Laserbrand computer clone history as I recall

[Ed Eastman <ed@apple2.com>]

Laser brand history as I recall from my assosciations with Laser branded 
computers around mid/late 80s are first-hand observations.  (My memory 
may be falible, but noe the less I bring you this:

They were sold at Sears and various other software reatilers.  I guess 
they were also sold via mail-order but I was not aware tf that at the 
time, I saw one in a Software City and purchased it there in 87 or 88.

The Laser128XT was an IBM Clone. (seen at Sears)
The Laser128EX was a IIe clone with a 5.25" drive. (Owned one)
The Laser128EX/2 was a IIe clone with a 3.5" drive. (Friend owned one) 
At the time the accelerator became available, it could come in either 
case. (mail order ad)

This Apple II clone was an all-in-one style not dissimilar to the IIc 
look, handle and all.  The documentation said it was like a IIe in that 
it has expansion capabilities like a IIe.

The Laser128 has a Apple II compatible slot for expansion that can be 
set for either slot 5 or slot 7 via a switch accessible from underneath. 
 It can not be a IIc clone because a IIc had fixed hardware.

Any software that looked at the machine type would be limited to the IIc 
hardware if it were truely a IIc clone.  The Rom on My Laser128EX was a 
version 5.0 and had the IIe Rom ID bytes.   My cousins 'Laser128' was a 
Rom 2.0 and also had the IIe Rom ID bytes and would run the original 
protected Gato where mine would not.  (The IIgs also has the IIe ID bytes.)

The control panel was on my Laser128ex, I do not know it it was on my 
Cousin's Laser.  It was for controlling the ports.
Open-Delta+Ctrl+P - Port config
Open-Delta+Ctrl+M - Drop to the monitor <- loved this one.

Thankx,
Ed


Lockar wrote:
>    That's okay, I was just wondering if I was remembering that wrong. 
> I thought there was a Laster 128 that was very simular to the IIc+ in
> the same way execpt it had a control panel to control the panel, where
> the IIc+ you had to Control-Reset.
>
>       -Lockar