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Thinking about buying an Apple II
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iamdigitalman
Well-known member
The IIc+ was only sold in the US so to get it running on your electricity, you would need some sort of external 110 to 220 volt converter. I don't think there is a switch on the back of the IIc+ for that.
Get the IIe. I have two of them, and they are reliable, dependable workhorses. Or if you are in the need for more power, look at the IIgs. 16 bit, ADB, backwards compatible with the IIe cards, and faster. Plus it makes nice to run GS/OS on.
-digital
Get the IIe. I have two of them, and they are reliable, dependable workhorses. Or if you are in the need for more power, look at the IIgs. 16 bit, ADB, backwards compatible with the IIe cards, and faster. Plus it makes nice to run GS/OS on.
-digital
II2II
Well-known member
I cannot speak for the video angle, but the only real advantage to the IIe is expansion. If you don't need expansion, you'll probably be happier with a IIc+. Here's why:
- The IIc+ offers a 3.5" floppy drive. If you already have a 68k Mac, this will make it a lot easier to get data into the IIc+. Incidentally, every IIc+ offers a drive and you can add more if you please. Buying a IIe requires ensuring that you're getting (or tracking down) drives.
- The IIc+ has a Macintosh style serial port (physically, it's still RS-232 to my knowledge. This makes it a lot easier to connect the IIc+ to a Mac, PC, or modem. If you're getting a IIe, ask about (and be prepared to track down a serial card). Serial cards will make your life much easier.
- Every IIc+ is an "enhanced IIe" with the extra RAM. Some software wants the 65c02 processor, while some want 128kB or more or RAM. Yes you can get an enhanced IIe, but you have to be more careful while shopping. At a minimum ensure that you're getting a 64 kB memory card. Try to snag a machine with a 65c02 processor, though the processor bit is less important.
- The IIc+ is the fastest II made, at least for 8-bit software. (I'm not sure how the 8-bit/16-bit comparison works when comparing equivalent 8-bit software to 16-bit software.) Since you can only run 8-bit software on the IIc+ and virtually all of that software was designed for 1 MHz systems, you'll have a speed demon.
- It's will almost always be newer. Electronic components have a certain shelf life. Early IIe's are probably starting to decay. Late IIe's are about as serviceable as the IIc+. You may as well go with a IIc+ in that case.
- This has sorta already been said, but the IIc+ includes the most common expansion cards on board. This means that there is less effort tracking bits down. The only disadvantage is that you are losing some expansion options (IDE/SCSI hard drive and parallel card come to mind), but since they were less common to start with you are probably less likely to need them.
I looked at my IIc+ and there is no (externally accessible) switch for 220 V, so you will need a transformer.
Oh, and think about shipping if you aren't buying locally. Not only is the IIe larger, but the person who ships it to you may be a dork and leave cards in the slots (rather than packing them individually).
- The IIc+ offers a 3.5" floppy drive. If you already have a 68k Mac, this will make it a lot easier to get data into the IIc+. Incidentally, every IIc+ offers a drive and you can add more if you please. Buying a IIe requires ensuring that you're getting (or tracking down) drives.
- The IIc+ has a Macintosh style serial port (physically, it's still RS-232 to my knowledge. This makes it a lot easier to connect the IIc+ to a Mac, PC, or modem. If you're getting a IIe, ask about (and be prepared to track down a serial card). Serial cards will make your life much easier.
- Every IIc+ is an "enhanced IIe" with the extra RAM. Some software wants the 65c02 processor, while some want 128kB or more or RAM. Yes you can get an enhanced IIe, but you have to be more careful while shopping. At a minimum ensure that you're getting a 64 kB memory card. Try to snag a machine with a 65c02 processor, though the processor bit is less important.
- The IIc+ is the fastest II made, at least for 8-bit software. (I'm not sure how the 8-bit/16-bit comparison works when comparing equivalent 8-bit software to 16-bit software.) Since you can only run 8-bit software on the IIc+ and virtually all of that software was designed for 1 MHz systems, you'll have a speed demon.
- It's will almost always be newer. Electronic components have a certain shelf life. Early IIe's are probably starting to decay. Late IIe's are about as serviceable as the IIc+. You may as well go with a IIc+ in that case.
- This has sorta already been said, but the IIc+ includes the most common expansion cards on board. This means that there is less effort tracking bits down. The only disadvantage is that you are losing some expansion options (IDE/SCSI hard drive and parallel card come to mind), but since they were less common to start with you are probably less likely to need them.
I looked at my IIc+ and there is no (externally accessible) switch for 220 V, so you will need a transformer.
Oh, and think about shipping if you aren't buying locally. Not only is the IIe larger, but the person who ships it to you may be a dork and leave cards in the slots (rather than packing them individually).
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