{"id":25907,"date":"2026-08-25T14:22:31","date_gmt":"2026-08-25T18:22:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=25907"},"modified":"2026-08-31T11:42:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T15:42:30","slug":"vin210","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin210\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple II Plus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Apple II Plus\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                                    \n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Apple II Plus (1979) refined Apple\u2019s early mass-market computer with a 1 MHz MOS 6502 processor, built-in Applesoft BASIC, up to 48 KB RAM as sold, floppy-disk autostart, color graphics, and eight expansion slots, making it both approachable for programming and unusually adaptable for home, school, and small-business use. <\/p>\n\n\n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"769\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-1024x769.jpg\" alt=\"Apple II Plus\" class=\"wp-image-25909\" style=\"width:474px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-512x384.jpg 512w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-320x240.jpg 320w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/2026\/08\/PXL_20260825_165843779-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">[Vin 210]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Apple Computer Inc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Released<\/strong>: June 1979<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Personal Computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong> starter system: 16 KB machine + cassette recorder: ~$6,000 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong> (Business Manager\u2019s system: 48 KB machine, two Disk II drives, 9-inch monochrome monitor, printer\/controller, and business software): ~$23,500 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.5 (500 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW169789978 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: MOS Technology 6502, approximately 1.02 MHz<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Memory<\/strong>: 16 KB, 32 KB, or 48 KB installed; expandable to 64 KB with the optional 16 KB Language Card, 12 KB ROM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><strong>Audio:<\/strong> Built-in 1-bit speaker, suitable for clicks, beeps, tones, and simple game sound<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> Built-in cassette-tape interface; optional external 5.25-inch Disk II floppy drive via an expansion-card controller<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disk II capacity:<\/strong> 杏吧原创 140 KB per 5.25-inch floppy disk<span aria-label=\"Macintosh IIcx Specs: EveryMac.com\" data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: Eight internal 50-pin expansion slots, numbered 0\u20137, for disk controllers, serial\/parallel interfaces, printer cards, memory cards, CP\/M Z80 cards, and other<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Graphics<\/strong>: Low-resolution graphics: 40 \u00d7 48 pixels, 16 colours. High-resolution graphics: 280 \u00d7 192 pixels, six displayable colours in standard NTSC modes<span data-state=\"closed\">\u200b<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Video output:<\/strong> Composite NTSC video for a monitor or television; RF output available through an optional modulator<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Audio:<\/strong> Built-in 1-bit speaker, suitable for clicks, beeps, tones, and simple game sound<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage:<\/strong> Built-in cassette-tape interface; optional external 5.25-inch Disk II floppy drive via an expansion-card controller<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disk II capacity:<\/strong> 杏吧原创 140 KB per 5.25-inch floppy disk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW50331614 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW50331614 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Operating Systems<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Applesoft BASIC:<\/strong> Built into the II Plus ROM. It provided the immediate command-line environment on a machine without a bootable disk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apple DOS 3.2 \/ DOS 3.3:<\/strong> The principal Disk II floppy-disk operating systems of the II Plus era. DOS 3.3 was normally supplied with Disk II hardware and handled booting, files, and disk access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apple Pascal \/ UCSD Pascal system:<\/strong> A disk-based Pascal environment and operating system, typically requiring the 16 KB Language Card.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>ProDOS:<\/strong> Introduced later, in 1983. An Apple II Plus could use it if fitted with a Language Card \/ appropriate extra memory.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CP\/M:<\/strong> Available through a Z80 expansion card\u2014most famously Microsoft\u2019s Z-80 SoftCard\u2014allowing access to the extensive CP\/M software world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Programming Languages<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Applesoft BASIC:<\/strong> The built-in floating-point Microsoft BASIC dialect; it was the II Plus\u2019s defining programming language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Integer BASIC:<\/strong> Not built into the II Plus, unlike the original Apple II, but it could be loaded from disk or provided through firmware.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>6502 assembly language:<\/strong> Direct low-level programming through the built-in machine-code monitor, commonly entered with <code>CALL-151<\/code>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>UCSD Pascal \/ Apple Pascal:<\/strong> A significant structured-programming option, released for the Apple II in 1979.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Apple FORTRAN:<\/strong> An ANSI X3.9-1978 FORTRAN implementation, run under the Pascal environment and requiring a 48 KB configuration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Logo:<\/strong> Available for education and turtle-graphics programming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Forth:<\/strong> Available in multiple commercial and hobbyist implementations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>C and Modula-2:<\/strong> Available later through third-party systems, generally requiring substantial disk and memory resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>COBOL:<\/strong> Available in limited form under CP\/M via the Z80 SoftCard, rather than as a native 6502 Apple II environment.bitsavers.informatik.uni-stuttgart+2<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>**Apple ][+ \/ Apple II Plus:** Commonly styled with square brackets, \u201cApple][+,\u201d echoing the machine\u2019s distinctive logo.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Released in 1979, its most consequential changes were Applesoft BASIC in ROM and the <strong>Autostart ROM<\/strong>, which could automatically boot a Disk II floppy instead of dropping every user into a low-level monitor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first major personal-computer spreadsheet, VisiCalc (\u201cvisible calculator\u201d), appeared first on the Apple II in 1979 and became the platform\u2019s classic <strong>killer app<\/strong>: a program useful enough to justify buying the computer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlike the kit-like Apple I, the Apple II family arrived as a finished product with enclosure, keyboard, power supply, colour graphics, and expansion slots marketed for ordinary homes, schools, and workplaces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its eight internal expansion slots enabled owners to add Disk II controllers, printers, serial ports, extra RAM, graphics hardware, and even a Z80 card for CP\/M compatibility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apple II systems became fixtures in North American classrooms; for many students of the 1980s, an Apple II was their first hands-on computer experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The long-lived Apple II line became Apple\u2019s first major commercial success and provided the financial and organizational base from which the company later developed the Macintosh<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong class=\"myprefix-text-bold\">Donated By<\/strong>: 杏吧原创 University Library \/ Prof. Thomas Kunz<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"APPLE II COMMERCIALS FROM THE 80s | Vintage Ads | Retro TV\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9lAmP8W_6Zw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[Vin 210] Hardware Specifications\u200b Operating System &amp; Programming Languages&nbsp; Notables Donated By: 杏吧原创 University Library \/ Prof. Thomas Kunz<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":591,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[130,123],"class_list":["post-25907","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-mac","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25907","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/591"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25907"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25994,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25907\/revisions\/25994"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=25907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}