Thought I'd share this. I was walking home tonight when I spotted
something in a trash pile that looked familiar, to the point I thought I
was imagining things. Low and behold, sitting in a cardboard box filled
with newspapers and empty food containers was, of all things, an
original Apple II Plus with a Disk ][ drive!
It's bizarre enough spotting one _thrown away_ in 2010, but even
more strange is when I checked my old postings on Google Groups:
The last time I found I an Apple II Plus was July 28, 1994---exactly
16 years to the *very day*! Heh, fate maybe?
It looks to have a revision 'C' motherboard and a serial number in
the very low 200,000's. Only slot cards inside were a Taiwanese
16K Language Card labeled "Happy" and parallel interface card,
plus an Apple made Disk II controller. Looks like it came with 32K
and later upgraded to 48K RAM plus the Language Card. Also has a
Supr Mod II affixed inside. Doesn't power up, likely the powersupply
is the culprit. Been years since I've opened one up, I can't remember
if the fuse was socketed or not, or what is the most likely component
inside the old gold colored powersupplies to go. Too bad I don't have
any more spare Apple II powersupplies on hand. The keyboard has
some slight damage too. There is a pharse written on the motherboard
along the right-hand side, not sure if it was an Apple engineer or the
previous owner. Can't remember what it said off hand.
...and yes, I did rescue it and take it in. Just not sure what to do with
it. I may try and repair it and pass it along since I still have my other
Apple II Plus.
Mitchell Spector