[vcf-midatlantic] Apple I replics for sale

[Bill Degnan]

thanks Mike.

On Fri, Aug 13, 2021 at 10:54 AM MikeWillegal via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>
> I don’t think there is a significant difference in functionality of
> clones.  I believe they all exhibit the faults of the original, although,
> like the original, there are some board to board variations in scope of the
> various problems.
>
> Replicas are a different matter, and it bothers me that most do not
> support cassette tape input/output, which puts those sort of replicas into
> a not really workalike category.  I would argue that adding a Brain Board
> to an Apple II gets you closer to a true work-alike functionality than
> those replicas that lack cassette tape interfaces.
>
> Let me clear up a misconception.  The only intentional difference between
> a Mimeo and an original Apple 1, is the logo I put into the copper layer on
> the back.
>
> There are some unintentional differences.
>
> 1) The modern PCB substrate and manufacturing process is different than
> the original.  The original type substrate isn’t made any more because it
> is incompatible with modern PCB manufacturing processes.
> 2)  A lack of information due to the non-existence of bare board original
> Apple 1s caused a few mistakes, most of which were corrected in later
> batches, as the mistakes were discovered.
> 3) The difficulty of reproducing a board that was laid out by hand taping
> methods which despite the great skill of Howard Cantin lead to some
> variation in the layout.  Note that the Apple II was laid out digitally and
> was somewhat easier to clone.
>
> I have found it somewhat amusing over the years how Apple 1 clone makers
> have frequently copied mistakes made in various versions of the Mimeo.
>
> best regards,
> Mike Willegal