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Other than historical curiosity, is there any advantage to *not* upgrading an Apple IIe to "Enhanced?"

Huxley

Well-known member
I've been hard at work restoring a nice early "Revision A" Apple IIe - it's been a fantastic learning experience! I've been into the RetroComputing hobby since the early 1990's, but until now I'd never really dabbled in soldering, capacitor replacement, etc., so it's been a blast.

With the above in mind: this is an "un-Enhanced" Apple IIe. I also have a nice Platinum IIe in my collection, so having such an early example alongside a last-gen IIe will be a fun exhibit at our future Retro Roadshow events. However, this machine I'm working on is still in the non-Enhanced config, and I'm wondering: other than just the historical curiosity of such an early IIe being left 'stock,' is there any upside or advantage to leaving it non-Enhanced?

I'm aware that Enhancement kits are relatively inexpensive, and it's certainly easy enough to swap the original CPU and ROM chips back into the machine if there's a good reason to... so I'm wondering if there's a good reason to :)

Thanks for any thoughts on this!

Huxley
 

volvo242gt

Well-known member
Revision A doesn't do double Hi-Res graphics. Revision B does. The unenhanced //e machines do work better with software that has inverse text in 80 column mode. Case in point, Micro$oft Multiplan. On an enhanced //e, a //c, or a IIgs, etc, all the capital letters will wind up being MouseText characters when highlighted. Unenhanced //e or a ][+, etc, you'll see the capital letters when a word is highlighted.
 

Cory5412

Daring Pioneer of the Future
Staff member
(disclaimer: I know very little about 8-bit Apple II)

It depends on what "advantage" you want. I think you're on the right path that there could be a genuine advantage to leaving it stock, but I think the advantage is going to be in something like experience rather than, say, "some software runs better" because to be honest: if you wanted something that runs software well, a 40 year old computer probably isn't it.

These aren't typically still being used for productivity so "oh you should enhance it so it runs AppleWorks better" isn't necessarily on the table, especially since you already have the much newer platinum IIe.

Do you want to have done the upgrade? Then do it. Do you want to leave it alone so as to show differences?

Another possible way to think of this is, if you're doing it to simulate some point in the machine's service life, what point do you want to simulate?
 

Skate323k137

Well-known member
Another possible way to think of this is, if you're doing it to simulate some point in the machine's service life, what point do you want to simulate?
I think this is really great advice here honestly. It is something I always take into consideration when putting together a rig, especially if it's going to be used with outboard accessories.
 

rplacd

Well-known member
(disclaimer: I know very little about 8-bit Apple II)

It depends on what "advantage" you want. I think you're on the right path that there could be a genuine advantage to leaving it stock, but I think the advantage is going to be in something like experience rather than, say, "some software runs better" because to be honest: if you wanted something that runs software well, a 40 year old computer probably isn't it.

These aren't typically still being used for productivity so "oh you should enhance it so it runs AppleWorks better" isn't necessarily on the table, especially since you already have the much newer platinum IIe.

Do you want to have done the upgrade? Then do it. Do you want to leave it alone so as to show differences?

Another possible way to think of this is, if you're doing it to simulate some point in the machine's service life, what point do you want to simulate?
Very out of topic, but – this is why it's nice to have multiple computers of the same model, so you don't have to choose! Well, I have a Classic II that's been stickered all over to honor its past as a college newspaper daily driver, and an SE/30 that (ROM-related simasimac allowing) will be tricked out with a '040 upgrade.
 

Huxley

Well-known member
Hi again everyone!

Thanks for the thoughts, suggestions and feedback, I really appreciate it!

I went ahead and ordered an Enhancement Kit from ReactiveMicro. I like that it's just a matter of swapping three chips - I'll definitely keep the original CPU and ROM's with this machine, and if I get to a point where I'm building something like an "Evolution of the Apple II Series" exhibit, I might 'downgrade' it back to non-Enhanced status again.

I appreciate the replies!

Huxley
 

Skate323k137

Well-known member
Awesome stuff. If nothing else the 65c02 draws less power, which always makes me happy.

Reactive Micro has gotten a lot of my business over the years and has always been solid.
 
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