#### 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:
Apple "][", Apple "II", Apple "//" - Which is correct?
"][", "II", and "//" tend to be used pretty much interchangably for any model of Apple II
computer, although, practically speaking, there are a few usages which may provoke a
correction.
"][" is the original Apple II symbol. It appears on all early II's and II+'s as well as on the
Disk ][ drive. It is, easily, the most attractive and distinctive II symbol; but, it is also
associated with old Apple II's. The "//" usage is generally associated with the "c" and
newer "e" models.

The generally preferred machine designations are:
Apple ][ or Apple II for pre-][+ models
Apple ][+ or Apple II+
Apple IIe for non-enhanced IIe computers
Apple //e for 128k-enhanced IIe computers
Apple //c
Apple IIc+
Apple IIgs or GS or best (if you have the fonts) ||GS
The Apple //c 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
//c (floppy disk drive, 80 columns display, color display, 128 KB RAM), but unlike the
Apple IIe, 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 //c 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 //c was mainly used as a desktop computer and
was replaced with the Apple IIc+ in 1988.
The Apple IIc+ unit was a direct response to the Laser 128EX/2. Apple retrofitted the
//c 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 //c). They built an
accelerator into a 1Mhz motherboard rather than design a faster motherboard from scratch.
The designers of the Apple IIc+ originally wanted to make a portable ||GS. 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 //c.
Apple //c went under several revisions: you can discover which machine you are using issuing
the command PRINT PEEK(64447).
If 255 is displayed, you have the first, original model. This model is known to have problems
producing accurate baud rates for serial communications.
If 0 is displayed, you can use 3.5" drives, but you don't have the memory expansion connector.
If 3 is displayed, you have the memory exapnsion connector and you can plug in extra memory.
If 4 is displayed, you have the latest model with memory expansion connector and extra upgrades.
If 5 is displayed, you have an Apple IIc+.
The Apple IIc+ 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 ||GS, and the
aggressive sale of the Laser 128EX/2 made the IIc+ the most short lived of the
Apple II models.

Generated on Tue Jul 15 11:11:04 2003