I just purchased an Apple /// and noted some interesting differences
between the new Apple /// and one I've had for a while.
Upon turning on the new ///, it displays some garbage, then beeps and
shows "Diagnostic RAM" on the screen, along with a square pattern of
'.'s. Not until I press "Reset", does the comptuer dead the floppy
drive
My old Apple /// (which, BTW, I beleive to have some bad RAM) immediately
starts reading the the floppy drive with no "Diagnostic RAM" or need to
hit "Reset".
Also noted:
The new Apple /// has darker keycaps
The older Apple /// has a shielded "Color Video" Port
On the tags on the bottom of the units:
The older has a place to check off either 64k 96k or 128k (128k is
checked)
The new has a place to check off either 128k or 256k (128k is checked)
I understand there was an upgrade to the Apple /// dubbed the "Apple
///+". I was under the impression the '+' was actually written on the
case. Is this the case, or is it possible my newer unit is a ///+? If
its not, what causes the discrepancy in startup procedure? Just minutely
different versions of the Apple ///, or does the older units bad RAM have
something to do with it?
Thanks!
Tom Owad
--
Sysop of Caesarville Online
Client software at: <http://home.earthlink.net/~tomowad/>