An enthusiast of vintage computers has successfully created the first new clone compatible with the Apple Macintosh Plus in 34 years. The last Macintosh Plus (before this) was manufactured back in 1990.
The original Macintosh Plus was launched in 1984 following the Apple Lisa. It is widely recognized as the first personal computer with a graphical user interface aimed at the general public. The computer featured 1 MB of RAM, which could be expanded to 4 MB using SIMM modules. It was delivered as a single unit, incorporating both the computer and a compact CRT display in one housing.
The electrical engineer adds this clone to his previous work of cloning the Apple Lisa, although he states that the project is still ongoing. The enthusiast claims to have been attempting to complete this project for years.
“Theoretically, this project is even older than the Lisa project—I only created the Lisa because I couldn’t create the Macintosh,” the author wrote.
Clearly, creating the Lisa was a necessary stepping stone, as he successfully booted the Macintosh Plus clone almost exactly one year after the first boot of the Lisa.
The project required considerable trial and error, and there is still work to be done. One of the integrated circuits on the original Macintosh Plus board was incorrectly labeled as a 74LS257, when it is actually a 74F253 model. Additionally, the engineer is still trying to recover the Sony SND Plus chip, which manages audio amplification and power reset functions.
It was also discovered that even though the Raspberry Pi Pico scanning converter works with the Macintosh Plus, it cannot receive any video signals from it. To boot up and verify the clone’s functionality, remote access software AppleTalk Timbuktu had to be used to interface with the vintage clone.
Nonetheless, the project is considered a success, as the clone is fully compatible with any software or hardware originally designed for the real Macintosh Plus. After polishing the project, the author is likely to release schematics and instructions for other enthusiasts to replicate his efforts.
Source: tomshardware
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