Apple ///

[Sanman]

Hi,

I was looking at my Apple /// & /// plus, I can't find a model number, only a serial number, they both start with A3S2-, then a 6 digit serial number. One is clearly marked Apple /// and the other is clearly marked Apple /// plus, is this normal? What is the main difference between the /// & ///+ other than the name plate and different layout of the keyboard?

Thanks Ed

 

[david__schmidt]

One is clearly marked Apple /// and the other is clearly marked Apple /// plus, is this normal?

Yes. They're two different machines.

What is the main difference between the /// & ///+ other than the name plate and different layout of the keyboard?

Apple-history.com lists some of the differences. The Plus was an attempt to overcome some of the quality problems the non-plus had. History counts it as too little, too late to save the line. A nice, quick read about the computer and its history is here:

http://siliconuser.com/?q=node/18

 

[Mac128]

Sanaman, tying this to your 128K colour question, the /// & ///Plus mark another change in Apple's colour scheme. The /// Plus should have the new medium-brown keyboard with black characters vs. the original /// which had the chocolate brown keyboard with white characters and accents. My theory here is that the /// was tied to the original Apple ][ and ][+ beige and the /// Plus represented a company-wide change in beige colour & plastics, along with the introduction of the IIe (first with medium-brown keys & white characters, then black), which is also the same beige colour the Lisa uses. Whether this actually happened with the /// and the original keyboard, you are in a good position to tell us. The Mac then was the next departure, followed by the //c which either introduced a new shade of beige on it's accents or continued to use the II, III & Lisa series colour. If a new colour then all the Apple IIs may have switched to it before the change to Platinum. Still some research to be done.

 

[Quadraman]

One is clearly marked Apple /// and the other is clearly marked Apple /// plus, is this normal?

Yes. They're two different machines.

What is the main difference between the /// & ///+ other than the name plate and different layout of the keyboard?

Apple-history.com lists some of the differences. The Plus was an attempt to overcome some of the quality problems the non-plus had. History counts it as too little, too late to save the line. A nice, quick read about the computer and its history is here:

http://siliconuser.com/?q=node/18

Sometimes you can just tell that Jobs is more artist than engineer, and the Apple /// was one of those times. Imagine making a computer today and telling people if there's a problem to pick it up and drop it sharply on the desk. It reminds me of a story I read about the East German nightmare car called the Trabant. The owners manual advises fleeing for your life if the car makes any unusual noises.

 

[krfkeith]

wow, I seriously laughed out loud on the car thing!

 

[Charlieman]

Imagine making a computer today and telling people if there's a problem to pick it up and drop it sharply on the desk.

For most Windows consumers, lift and drop would be more preferable than the recommendations that they receive from popular advice sites.

It reminds me of a story I read about the East German nightmare car called the Trabant. The owners manual advises fleeing for your life if the car makes any unusual noises.

The Trabant is much maligned. The design used elements (esp two stroke engine) from other cheap post WWII German cars, which themselves were based on pre-war cars. Essentially the Trabant was a 1948 car that was still made in 1989 (with a bit of fuzz there after). It is crude, generally worked and easy to fix. Wealthy people find no problem buying a Morgan, based on a 1930s chassis, so simplicity is not necessarily undesirable.

"Flee if the car makes unusual noises" is a myth. However the Trabant has a fuel tank mounted under the bonnet above the engine. So vacate the car during refilling...