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Good first Apple II?

Patiently wait for one at the right price (the ROM can be upgraded if needed). For that amount, I'd just grab the IIgs they have for sale.

Normally I would recommend the IIc as a good first Apple II. It comes with everything you need to get you up and running in a case complete with a handle. Mass storage is much easier to come by with all the different Smartport adapters that have appeared on the market like the FloppyEmu.
 
NJRoadfan said:
For that amount, I'd just grab the IIgs they have for sale.
Click to expand...
I thought about that, but considering that I'd need to get at a minimum a floppy drive, plus keyboard and mouse if I wanted to use it at the same time as my Mac...

And from what I understand there's not a whole lot of software that takes advantage of the IIgs, is that correct?
 
There is a decent amount. There were a few graphics programs released for the gs over the years, plus some games that won't run on an 8-bit II machines, etc... Since the gs uses ADB, even a cheap ADK will work. Apple 5.25 Drives can be had for $40, plus shipping, in useable condition. The A9M0106 drives are a little more, but usually are below $75, again in useable condition.
 
The IIgs being able to connect to a vintage mac using serial makes transferring images to real floppies easier if you do that kind of thing.

I have a couple IIgs systems as my only Apple II compatibles but wouldn't mind a Laser 128 but they are not cheap. The IIgs systems I have were cheap (or free) back when I got them.
 
Just picked up a IIc, now trying to get software for it, no floppies were included (just ordered the special serial cable and bootable floppy with ADTpro)!

I read in this thread that IIc' come at a premium price, but this seems more so in the USA?
I know ebay is not always a good indicator, but when i check the "completed/sold" items it looks like decent tested/working ones seldom go for less then 300$? And that's just the machine, complete sets with monitor/printer etc go even more?

Here in Europe you can often pick complete sets up at less then 200€ (210$), just saw a compete set with printer, monitor, mouse, all the original boxes, floppies, manuals etc go for 250€!

I got mine for 150€ including monitor and printer...

IMG20230410170600.jpg
 
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rjkucia said:
My Mac is an SE/30, so no cards for that. And of course, we could all use emulation for anything, but where's the fun in that? 😂
Click to expand...
Sounds like you need more Macs then ;)

Well the thing is, I don't really find Apple II stuff that interesting as it was all well before my time, so personally I find emulation enough to experience what the II is all about instead of spending money on machines I'll never use.
 
joshc said:
Sounds like you need more Macs then ;)

Well the thing is, I don't really find Apple II stuff that interesting as it was all well before my time, so personally I find emulation enough to experience what the II is all about instead of spending money on machines I'll never use.
Click to expand...
Jeez, you that young? 🤣🤣

I'm solidly from the 8-bit era, but due to financial limits, more like commodore 64, ti-99/4a etc .
 
Berenod said:
Jeez, you that young? 🤣🤣

I'm solidly from the 8-bit era, but due to financial limits, more like commodore 64, ti-99/4a etc .
Click to expand...
I just missed the 8-bit era, born in 1990 and my first computer was an SE. Maybe I'm still young but I sure don't feel it these days...
 
Berenod said:
Just picked up a IIc, now trying to get software for it, no floppies were included (just ordered the special serial cable and bootable floppy with ADTpro)!

I read in this thread that IIc' come at a premium price, but this seems more so in the USA?
I know ebay is not always a good indicator, but when i check the "completed/sold" items it looks like decent tested/working ones seldom go for less then 300$? And that's just the machine, complete sets with monitor/printer etc go even more?

Here in Europe you can often pick complete sets up at less then 200€ (210$), just saw a compete set with printer, monitor, mouse, all the original boxes, floppies, manuals etc go for 250€!

I got mine for 150€ including monitor and printer...

View attachment 55035
Click to expand...
Congrats on getting a //c system for such a good price. I had a //c, then picked up a //c+ and sold the //c. I've got a //c monitor but have it hooke up to an LCD monitor from Reactive Micro. Also have a FujiApple plugged into it, so not really using the 3.5 drive. The 4MHz speed is nice.
 
because you have an se/30, i would recommend trying out ][ in a mac. it's an apple ii emulator from 1985 that runs on black and white compact macs. if you do end up getting an apple iie or a ii plus, you can cable it to the macintosh and transfer software to and fro. using ii in a mac, you can also convert apple ii files to macintosh format and vice versa. you can try it out here
 
bedroom said:
because you have an se/30, i would recommend trying out ][ in a mac. it's an apple ii emulator from 1985 that runs on black and white compact macs. if you do end up getting an apple iie or a ii plus, you can cable it to the macintosh and transfer software to and fro. using ii in a mac, you can also convert apple ii files to macintosh format and vice versa. you can try it out here
Click to expand...
Thanks! That emulator looks like it has a delightful interface, so I'll try it out!
 
I finally did it - I got a IIc at VCFMW this weekend! I took it home and had the experience of figuring out how to use it - and figuring out which of my TVs like the composite signal and which ones don't. On the way are serial cables & floppies for ADT Pro, and a cheap composite-HDMI adapter that I'm hoping will be more consistent than the TV.

It appears to be an early model with a 255 ROM. I'm pretty sure it has an Alps keyboard - it feels very nice and clicky to type with, at least.

Any suggestions of cool things to check out in the world of Apple II?
 
Total Replay is a disk image that has a lot of the more popular games on it. If you do end up getting a floppy emu, it's well worth putting that image on it.

If you don't get one, then I suggest checking out ADTPro. This will allow you to connect your Mac or PC to the Apple II and write disk images to it.
 
IIe Platinum. It runs everything, has expansion slots, and the Platinum version has an extended keyboard, with numeric keypad. The early IIe, doesn't have a numeric keypad.
 
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