IIc or IIe?

Hi Seeker - I grew up with a //e with dual drives as well. Now I have a //e and //c, so I think I can offer some thoughts.

The //c is 'cute', especially with the matching monitor and stand - aesthetically I really like it, perhaps even more than the //e. It's all but 100% compatible with //e software, so it can run all the games and software that you grew up with. It has a built-in disk drive, volume control and headphone jack, and it's easy to add a second floppy drive using the included connector. It has modem, printer and mouse/joystick ports built in. If desk space is a premium, it's a winner.

The downsides - you can't add peripheral cards. It's harder to open and repair, relative to the //e. There are no cassette jacks. Very early models had some issues with serial port timing (worth checking the ROM revision before you buy). In PAL countries, I think the //c can only produce monochrome video (although I might be corrected on this - in NTSC countries it's full colour).

Overall the downsides are pretty insignificant, and I think the //c is a great option if you're looking at buying an Apple ][.

I've owned IIe's for years. I've even designed my own cards for the IIe. So it's a hacker's dream machine. Both software and hardware.

Recently, I acquired my first IIc. Found a great deal on eBay (which is rare). I initially thought I would just have it out for a bit and bring my IIe back. But I am finding that I enjoy using the IIc so much! In fact, I went ahead and made my own IIc serial cable for ADT Pro.

So I guess what I'm saying is that I find the IIc great for using an Apple II. And the IIe great for when I want to do hardware. So I guess my suggestion would be, get a IIc and just use it...have fun.

If you ever want to try out expansion cards, or hack up something yourself, get a IIe later on.

I don't know what you exactly mean by "relive my old Apple II days" - but if that is for you just what you see at the screen and you do not need the slots ... why not a IIc. I like mine.

BUT.

If you also search for the feeling towards the machine in front of you, the appearance, how you felt it with your hands in those days, the special sound of the drive's - then I would buy a IIe or a II. I bought my first IIe when I was 16 - I still use it. The atmosphere of the IIc is totally different. It's a nice machine but the Apple II has a "soul" - the IIc is more the dry design of a business-machine.

Get the ][e for the keyboard

Get the ][e for the keyboard

I recently acquired a IIc myself, and I absolutely love it.

If you have limited space a IIc and the matching 9" mono monitor make for an awesome little retrocomputer that's small enough to keep out on an end table verses a II which requires significantly more real-estate. (Granted not *that* much more, especially if you add an external floppy to the IIc, at which point it starts to sprawl.) I will grant that the keyboard is an acquired taste (some versions are better than others; the very first one with the rubber spill membrane sort of sucks but some of the later boards with Alps switches are nice and clicky), but it's a very stylish piece that combines retro-modern looks with all the right retro noises. (beeps, clattering disk drive, etc.)

One thing I've noticed is I've had substantially better luck running older Apple II+-era software on the IIc than I have a IIgs. Granted a IIgs wasn't in the running here, but I was a little surprised. I've always thought the IIgs was more compatible than it seems to be.

I will grant that the keyboard is an acquired taste (some versions are better than others; the very first one with the rubber spill membrane sort of sucks

My two cents:

I bought a IIc in 1985.
Reasons?
-It was portable. That is good for a military person who moved around a lot
-It was easy (for me anyway) to use.
-There was a lot of software readily available.

I used it to make Engineering Casualty Control Drill Packages aboard ship.
I used it for Parts Databases.
I used it for writing Safety Training Lectures.
It was my handy-dandy go to machine.
Being a Technical Writer, I told many folks that with an Apple IIc, a Letter Quality Printer
and AppleWorks, I could create a document that could compare with anything they made with a 286/386
and Word.
I still can.

Now; what does it lack?

A really good Hard Drive. lol

Steven

That's probably what I have. It's a 255 ROM machine that I bought for < $100 so I could take pictures of it for my Apple II book.

My system is also a 255, but it has a membrane-less keyboard that's nice and clicky. Mostly what I haven't quite gotten used to yet is the shape of the keycaps, and I'd also venture that the angle of the keyboard might be just a little too sharp when it's propped up on its handle as intended.

Now; what does it lack?

A really good Hard Drive. lol

I have an EPROM of the ROM0 firmware sitting in a tube waiting for me to build up the courage to install it (gotta cut a trace, eek!), once I've done it I intend to see how well the Floppy Emu's Smartport HD mode works. I've never actually used an 8-bit II with a hard disk before, so I'm curious how useful that will really be. (The vast majority of programs I remember using in my youth were single-disk self-booters that didn't use PRODOS.)

...I intend to see how well the Floppy Emu's Smartport HD mode works. I've never actually used an 8-bit II with a hard disk before, so I'm curious how useful that will really be. (The vast majority of programs I remember using in my youth were single-disk self-booters that didn't use PRODOS.)

I have one of these babies running on my Apple IIe (and it works on my IIgs) and I can tell you, once you get the hang of it, it's really quite amazing to use.

Additionally, I have had it hooked to Disk 1 of my controller, and an actual Apple II 5-1/4" drive as Disk 2, and no issues at all.