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Apple IIc+ won't boot when connected to monitor

banshee

6502
Hi, I have an apple IIc+ that boots and functions fine from it's composite video out but when connected to my vga lcd or my AppleColor High Resolution RGB Monitor via Mac Monitor Cable, The Power light is on but it doesn't beep and the disk light doesn't flash.

What's wrong with it? I know that's not really an apple ii style monitor, but it's the same component?

 
because that port you're connecting to isn't an RGB port. It's a contraption called "video expansion" unique to the IIc/IIc+; that, with additional hardware, an RGB or similar signal can be created to drive an external display.

 
Well an old composite tv wouldn't look good with my iic+ and all my other macs. What kind of 'adapter' would I need?

 
First thing that immediately comes to mind is the AppleColor RGB monitors for the IIgs. They are probably compatible but beyond that, it's composite video or you are out of luck. There was at least one adapter to VGA that I knew of that was sold but they don't currently sell them.

If you meant "other macs" as in systems not in the Apple II line, those thankfully take bog standard adapters which are dime a dozen.

 
The //c and //c+ can use any composite-connector Apple monitor out there.

The most commonly used "//c" displays are the:

Apple Monitor IIc:

appleiic.jpg.d453b3adf3b77e1909c99053f9e12d55.jpg


Apple ColorMonitor //c:

29.jpg.e6e8e66929e6b062c2f27fbd6d03820e.jpg


I have one of each. The Monitor IIc "looks" more appropriate with the //c (the stand is nice, it lets it "float" over the //c.) But the ColorMonitor //c seems more appropriate to the //c+ to me.

 
Using a VGA display is pretty far from being an authentic experience. If you want to have a super-sharp display for an Apple IIc+, you could look into IIc+ emulators that will run on your modern computer. Because the Apple IIc+ is such a low resolution, emulators may even provide filters that "fill in" the extra resolution in a smart way instead of just scaling it up big and blocky. Even though it's not a real Apple IIc+, it's definitely something to experiment with if you're looking for better video quality.

 
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