Tape Drive

Sit tight. This will take a while.

The Apple II family of computers are essentially the same,
just a matter of upgrades. I don't have an Apple II+ but I
have a few Apple IIe and //e computers. I looked in my
owners manuals for these and they say that the Apple IIe
and Apple //e computer has a cassette input and output jack
built into its back panel for attachment of a cassette recorder.
I would assume that your Apple II+ would also have this jack.
If you use a cassette recorder instead of a disk drive:
The only system software available is the Monitor program
and the AppleSoft Interpreter.
DOS is not available on cassette; hence there is no way to
load it into main memory.
The Integer BASIC Interpreter is not available on cassette
and it is not built into main memory; hence you cannot run
Integer BASIC programs loaded from cassette.
If you do have a disk drive, you can load DOS and Integer
BASIC from the DOS 3.3 SYSTEM MASTER disk, then load an Integer
BASIC program from the cassette and run it.
The instructions for connecting a cassette recorder say
if you only want to load programs from a cassette recorder, you
need only one cable from the recorder to the computer. But if you
want to be able to save programs on tape as well, you need two
cables (or one double cable). The computer end of each cable must
have a miniature phono plug on it. If not, you can obtain appro-
priate cables at an electronics store like Radio Shack.
For loading programs from tape into main memory, connect the
miniature phono end of one cable to the cassette input jack on
the back panel of the computer. Connect the other end of the cable
to the earphone or monitor jack of the recorder.
If you want to save programs on tape, connect the miniature
phono end of another cable to the cassette output jack on the back
panel of the computer. Connect the other end of the cable to
the microphone jack on the recorder.

To use the a Cassette Recorder you need to do the following.
Loading programs from a cassette recorder is a trial-and-error
process the first time. Instead of adjusting the volume to suit
your listening preference, you are adjusting the volume to put
information into the computer.
1. Make sure the tape is rewound to the beginning.
2. Temporarily disconnect the cable from the recorder's earphone
or monitor jack.
3. Start the tape recorder.
4. As soon as you hear a steady tone, stop the recorder.
5. Reconnect the cable you just disconnected. Set the volume
control to its midpoint. (If there is a tone control, turn it
all the way clockwise.)
6. Make sure your computer is in BASIC (that is, you will see
the ] or > prompt).
7. Type LOAD at the keyboard. Start the tape playing. Press
RETURN at the keyboard.
If you hear a beep, wait another 15 seconds. If the BASIC prompt
and a cursor appear, loading was successful.
If nothing happens, or the message ERR(OR) appears, wait another
15 seconds. If there is no prompt or cursor, press CONTROL-RESET,
then CONTROL-B RETURN. Set the volume control a bit higher and go
back to Step 1.
Once you succeed, mark the exact volume control setting on the
recorder. This will save you time when you use the recorder with
the computer again. Then start the program:
* Type RUN then press RETURN.
* The program should display its opening picture or message on the
screen.
The resident Monitor program also has a SAVE command for recording
programs on cassette. Consult the 'Apple IIe Reference Manual'
for instructions for using this command.

Look on the back of your computer and you will find the cassette
interface jack that is described above. You will need to buy a
couple of phono-plug equipped cables from Radio Shack that have
the proper plugs on the other ends to match your recorder jacks,

Hope this information helps you get started.

My bad! I thought by your post that you already
had an Apple II+. If you haven't yet gotten an
Apple II, then try getting an Apple IIe or //e
(the enhanced version). There are many more of
these around than Apple II+ and they have the
cassette jack on the back. They are more versa-
tile than the Apple II+. You can use lower case,
more RAM memory, etc.

Just my $.02

What kind or brand of recorder do I need? I would like to try this. Will any kind work? Thanks. This site is way cool!

Any portable cassette recorder should do fine.
Just make sure that you have the proper input/
output jacks I described in the previous post.