Re: Apple built monitors for //e?

[ralphp@gcstation.net (Ralph Wade Phillips)]

Hi, David!

In article <537ade$nhc@login.freenet.columbus.oh.us>,
dalloff@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Dave Althoff) wrote:

> I somehow missed the original question, but...
> 
> The video output of the //e (and the RCA video jack on the IIgs, for that
> matter) is almost NTSC composite color video.  It's close enough that I
> can run the signal through a time-base corrector (i.e. framesync) and feed
> it to a broadcast video switcher with no trouble at all.
> 
> For some long time, the Apple monochrome monitor was that big
> Hitachi-built (I think) monitor called the "Monitor ///".  I think it is
> the only part of the Apple /// line that Apple sold a potful of...it's a
> green-screen with a contrast knob and power switch on the front, and a
> built-in fabric anti-glare screen.  Personally, I don't much care for
> them.  It was a long time before Apple came out with a color monitor.

        Samsung-built, but with Hitachi CRT's.  Easy mistake to make.

        Easiest way to determine a Samsung-built OEM monitor?  Sharp edges
on the sheet metal inside! <B-(

> 
> I believe the first Apple color monitor was the AppleColor 100, which
> required the use of a special RGB card.  This is the monitor that came
> with the motorized tilt-screen (what a dumb idea...), and as I recall, the
> color rendition left a bit to be desired on the one I saw.

        Ayep.  However the motorized tilt/swivel made GOOD sense when you
consider the weight of the CRT assembly.  It didn't make any good sense to
use braded gears, tho ... <B-(  (I call it the "Flopomatic" tilt screen ..
<B-) )

> 
> Later, Apple introduced the Monitor //, which is what I have.  I believe
> it was also built by Hitachi, and it has a *manual* tilt-screen (i.e.
> push in at the top or bottom), green monochrome display, power switch on
> the front and contrast control on the side.  It also corrected the main
> problems of the Monitor /// in a couple of major ways.  First of all, the
> cabinet is the proper size to fit on top of the Apple ][.  The Monitor ///
> is a bit too wide, hence the existance of the monitor stands for the ][
> series.  Second, the back surface of the CRT is etched to give the monitor
> an anti-glare surface, but a smooth outside finish.  This provides a good
> looking display, which is a lot brighter than the Monitor /// with cloth
> filter, and can actually be cleaned.  This is arguably the nicest NTSC
> monochrome computer monitor around.

        Just about, that's for sure.  Samsung ALWAYS made a good monitor,
solid, reliable, repairable.  (BTW - Monitor // was ALSO made by Samsung.)

        Remember, the Monitor /// was designed for the Apple ///, and fit
it perfectly.  There was a monitor stand that would hold the Monitor ///
on the Apple ][ family (][, ][+, //e) and helped it to fit better.

> 
> Finally, Apple introduced the Composite Color Monitor.  This comes in two
> flavors...beige and platinum.  Like the Monitor //, it fits nicely atop a
> ][e case.  As a color monitor, it is beautiful, high resolution, nice
> color.  As a computer monitor, it is also very nice, because...unlike most
> composite color monitors...it has high enough resolution for 80-column
> text.  This also includes a color-killer switch, which eliminates color
> fringing in graphics modes.  The monitor can normally detect the NTSC
> color burst signal...the ][e sends burst in any graphics mode, but drops
> it from the signal in all-text modes...and respond accordingly.  Or if you
> are running a program that uses hi-res text, or a mixed display, you can
> push a button and force the monitor to monochrome.
> 
> This monitor has only two major shortcomings.  First, the input jack is
> mounted on the rearmost surface of the monitor, which means if you shove
> the computer and monitor back against the wall, you'll break the cable
> connector.  Second, many of them shipped with incorrect fuses, which would
> blow unexpectedly for no reason at all.

        Good reason - fatigue from kicking the monitor on at the wrong
portion of the AC cycle.  Well known fact, but they NEVER blew in the
design lab.  Way to tell if that's the problem, when you see a "dead"
AppleColor Composite Monitor, is when you open the case, if the fuse is a
3.15amp, AND if you can see both ends of the fuse wire with a gap betwee,
upgrade to a 4amp fuse.  IF the fuse has "flashbulbed" (i.e., there's a
silver coating to the inside of the fuse), it's got AC input problems
(they also had a small problem with shorting diodes in the AC input
circuit) ... DON'T replace the fuse until you can get to repairing it!

        BTW - The "AppleColor Composite Monitor //x" (where x = either C
or E, depending on which computer it was to be used on) were made by both
Hitachi and Samsung, so there's actually four(!!) models, and then there
were two versions of the ... Samsung? ... variant - makes a total of SIX
monitors that can all be "identical" until you crack the case open!  Sigh.

> 
> And of course, Apple sold monitors specifically for the IIc and IIgs, but
> that's another story.

        Yep.  The Monitor //c is STILL highly prized by hams around here. 
There isn't another 9" composite monitor that works as well.

        RwP

-- 
Ralph Wade Phillips, CET #LA-82
ralphp@gcstation.net