#### Back to index | # Info for apple2c

#### Apple //c Series

Known Issues:
Requires full keyboard emulation. At startup, full keyboard emulation mode is enabled by
default. Whilst in full keyboard emulation mode, some key associated functionality may be
disabled (like the ESC key for EXIT). The keyboard emulation mode is toggled using the
scroll_lock key.

History and Trivia:
The Apple IIc is the compact (the "c" means compact) version of the Apple IIe. It has the
same characteristics but lot of features which are optional on the IIe are provided on the
IIc (floppy disk drive, 80 columns display, color display, 128 KB RAM), but unlike the
Apple 2e, it has no expansion slots, so it is hard to add features to this computer. It
runs either with DOS 3.3 either with ProDos and has the first version of QuickDraw in ROM.
The Apple IIc was originally designed to be a portable version of the Apple II, but it
wasn't a stand alone system, it has no batteries and no LCD screen (Apple would soon
release the items), it could also be used with a small 9" monochrome green screen which
plugged into the unit. The Apple IIc was mainly used as a desktop computer. The Apple IIc
was replaced with the Apple IIc+ in 1988.
The Apple IIc Plus unit was a direct response to the Laser 128EX/2. Apple retrofitted the
IIc design to try to compete with Video Technology's high speed Apple II clone. The
retrofitting is evident in the design of the motherboard. The motherboard runs at 1Mhz,
unlike the Laser 128EX/2. In order to run its programs faster, Apple used a 4Mhz 65C02
with 8k of high speed SRAM cache and licensed the accelerator design from Zip
Technologies (makers of the ZipChip accelerator for the IIe and IIc). They built an
accelerator into a 1Mhz motherboard rather than design a faster motherboard from scratch.
The designers of the Apple IIc Plus originally wanted to make a portable IIGS. Apple's
management, bent on promoting the Mac, balked at the idea. At the same time, the
Laser 128EX/2 made a quick design cycle mandatory. The result is an updated IIc.
The Apple IIc Plus was the finest Apple 8-bit computer ever built, but lack of marketing,
the apparent de-evolution in technology compared to the 16-bit Apple IIGS, and the
aggressive sale of the Laser 128EX/2 made the IIc Plus the most short lived of the
Apple II models.

created on Mon Dec 09 08:16:57 2002