eebuckeye Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 I have an Apple IIe and an Apple IIe Platinum both in very good condition. I only want to keep one of them and I realize the Platinum has a numeric keypad. Are there any reasons to keep one over the other? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassGuitari Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 IIRC the Platinum has 128K RAM, 80 column, and double hi-res graphics standard. The IIe, on the other hand, is arguably the definitive Apple II system and can easily be upgraded to the capabilities of a stock Platinum, which are honestly overkill for most Apple II software anyway.They're both fine systems, and are differences between a Platinum and an expanded IIe are minimal. but personally I prefer the IIe. I guess it comes down to which design aesthetic you prefer, or if you need a numeric pad. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 (edited) does the plat have a 65C02 like the //e enhanced, //c, 2GS and //e card for mac i have never ran into compatibility problems with my //c but there are some changes to the C version chips that could Edited March 12, 2016 by Osgeld Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simbalion Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I don't think the IIe Platinum has any real advantage over a fully upgraded IIe enhanced other than the numeric keypad. Basically, the platinum is an already maxed out IIe enhanced with a keyboard set-up modified to bring it more in line with the syle used on the Macintosh. If I had to go based by looks, I prefer the regular IIe set-up. If it was me, I'd just keep both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) The platinum //e comes with the 64K/80Column card plugged into the slot for you. Otherwise it is identical in capabilities. In fact, when you buy them on fleabay, you often need to still bring it up to 128K and 80 Columns, because people unplug the card or lose it for whatever reason. The plat //e has the enhanced firmware, 65c02, and mouse text character gen chip, exactly like the enhanced //e. The plat //e has far more reliable 2-chip RAM than the 8-chip "regular" or "enhanced" //e does. Edited March 13, 2016 by Keatah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I prefer to have Platinum than Enhanced. Why ? Like the last user mentioned above. That is exactly the answers. Platinum looks good on the white snow color plus numerical. And the latest firmware for IIe family era. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eebuckeye Posted March 13, 2016 Author Share Posted March 13, 2016 Are there any incompatibilities with software or hardware with one vs the other? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 (edited) Maybe some of the specialty crack EF roms, but they can be modded to fit the platinum. But otherwise I can't think of any, you'll get 99.99% compatibility between standard and plat. Possibly something with a rare keyboard add-on, but, again, I don't recall any offhand. Edited March 13, 2016 by Keatah Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Is EF ROM chip in 1 of 5 ROM chips in regular IIe ? Like Autoboot chip ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Usotsuki Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 I believe the only hardware compatibility issues have to do with gameport dongles and such due to a power limiter on the Platinum board? ROMwise, the Platinum is identical to the 1985 refresh //e, and has a GTE G65SC02P-2 CPU downclocked to the standard speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SSG Posted March 17, 2016 Share Posted March 17, 2016 I wish i had both! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoestring Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 The Apple //e had a nicer keyboard, it feels great, wouldn't you agree ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiggle Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I have not been compare between Platinum & Enhanced keyboard yet by typing down... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 The Apple //e had a nicer keyboard, it feels great, wouldn't you agree ? The one Platinum //e I have feels like the Dark Key board Apple //e's.. Being the Light Keyboard ][e was my first Apple, I am partial to its feel.. MarkO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoestring Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 When you say dark keyboard I'm thinking the earlier // & //+ models. I recall that the //e key board seemed to travel further. I liked the clicky feel of those key switches. The c64 keyboard I had back in the day was like hitting bricks in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 the apple IIc has a "thunk a brick" keyboard as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted March 23, 2016 Share Posted March 23, 2016 When you say dark keyboard I'm thinking the earlier // & //+ models. I recall that the //e key board seemed to travel further. I liked the clicky feel of those key switches. The ][ and ][+ have a different keyboard than the ][e, //c, or ][gs.. All the Apple keyboards felt fairly nice.... The Commodore Keyboards, ( Vic-20, C64 ) felt Spongy with a Sudden Stop at the bottom.. The SX-64 was less Spongy, with the Sudden Stop.. The early Apple ][es, with the Light Colored Keys with White Letters are different than the later Apple ][es with the Dark Colored Keys with Black Letters.. The Platinum seems to have the same key mechanism as the Black Apple ][es.. My favorite is the IBM Type M "clicky keyboards".. I am composing this message on one right now on my work computer... ( Built on 08-DEC-1993, making it 22 and 3 months old... Talk about Classic Computing... ) The c64 keyboard I had back in the day was like hitting bricks in comparison. It's better than the Sinclair ZX-81 or TS1500. Or TI 99/4.... I have some C64, and C128, and an SX-64 and Tandy CoCos.. The CoCo's feel about like the C64 to me... MarkO 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimakis Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 Numeric Keypad is pretty useful. I bought my Platinum for that feature alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R.Cade Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 (edited) C64 has a half-dozen keyboard variations also, but they are all rather "spongy" as you say. The IIe keyboards that I have used are pretty nice. Not so much the II/II+. Edited April 20, 2016 by R.Cade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 My favorite is the IBM Type M "clicky keyboards".. I am composing this message on one right now on my work computer... ( Built on 08-DEC-1993, making it 22 and 3 months old... Talk about Classic Computing... ) Oftentimes I compose my posts & messages on my Apple II+ or //e and shoot them over to the PC's copy buffer and then simply paste them to post them. While the message is coming over, at 110 or 300 baud (for vintage realism) I'll be typing the title or getting the message board (atariage for example) ready to paste. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 IIRC most (if not all) //e platinum keyboards don't have any reinforcing "I-beam" bars, and therefore tend to develop cracks in solder joints. Got a key not working? Inspect the solder for that switch as a first-line troubleshooting fix. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hafner Posted April 21, 2016 Share Posted April 21, 2016 People have already covered the technical aspects pretty thoroughly. Personally, I think aesthetics and numeric keypad are the two biggest differentiators. Speaking personally, I prefer the Platinum design language and color, probably because that's what I grew up lusting after. Those who grew up owning or wanting an original non-platinum are more likely to be nostalgic for that. Either way, they're both great-looking computers and lots of fun - hard to go wrong, assuming they both in equally good condition. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkO Posted May 11, 2016 Share Posted May 11, 2016 IIRC most (if not all) //e platinum keyboards don't have any reinforcing "I-beam" bars, and therefore tend to develop cracks in solder joints. Got a key not working? Inspect the solder for that switch as a first-line troubleshooting fix. Thanks for the Tip... MarkO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbmeeks Posted May 13, 2016 Share Posted May 13, 2016 If you want to sell one, let me know. I might be interested. PM me. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Opry99er Posted August 1, 2016 Share Posted August 1, 2016 Id like the //e please. Hold the Platinum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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