppy. No, I do not regret
upgrading my Apple II system at all.

> I just got some documentation from a friend wanting to pair down his
> computer collection, and one of the books says the IIC is 1.02MHz, and if
> I remember corectly the IIC+ is going at 4MHz approx.

True enough, but you can force the //c+ to run at approximately 1MHz by pressing
and holding the "esc" key while booting or resetting the system (when switching
on power, press the esc key first and keep it held down until after the machine
is on; if rebooting via the "Vulcan Nerve Pinch," you should release both the
Open Apple *and* the esc key last) -- the word "Normal" will briefly appear on
the screen to let you know you succeeded. Then you can run speed-sensitive
programs (such as games) that were intended for the standard 1MHz clock speed
until you reset or power-cycle the machine.

> Oh yeah, there was another external thing which the IIC+ doesn't have but
> the IIC does, I found it the other day looking around the two consoles.
> The IIC has an earphone jack.
>
> Later...

You forgot the Big White Brick on A Rope that you had to lug around with the
original model (because the initial //c design lacked enough space for an
internal power supply). The //c+ offers a much simpler arrangement: it only
requires a standard NEMA 3-prong power cable, just like the ones that modern PCs
and monitors need. Of course, some people may not like it since the //c+ will not
accept a DC input such as a battery or car cigerette lighter adapter (whereas the
//c could, given the right hookup). Maybe someone could get away with running
their //c+ off of a DC-to-AC power inverter, but I am wary of using those devices
with computer equipment.... ;-/

At any rate, hope you have fun with all of your Apples!


Peace, Love, and Apple II Forever!
Chad Choi Lin
chadlin@nyetcom.com

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