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Subject: Re: Apple II info please...
From: Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
Date: Wed, Jun 24, 1998 19�18 EDT
Message-id: <35918949.3C977DD2@swbell.net>
Clockmeister writes ...
>
> Hi,
>
> As a computer enthusiast I would be gratefull if someone could tell me what
> the technical specifications are of an Apple II (GS).
> Specifically, expansion capabilities, operating system(s), processor type
> and speed and video capabilities.
Okay; here is some tech info ..
microprocessor- 65C816 (8-bit Data bus, 16-bit main registers)
addresses up to 16MB; uses super-set of 6502 instructions;
mode switching to permit 6502 'emulation'
Main modes of operation- GS (new stuff) and 'old Apple II' (to allow
running most Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc software)
Speed- base system max is a bit below 3MHz (max with accelerator
board is around 12MHz equivalent main system speed)
Memory- base 256k (ROM-00 or ROM-01 models) or 1MB (ROM-03 models)
expandable to 8MB max.
Video- RGB (H: 15.7kHz, V: 60Hz or 50Hz); composite via separate jack.
40 and 80 column x 24 Text modes (Border, Background, and
Text color can be set to 1 of 16), various lower res graphics
modes in 6-16 colors, standard 320 x 200 x 16 color and
640 x 200 x 4 color Super-res modes (individual scan line
palette selection allows good match to PC 320 x 200 x 256 color
displays)
Audio- 'old Apple' bit-toggle sound + Ensoniq with 64k for sound
synthesis through up to 8 multiplexed channels. Base system
outputs monophonic mix of all sounds through a stereo jack (the
left & right leads connect to a single source). Standard additions
are a Stereo Board (de-mpx to 2 channels) and Analog input board
for digitizing and recording sound samples.
Diskette drives- up to two 5.25" (140k) and two 3.5" (800k) drives on
a daisy chain
Hard disk- none on base system; Slot plug-ins allow a variety of SCSI
and IDE hard drives to be used
CD-ROM, Zip Drive, Tape backup- none on base system; Slot plug-in SCSI
interface allows attaching a variety of units.
Keyboard and mouse- connected via Apple Desktop Bus chain to which
other ADB devices (e.g. a trackball) may be added
Serial I/O- up to 56k baud standard serial at Printer and Modem ports
Game Port- support for up to two joysticks or other controllers
(joysticks are variable resistance types and are compatible across II
series; they are not compatible with PC, C-64, etc.)
> Also age of the various Apple II's and
> it's derivatives.
>
Most Apple II and II+ computers originate from 1979-1981; IIe's
start a year or so later. IIc's and IIgs's start around the mid-80's.
The ROM-03 GS (or "ROM 3" if you're a purist) arrived in 1989. Enhanced
IIe's, IIc+, and IIgs models were produced into the early 90's.
> Is the Apple II even remotely similar in design principle to the early
> Macintosh range ?
>
....
Versus, say, an IBM 1620, sure. In the context of the major design
issues of the time, most observes would say they differ greatly.
Mac was a compact, sealed box with a built-in higher resolution
monochrome display, a separate keyboard and mouse, and it featured a
graphical user interface (e.g. like Windows 95).
Apple II was an open-box system with Slots to add important new
capabilities (e.g. more memory, disk controller, serial interface,
MockingBoard sound, etc.). At the time of the first Mac, graphics were
lower resolution; but, they could be in color. Apple II systems were
seldom compact and varied somewhat from user to user (though not in
anything like the way today's PC's vary).
The Mac was a relatively expensive 'yuppie machine' package which
the user was not supposed to understand or modify. It was a use 'as is'
computer oriented toward what, today, would be called 'personal
assistance' applications. Mac was never much of a game machine.
Basically, it was the first 'notebook computer'.
The Apple II was not especially cheap, either; but, it was, from
the start, a 'hacker's machine'. Users wanted to know how things worked
and Apple obliged with info-packed manuals. Everyone experimented with
various plug-ins and many made all sorts of modifications to the
motherboard, keyboard, disk drives, ... .
Apple II was a 'do whatever' machine; and, 'whatever' included word
processing, music, telecom, ..., educational programs, and lots of game
playing.
Our newsgroup FAQs add a bit to the above. See the Main Hall
(F005A2MHALL.TXT) file at ...
ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs .
Rubywand