Re: Unenhanced IIe Question

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Warren Ernst <wernst@gmail.com> wrote:

> On May 11, 2:21 pm, demp...@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) wrote:
> > D Finnigan <dog_...@macgui.com> wrote:
> > > Quick question: were there ever unenhanced IIe (that display Apple ][ on
> > > boot) which had the black-lettered keys?
> >
> > The enhancement kit and pre-enhanced IIes were being sold in 1985.
> >
> > The platinum case redesign was in 1987, so the answer is no.
> >
> > Someone could in theory downgrade a platinum model to be unenhanced, if
> > all the relevant chips didn't change and are socketed (I seem to recall
> > a single ROM rather than a pair, which would complicate things).
> 
> Hmmm.
> 
> My original beige //e was bought new by my dad in 1986 (I think) and
> has black silkscreening on the keys, and we had to buy an enhancement
> kit for it later in its life. I still have this computer sitting in my
> office.

Hm indeed. Perhaps the international platinum //e models were released
later than in the US. I might have misremembered the year ('86 vs '87),
but I'm very surprised Apple would still be selling an unenhanced //e in
'86, especially after a body redesign.

Is your //e a platinum model (with built-in numeric keypad), or the
original body design just with a newer style of keys?

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz