LASER 128: questions

[sebugg@presby.edu (Stephen Buggie)]

sebugg@presby.edu                                         8/20/93

                         LASER 128: QUESTIONS
                         ====================

Recently I bought a used Laser 128 computer at a very reasonable price ($50
plus shipping, including monitor.  I have some questions about the Laser.
The computer works great; no problems so far in its basic operation.  Am
impressed with it.e.  Advice on the following points will be appreciated: via
e-mail, or by posting to the netgroup if the answer is of general interest.
What I have is the standard Laser 128, without accelerator.  It is the "late
model 128," with lines that tilt up to the left on the casing.

(a) 3.5" external disk drives:  Which of these can operate from the db-19
external drive port:  Apple Unidisk 3.5?  Mac-compatible 800K drives?  Apple
3.5" platinum drive?  AE 800K drive?   Can a combination of 5.25" and 3.5"
disk drives be daisy-chained from the drive port?

(b) RGB video output:  Can an RGB video monitor be operated directly from
the db-15 video port?  Or, as in the case of the Apple IIc video port, is
an external "box" is needed between that port and the RGB monitor?  Which
RGB monitors are compatible with this port: analog RGB, digital RGB, or
both?

(c) I have a great accessory (recommended by Joe Kohn) called the "Video
Seven Greyscale Enhancer" which I use on my IIc's.  This thing fits on the
IIc db-15 video port;  will it work also on the Laser db-15 RGB port?

(d) Keyboard: Can the laser keys switches safely be cleaned under the
keycaps (as I did on my IIe keys with good results) or would cleaning be
harmful (as is the case with the IIc keyboard, according to recent cas2
articles).

(e) Laser accessories:  The Laser 128 has been discontinued, so does anyone
know where these accessories are available as a low price, either used or
new:   internal RAM expansion interface board,  external two-card interface
board,   Laser parallel printer card (db-15 male to Centronics male),
Laser books, etc.

(f) Is the AE IIC SYSTEM CLOCK ("white box on a serial cable") compatible
with the Laser 128?  A no-slot clock cannot be readily fitted on the
motherboard because due to its height it will hit the casing.  The AE
IIC system clock would work better (Anyone selling that IIc clock cheaply?)

(g) Self-test:  Does the Laser 128 have a built-in self-test like the
Apple IIe or IIc?  I held down the two triangle keys during power-up and
got no self-test.

(h) Disk drive: Can the Laser 128 disk drive be removed from its casing
and then installed in the computer's internal location?  I have several
external Apple disk drives but am thinking of getting a used Laser external
as a spare in the event that the Laser's own internal drive eventually wears
out.

(i) No ground in the power cable:  Unlike real Apples, which always have
the third ground connector, the Laser's power cord only has two pins. Is
the static electricity risk very great?  My den has significant static from
the carpet during the cold dry winter months.  Should I apply electrical
tape over the unused ports?  Can anyone advise me where port-covers to fit the
exact port sizes are available for purchase?

(j) Row of special function keys:  The keyboard has a fifth row of 10
special function keys.  But these seem to be dedicated to "control" keys
that are never used in my software.  Does anyone know how these keys
could be remapped; for example, as macro-keys???

(k) How compatible are the components of the basic Laser 128 with other
Laser computers: 128/EX and 128/EX-2?  I ask this in the event that I
get the chance to buy a second Laser computer from which the parts may
be cannibalized and transferred over to this computer.  In particular,
how is the Acceleration done in the EX and EX-2;  is it a zip chip /
rocketchip that could be removed and put into this machine, or some
other way?

Advice on these queries will be appreciated!        sebugg

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 ** Stephen Buggie  Psych Dept  Presbyterian College   Clinton SC 29325 **
 ** sebugg@presby.edu                 voice: (803) 833-8337 or 833-1632 **
 **             The Apple II pledge:  never to mess with MS-DOS         **
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