Apple 2 Plus (1979-1982)
The Apple II Plus, stylized as Apple ][+ or Apple ][ plus, stands as the second model in the Apple II series of personal computers crafted by Apple Computer. It graced the scene from June 1979 until December 1982. During its four-year production run, approximately 380,000 Apple II Pluses found their way into the hands of eager users before being succeeded by the Apple IIe in 19831.
Here are some key features that made the Apple II Plus a notable player in the early computing landscape:
- Memory: The Apple II Plus shipped with 16 KB, 32 KB, or 48 KB of main RAM, expandable to 64 KB using the Language Card. This expansion card could be installed in the computer’s slot 0. The 6502 microprocessor at the heart of the Apple II Plus could handle a maximum of 64 KB of address space. Machines with 48 KB RAM reached this limit due to the additional 12 KB of read-only memory and 4 KB of I/O addresses. The Language Card allowed users to load Integer BASIC into the additional memory, effectively using it as if it were part of the ROM. This flexibility also facilitated switching between the Integer and Applesoft dialects of BASIC using DOS 3.3 commands1.
- Built-in Applesoft BASIC: Unlike its predecessor, the Apple II Plus came with Applesoft BASIC pre-installed in ROM. No longer an optional extra, this made programming more accessible to users.
- Graphics and Sound: The Apple II Plus supported both Lo-Res (40×48, 16 colors) and Hi-Res (280×192, 6 colors) graphics modes. Its built-in 1-bit speaker and cassette input/output (via microphone and headphone jacks) allowed for simple sound capabilities.
- Connectivity: The machine featured a parallel port and a serial port for connecting peripherals. It was also backward-compatible with the original Apple II if a Language Card was installed.
- Price Point: The Apple II Plus, priced at $1,195, offered more memory and built-in BASIC at a cost significantly lower than the original Apple II. This affordability contributed to its popularity2.
Our Daily and Weekly Rentals can include extras such as the 12" black and white monitor or green Apple /// monitor, dual Disk Drives and a Apple joysticks. Contact us for more details!