Re: Vtech's Laser 128 computer

[Ed Eastman <noone@nowhere.net>]

The Laser128 is a IIe clone, not IIc like everyone else (and the FAQ) 
seems to think.  It's ID bytes and Rom emulate the IIe with ID bytes and 
open slots available for expansion.  (OK, one slot, 5 or 7 unless you 
had the expansion box.)

The Laser128 had built in cards that made it a fully loaded IIe right 
out of the box with a smaller form factor not dissimilar to the IIc. 
Built in was a selectable serial or parallel on Slot1, Serial on slot 2, 
Video on slot 3, mouse on slot 4, Open slot or /RAM drive or 3.5 on slot 
5 (depending), 5.25" drive on slot 6.  There was a card expansion slot 
on the left side and was mapped to either slot 5 or 7 depending on a 
switch underneath and the model.

The video was composite along with a a built in RGB plug for suing an 
IBM type monitor.  (Was it CGA or EGA, I can't remember.)

The Laser128 EX had an accelerator, the EX/2 had the 3.5" drive instead 
of the 5.25" drive built into the side.

Other variations included different Rom revisions, my cousin had a Rom 
2.? and I had a 5.0 and his would run some older copy protected stuff 
where mine would not.

My favorite feature was the Ctrl-M-Reset to drop you into the monitor at 
any time.  Quite handy for programming and debugging.  :)

Thankx,
Ed

Canadian2 asked about the differences are between the Laser 128, EX, EX/2...