Part 1: Apple Monitor IIc - Unboxing, testing and disassembly

Part 1 of 2: Unboxing, testing and disassembly (this video)
Part 2 of 2: • Part 2: Apple Monitor ...
When I was a young lad, my father brought me home a brand new Apple IIc for my birthday. Yes the video thumbnail is actually a picture of me with that brand new computer!
Now, in my 40s, I would love to have an Apple IIc again, just as I did when I was 9 years old.
In part 1 of this series, I unbox, test and disassemble a Apple Monitor IIc and matching stand so I can get closer to reliving "the dream."

[@thedungeondelver]

"This thing is a boat anchor!" as a former C64 owner, I am giving you the resting skeptical face :)

[@osgeld]

its about equal, I have both in house both are iron core transformers and not much else, the desktop machines got 100 switching supplies, but the "brick on a leash" as its referred to gave you the option at least to run the computer off a 12 volt battery like in a car or whatever, and there was a (couple) LCD screens for it

[@robintst]

As someone who grew up with the VIC-20, C128, and Amiga 500, I'll raise you one ColecoVision AC adapter which was an absolute hog in it's own right as far as consoles went. :)

[@MarkMphonoman]

Doing the same thing as you. Had a iic, gave it away, and now 35 years later or so using one again.

[@ray_mck]

The Monitor IIc stand alone sold for $39 in 1984. In 2019 money, that equates to $96.13. Multiply by a factor of 10 to almost get to the price of 2019's Pro Display XDR stand at $999.

[@Magnedyne]

People are complaining today that today the stand doesn't come with the monitor but back then it wasn't different

[@JasonHalversonjaydog]

that clicking disk drive sound when you power it on brings back many memories of school. we had a bunch of IIe's but i spent a lot of time playing oregon trail on those computers

[@fragglet]

Funny coincidence, I'm also restoring one of these. So uh, if you need a set of replacement rubber feet for the IIc & monitor let me know, mine had atrophied and I ended up buying a complete sheet of 3M Bumpons which appear to be the perfect replacements

[@fragglet]

I have had problems with certain keys which seem to "catch" when they're depressed. There's a square metal brace part inside each key and I found that I was able to get rid of the stickiness by bending these very slightly outwards with a pair of pliers. Be careful not to bend too far though.

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

This was one of the coolest monitors Apple ever made. Probably used in the Accounting Dept. at McDonnell for VisiCalc.

[@Chris_In_Texas]

Brings back memories I had a ][c back in the day when they first came out, and traded in my ][e for it. I purchased a STN LCD panel for it and ran it off a battery, which actually made it portable as well. Worked great for the time. I had the 3.5" floppy drive for it too and was so cool to have all that software on a single floppy disc. Those were the days! 👍🤠

[@borismatesin]

Wow, a monitor that's been 'round the MDD offices. Definitely something your don't see eery day. Nice purchase!

[@EmberwolfXR]

I GOT CHILLS ON FIRST BOOT!!What a great little computer, Still my fav is all the print software!!!My LCIII came with the apple II 5 1/2 drive, but its much later and feels more like a windows pc, even though is can run all the old software on os6.5

[@gorber81]

"...Recreate my youth".. Yes, thats what it's all about for me too

[@maniacsatwork]

Even though I never had one, I'm quite fond of the IIc as there were a number of them in the computer room at my High School. I remember playing Transylvania and Karateka during lunchtime. We also had a number of IIe's with the external floppy drive.

[@MoosesValley]

Yep, the ][c PSU sure was a brick. Love how you unbox something and then take it apart. Great video !

[@brittman914]

Also, instead of resetting the machine, you could just type "PR#6' at the BASIC prompt to boot the drive, congrats on the find! Great videos BTW, love your videos on the Tandy, and you were one of the reasons why I chose a Tandy 1000 (I got the TX as it was a 286) as my retro XT!

[@jetsonian]

An FPO is a Fleet Post Office. This monitor was shipped from a Navy/Marine base to MD.

[@jetsonian]

My guess is this may have been a part of a controller for some system designed by McDonnell Douglas that had either failed or been decommissioned and so it was returned to the vendor. This is absolutely speculation, but hey it's fun!

[@lilbill6089]

FPO is Fleet Post Office. The shipper was in the US Navy.

[@paulgrant7641]

I actually know a tiny bit about McDonnell Douglas, but only because I'm in the area. They are still around in the St. Louis area and design planes and space shuttles (with the rumored defense contracts). They were usually booming with NASA contracts and the like until the mid 80's. In the 80's they went through a ton on lay offs which shocked a ton of people in the area (layoffs were kinda a new idea in 80's and this was a very large employer in the area.) They were then purchased by Boeing around 1996 or so and are still operating to this day. It wouldn't surprise me if this computer was bought for someone who was laid off and they never re-assigned it to anyone. Just a guess given the time frame. It was real rocky for a while if the company would survive at all.

[@cjhawk67]

I wish they still made small high quality displays

[@bobbytheitguy4289]

I had the complete set back in 1984. I also had the cheaper Apple Scribe printer, which was ultimately more expensive than the Image Writer because the thermal transfer ribbon could only be used once. I am bidding on a IIc and monitor set now for about $300, but comes with no stand. Looking forward to upgrading it to an IRCing and retro gaming machine

[@Kylefassbinderful]

I got my //c in a box with a bunch of apple // accessories for the huge price of 1 dollar in 1999. Before eBay became less intimidating to most people and tech donations were a plenty at thrift stores. It's got a spot for a memory upgrade but I haven't found it anywhere. I also still have the RF modulator and matching Apple branded RF switch box.

[@CrazyTechReviews]

First of all Macdonald Douglas is an aeronautics company and St. Louis Missouri is where a lot of the aeronautics companies have offices/factories

[@Slaanesh2011]

I found that I could disassemble my Iic monitor by following some of your prodcedure but I didn't have to unplug any wiring or unscrew the chassis apart.. Once I got to the point of unscrewing the chassis from the front plastic, I could unscrew the LED assembly and then the entire, intact chassis was loose and could be lifted carefully off.

[@johnsonlam]

Though the video was more than year before, I suggest replace the power brick with any PC power supply, I've modified a IBM notebook's small power supply to use with my Apple //c (now my //c malfunction, RAM fault), the power supply voltage match and works fine.

[@zidane2k1]

We both used the same first computers! The first one I used at home was also a VIC-20, and the first that I used at school was a IIc.

[@rivards1]

I went through some of that a few months ago, My monitor IIc had developed a tilted picture, so I had to adjust the ring on the neck of the tube, Between the difficult disassembly, fear of residual high voltage, and the fragile tube glass, it was slow going but ultimately successful. Good luck with yours!

[@deannascott3475]

Our IIC from 1985 had a special adaptor that enabled it to use a special RGB color monitor that had great color. I do not recall the name of the adaptor or monitor, but it was unique.

[@CrazyTechReviews]

I wonder if you could use that green phosphor 9 inch tube with a compact macintosh! that would be awesome!

[@SirenaWF1]

That's my birthday!!!

[@mattalki]

I love these videos! Can't wait for part 2. I was hoping it was going in for some retrobrite, as it's pretty yellowed. Looks like a fun project!

[@bruwin]

Yeah, I like the idea that this one is getting retrobrite. If it had been a complete set with the computer that had been well used, I think maybe I would have preferred the yellowing as a sort of provenance that the units went together. But with the monitor itself practically brand new and not original to that computer, I think it'll be nice to make it all look like new.

[@DerMartexus]

I think, in 2019 we can definitely say "untested" means "defective".

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Also do one on ImageWriter II next.

[@smeqwack7337]

even back then apple been selling monitor stands holy shit

[@robwebnoid5763]

7:11 ... As we all know, the slowness of the Commodore 1541 floppy drive was a kludge, compensating for the miscommunication between Commodore engineers between HQ & the factory (in Japan iirc) due to board layout issues (screw locations, circuit lines, etc). Had the 1541 been first built properly using the design made by head 1541 engineer Bob Russell, it would have been around 5 times faster than it had fatefully become. There would have been no need for all those disk accelerators that came later to fix the slowness. Any disk accelerators that may have happened would have just tacked on a bit more speed to the high speed the stock setup would already have. Had there been more than one means of instant communication in those days beside a landline phone, this fateful change probably would not have happened & the alternate history would have us with a properly designed C64-C1541 with a promptness in speed to match any other speedy floppy drives from other brands of that time. And I would bet there would have been much less Commdore users transitioning to Amiga, Apple or PC but would still do so though just much later. Oh well.

[@Ice_Karma]

Oh, wow. You got your VIC-20 the same year I did, although I dunno how old you were then-I was 4½. My parents gave me the option of going back to kindergarten for another term, or getting a computer... ;3

[@dmaifred]

Hmm it seemed pretty advanced compared to the pet sitting next to it. Go evolution and logo

[@mikerussell579]

My IIc monitor doesnt show anything on screen, at first it was very very dim with contrast set to full it was also alittle shakey but after about a min of use i lost picture any idea what i could do to fix it? love the show keep it up.

[@anthonyaviles8665]

I got a complete set with a monitor a stand and the llc and the printer also for 50 only needed was new ram chips

[@mikemac2188]

I have no questions I just thought it was awesome lol I own an Apple iie It's about the only experience I have with an Apple product still To this day lol I always loved the Design of the Apple IIc..😎🍻👍

[@SuperMoleRetro]

Astronautics was the space division of McDonnell Douglas. I have two of those monitors on stands and both quit working :(

[@cmetom]

Open Apple - Control - Reset!

[@lewisjohnson9087]

Mcdonald Douglas is a aircraft manufacturer

[@infinitecanadian]

I didn't know the Apple IIc had a mouse! Interesting...

[@thedungeondelver]

Here's the story of the Apple-II mouse: www.folklore.org/StoryView.py?project=Macintosh&story=Apple_II_Mouse_Card.txt

[@infinitecanadian]

thedungeondelver Thank you!

[@EastAngliaUK]

good the screen has no screen burning on.

[@fiatlux8828]

I've been wanting to get a IIc, but any vintage Apple computer is super overpriced nowadays. It's actually kind of funny when I think of it that way.

[@osgeld]

to make reassembly easier, I suggest you make a video while you take it apart :p

[@brianv2871]

I prefer trying to remember.. it gives me a lot of extra screws that I can use later on. :)

[@ROBINHOOD2098]

BOEING used to be McDonnell Douglas

[@RyeOnHam]

No, Boeing BOUGHT McDonnell Douglas.

[@naderhumood1199]

I had the same system. ....

[@ROBINHOOD2098]

I meant that McDonnell douglas plant in st louis became a boeing plant

[@Bigfish11]

My verticle hold is having issues. How do I fix it?

[@cbmeeks]

Fragile? You mean, "Fra GEE Lay". It's Italian.

[@asis2177]

great video. Cant find the way to adjust the gorizontal width size of the picture i have an apple iic monitor a2m4090 that looks a little bit deferent from inside (mine is the same as the sams manual), i think i tried every potentiometer/knobs i have found on the board, they do all the other things accept what i'm looking for

[@valdisblack1541]

About that power brick - is it based on the transformer?! Didn't they have switching PSUs back then?

[@infopackrat]

Did you have to take the monitor that much apart just to retro-bright it? I hope you get it back together ok.

[@azariayehezkel9064]

Hi If you can , review your electronics equipment in yours labratory Thanks

[@maxtornogood]

"This is awesome!" *SYNTAX ERROR* ;-(

[@chrometape]

hey, is that a Newtek Calibar?

[@koltinn]

Monitor would have cost around $793.73 today (adjusted for inflation)

[@CrazyTechReviews]

When you put a Apple 2 and a Apple compact mac together (apple 2c) (:

[@brostenen]

Cute design. I will take my C64 over this at any time. Did I get this right, when the IIc was from 1984? 1 year and 3 months later, you had some beefy upgrade in form of that 10 year ahead Amiga. Actually funny. Here in Denmark, nobody cared for and bought any Apple computer, untill the mac lc's in some 1993. And still it was like 1 to 5 out of every 100 machines. Not untill after the iPod, that any Apple computer began selling well here. Ibm compatible PC's were always sold in decent amount, and besides that, then it was like a different market than USA. 1984'ish to 1987, was all C64 that sold most. From 1987'ish to some 1992/93 it was mostly Amiga that sold. And from 1993 to some 2002, it was all PC's with some sort of MS operating system on them. Yup. We were a hardcore Commodore nation in nearly all of the 1980's. Though I can see and hear your nostalgia in this video, and that my friend is worth gold on its own. Me my self, have the same thing towards C64, Amiga500/600 and 486 PC's with VLB.

[@brostenen]

@@adriansdigitalbasement ☺️ People kept on buying C64's all the way into the 1990's. It was an amazing machine for shure.

[@buncho888]

Same thing in Australia in the 80s. Very few Apples were bought as home computers, only a few schools and businesses bought them. They were over twice the price of the usually better Commodore equivalent.

[@mikesilva3868]

🙃

[@yaswanthpaani.k2113]

Sad fact is my father haven't bought me a computer 😔

[@andrasszabo7386]

If I was a caveman back then, I would NEVER invent the stone axe. I would start with a microprocessor. Meaning that if I was in charge at Apple, all of my monitors would be COLOR monitors.

[@stanburton6224]

Ironic. You talk about how expensive the 1541 was, but the apple was NEVER cheap enough for your average joe to afford.

[@adriansdigitalbasement]

From my reading, the 1541 cost $900 when it came out in 1982. I wouldn't exactly call that affordable. The C64 was very inexpensive compared to the Apple II but once you kitted it out, I'm not so sure it was cheaper anymore, especially if you added two external disk drives. (Common on the Apple II.)

[@stanburton6224]

Cpu, mps-803, 1541, and a koalapad was under $600 when i bought mine.

[@razorsz195]

So the new Apple monitor wasn't the first product to be sold with a stand seperately, apple going back to thier old scummy ways i see