Apple //c
Stuff, things and learned bits.
 
Like the Server Specs Page this page has one focus only, this though, the Apple //c. The more i messed around with old Macs, the more i wanted an original Mac or at least a 512k Mac for the simplicity, the more i started to wonder about the original Apples. I lack space in my wee flat so getting an Apple ][ and then the monitor and the disk drives was going to be an issue, then of course i found the Apple //c.
It really is a nice wee machine, as cute as it looks. The software in the picture is, well, rubbish, but it is complete and has nice wee adverts and info for other products which is quite cool in a retro dated way. Bloody expensive mind you, $49 in 1984, thats a fair bit of cash.
Lucky me though, there are a 10 other disks. Some even being the original system disks and there is even the 'Welcome to the Apple //c" disk. A copy of LoadRunner is there too, as well as other unlabeled disks. In short, a bunch of stuff to get me started.
The manuals are a particularly handy thing to have as i have no idea how to actually use this machine at this point. The one thing i noticed when wandering around the web looking for stuff related to the Apple ][ was the lack of newbie information. If this page does anything other than say old kit is fun, it is i hope, to provide some basic info on playing with this machine.
  
SPECS
65C02 8bit CPU : 128k RAM : 16k ROM : Applesoft BASIC in ROM : Built in 5 1/2" floppy Drive : Built in speaker : 80 Column display :
Built in upper AND lower case : Colour graphics capability :
Apple //c Review
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Some Basic Info So Far:
Apple ][ FAQ A nice simple orientation.
Apple ][e INTRO More detailed and complex than above. I guess stage two.
DOS & ProDOS FAQ All the info for DOS and ProDOS, Well all the info i need just now anyway.
Vectonics Dos/ProDos Guide. Very good, well laid out html.
Peek + Poke + Call As a newbie it is this sort of info you want.
GETTING STARTED
KEYS
Restart (APPLEKEY-CONTROL-RESET)
Getting into BASIC (CONTROL-RESET)
Note: You need a BASIC start up floppy to boot into basic if you want to save your programmes. Copy ProDOS and BASIC.SYSTEM from your system untilities disk.
Screen is only half filled with characters? - Change the 80/40 column switch to 40 and restart. The program requires 40 column.
Stopping a Runaway Program - More use than you think when you are used to closing progs' in a consistent way.
* Press (Q) for Quit
* Press (ESC)
* Hold down (CONTROL) while you press (C)
* Press (CONTROL-C) and then (RETURN)
* Hold Down (CONTROL) and press (RESET)
Type (CATALOG) or (CAT)to produce the disk volume when in ProDOS
ProDos directory format. /DISK/PROGRAM/APP (Dos however, sticks everything in one place like the early MacOS)
Error Codes for AppleSoft and ProDos
My Adventures With Serial Connections
OTHER BITS
2600 Erm.. fancy producing a particular frequency down a phone line with your ][, that today has no use? Old but fun txt.
Newton book containing specs and info about pre-Macintosh Apple Computers. I guess that would be mostly the Apple ][ line then. Nice to have stuff like this for your Newton. The FTP server has a similar Newton book documenting all the Macs.
EASTER EGG
If you have an original //c type the following to get the names of three folk who worked on the //c
10 IN#5
20 INPUT A$
30 PRINT A$
UPTIME DISKS
I have a couple of UPTIME disks - the magazine on a floppy; i thought i woud share the editorials with you.
Apple ][ Review
The 1st ever review of the Apple ][ - August 1978 -Personal Computer World
PODCASTS  Yup! Podcasts about the Apple ][
SHRINKIT Manual - you know expand and archive.
EMULATION
Ok you don't have an Apple ][ to play with, then you want an EMULATOR.
This one needs OsX 10.3.9 and over; is written by Gerard Putter and really works well. It is time limited in operation but does work and lets you play for 5mins at a time before pausing for a minute. It costs $40. When you download it you will need an Apple ROM which i provide here!
I have included a disk image too, nowt special, just something to load. The emulator ReadMe has info on other sources of disk images.
If you want a 68k emulator then try this ][ in a Mac It is old but should run on old kit and gives you an Apple ][ without the ebay outlay. It seems to have problems with my 540c but works well with my SE. Anyways be sure to set your screen colour to 1bit (B+W) or it crashes on startup.
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I also bought a MOUSE!
I have a Mac Plus mouse that should have worked with the //c, but it seems that it is a matter of luck if it does or not, as the electronics differ in them; within the same model range; some work and some don't. Mine did not.
So i bought an actual mouse for the //c.
This means I can use the Apple ][ GUI that i have.
I admit that even with a second drive, its more eye-candy than useful, but.. heck... there you go.
Another advantage of having a mouse is being able to use various graphics packages. I have three packages which are MousePaint, which came with the original Apple ][ mouse card developed in 1981, Dazzle Draw by Broderbund Software and Beagle Graphics, which i liked the best of the bunch. It had more filters and stuff. A very minimalist interface, which i also liked. The bottom picture is the artistic result.
  
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