Re: Unenhanced IIe Question

[mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com>]

On May 12, 12:04 pm, demp...@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) wrote:
> Warren Ernst <wer...@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.

I'm sure I remember the platinum IIe being released with the IIgs in
'87. About the same time all machines standardised on the
platinumified "Snow White" design language.

Except the //c of course, which remains my favourite piece of Apple
industrial design...

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

There were three body designs. The original-original IIe used a ]
[ style case with V slots and still used Disk ][ drives. The
switchover to the D shell casing happened a bit later (not sure how
long) and bought with it the UniDisk and DuoDisk and the newer/cheaper
Alps mechanism.

Matt