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Apple Lisa 2

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Apple Lisa 2
Apple Lisa 2 with 3.5" Sony floppy drive
Specifications
DeveloperApple Computer, Inc.
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
TypePersonal/business computer
ReleasedJanuary 1984
DiscontinuedApril 1985 (rebranded as Macintosh XL)
Intro priceUS$3,495 (Lisa 2/5)
US$5,495 (Lisa 2/10)
Units sold~60,000 (including Macintosh XL)
CPUMotorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Memory512 KB RAM standard (expandable to 2 MB)
StorageLisa 2/5: 1 × 3.5″ floppy (400 KB) + 5 MB ProFile HDD
Lisa 2/10: 2 × 3.5″ floppy + 10 MB Widget HDD
Display12″ monochrome CRT, 720 × 364 pixels
SoundInternal piezo speaker
Dimensions15.2″ H × 18.7″ W × 14.4″ D
Weight48 lb (21.8 kg)
OS / FirmwareLisa OS 2.0–3.1; MacWorks XL (optional)
PredecessorApple Lisa
SuccessorMacintosh XL (rebrand)
Codename"Pepsi" (Lisa 2/5), "Coke" (Lisa 2/10)
Model no.A6S0300 (Lisa 2/5), A6S0400 (Lisa 2/10)

The Apple Lisa 2 was Apple Computer's redesigned and more affordable iteration of the original Apple Lisa, introduced in January 1984. The Lisa 2 addressed the original's most critical flaws by replacing the unreliable "Twiggy" floppy drives with industry-standard 3.5″ Sony drives and reducing the entry price by 65%. Available in two configurations—the Lisa 2/5 with external ProFile drive and the Lisa 2/10 with internal Widget hard drive—the Lisa 2 represented Apple's final attempt to salvage the Lisa platform before its transformation into the Macintosh XL.

Development and Market Positioning

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Engineering Response to Lisa 1 Failures

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The Lisa 2 project began immediately after the original Lisa's troubled launch in mid-1983. Apple engineers, led by the Lisa hardware team under Wayne Rosing, focused on addressing the three primary complaints: the unreliable Twiggy drives, the prohibitive $9,995 price point, and limited software availability.[1]

Sony Drive Integration

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The transition from Twiggy to Sony 3.5″ drives required significant engineering effort. The new drive controller, designed by the team that would later create the Macintosh IWM (Integrated Woz Machine), provided compatibility with the emerging 3.5″ standard while maintaining backward compatibility with existing Lisa software through a ROM update.[2]

Price Reduction Strategy

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To achieve the dramatic price reduction, Apple:

  • Eliminated one floppy drive in the base model
  • Reduced standard RAM from 1 MB to 512 KB
  • Simplified the packaging and documentation
  • Leveraged economies of scale from shared components with Macintosh[3]

Hardware Specifications

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Core Architecture

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The Lisa 2 retained the original's fundamental architecture while implementing cost-saving measures:

Lisa 2 Hardware Comparison
Component Lisa 1 Lisa 2/5 Lisa 2/10
CPU Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Standard RAM 1 MB 512 KB 512 KB
Maximum RAM 2 MB 2 MB
Floppy drives 2 × Twiggy (871 KB) 1 × Sony (400 KB) 2 × Sony (400 KB)
Hard drive External ProFile 5 MB External ProFile 5 MB Internal Widget 10 MB
List price US$9,995 US$3,495 US$5,495

Memory Configuration

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The Lisa 2 introduced a new memory architecture to reduce costs:[4]

  • Base configuration: 512 KB using 256K×1 DRAM chips
  • Expansion options:

512 KB card (bringing total to 1 MB) 1.5 MB card (bringing total to 2 MB)

  • Memory map: Identical to Lisa 1, maintaining software compatibility

Storage Subsystem

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Sony 3.5″ Floppy Implementation

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The Sony MP-F51W drives offered:[5]

  • 400 KB formatted capacity (single-sided)
  • Variable speed rotation (394-590 RPM)
  • Automatic disk ejection mechanism
  • Enhanced reliability over Twiggy drives

Widget Hard Drive (Lisa 2/10)

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The internal Widget drive represented a significant advancement:[6]

  • 10 MB capacity (compared to 5 MB ProFile)
  • Integrated controller board
  • Faster seek times (65 ms average)
  • Direct connection to Lisa's parallel port
  • Built-in diagnostics ROM

I/O Port Configuration

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The Lisa 2 maintained the original's connectivity while adding AppleTalk support:

Lisa 2 Port Specifications
Port Connector Type Protocol Maximum Speed
Serial A DB-25 RS-422/RS-232 57.6 kbps
Serial B DB-25 RS-422/RS-232/AppleTalk 230.4 kbps
Parallel DB-25 Centronics/Widget 500 kbps
Mouse DE-9 Quadrature encoding N/A
Keyboard RJ-11 style Proprietary serial 4800 bps

Software Compatibility

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Lisa Office System 2.0

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The Lisa 2 shipped with an updated Lisa Office System optimized for the reduced memory configuration:[7]

  • Memory optimization: Applications redesigned to run in 512 KB
  • Disk handling: New floppy driver for Sony mechanisms
  • Performance improvements: Faster application switching
  • Bug fixes: Addressed over 200 issues from Lisa OS 1.0

MacWorks Compatibility Layer

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In late 1984, Apple introduced MacWorks, allowing Lisa 2 to run Macintosh software:[8]

  • Emulated Macintosh 64K ROM routines
  • Provided 400 KB RAM to applications
  • Supported most Macintosh software except games
  • Limited by lack of Macintosh sound hardware

Models and Configurations

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Lisa 2/5

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The entry-level configuration included:

  • Single 3.5″ floppy drive
  • External ProFile 5 MB hard drive
  • 512 KB RAM standard
  • Lisa Office System 2.0
  • US$3,495 list price

Lisa 2/10

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The premium configuration featured:

  • Dual 3.5″ floppy drives
  • Internal Widget 10 MB hard drive
  • 512 KB RAM standard
  • Lisa Office System 2.0
  • US$5,495 list price

Upgrade Paths

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Apple offered official upgrade programs:[9]

  • Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/5: US$595 (included I/O board swap)
  • Lisa 1 to Lisa 2/10: US$2,495 (included Widget drive)
  • Lisa 2/5 to Lisa 2/10: US$1,298 (added second floppy and Widget)

Manufacturing and Quality Control

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Production Changes

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The Lisa 2 incorporated several manufacturing improvements:[10]

  • Simplified motherboard with reduced chip count
  • Improved power supply reliability
  • Better thermal management
  • Streamlined assembly process

Serial Number Identification

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Lisa 2 units can be identified by their serial number format:

  • A4Sxxxxx: Early Lisa 2/5 (January-June 1984)
  • A4Txxxxx: Late Lisa 2/5 (July-December 1984)
  • A5Sxxxxx: Lisa 2/10 (all production)

Common Issues and Maintenance

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Power Supply Problems

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The Lisa 2 power supply, while improved, still suffers from age-related failures:[11]

  • Capacitor degradation: Replace all electrolytic capacitors
  • Voltage drift: Adjust potentiometers R38 (5V) and R39 (12V)
  • Thermal stress: Add heat sinks to voltage regulators

Widget Drive Failures

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The Widget drive has specific failure modes:[12]

  • Servo failure: Replace servo control board components
  • Head crashes: Often irreparable, require drive replacement
  • Controller errors: Re-seat or replace controller board

Memory Expansion Issues

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Common memory-related problems include:

  • SIMM socket corrosion: Clean with contact cleaner
  • Addressing errors: Check memory controller PALs
  • Compatibility: Some third-party RAM incompatible

Market Performance and Legacy

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Sales Impact

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The Lisa 2's price reduction had immediate effects:[13]

  • Initial sales surge in Q1 1984
  • Competition with Macintosh announcement
  • Inventory challenges with Lisa 1 units
  • Total Lisa 2/XL sales estimated at 60,000 units

Transition to Macintosh XL

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In January 1985, Apple rebranded remaining Lisa 2/10 inventory as the Macintosh XL:[14]

  • Included MacWorks XL boot disk
  • Marketed as high-end Macintosh
  • Discontinued April 1985
  • Final units sold through 1986

Historical Significance

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The Lisa 2 represents a crucial transition in Apple's history:

  • Bridge between Lisa and Macintosh platforms
  • Demonstrated Apple's ability to respond to market feedback
  • Established 3.5″ floppy as Apple standard
  • Influenced design of future Apple products

Technical Documentation

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Service Information

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Key service resources include:

  • Lisa 2 Owner's Guide (030-0839-A)
  • Lisa 2 Service Manual (072-0061-A)
  • Widget Service Guide (072-0089-A)
  • MacWorks XL Manual (030-1042-A)

Diagnostic Tools

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Apple provided several diagnostic utilities:[15]

  • Lisa Test Disk 3.0 (comprehensive hardware test)
  • Widget Diagnostic (hard drive specific)
  • NeoWidEx (third-party Widget tool)
  • Service Mode (built-in ROM diagnostics)

Preservation and Collecting

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Current Market

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Lisa 2 systems have become increasingly collectible:[16]

  • Working systems: US$2,000-5,000 (2024 prices)
  • Parts machines: US$500-1,500
  • Rare configurations command premium prices
  • Widget drives particularly sought after

Restoration Considerations

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Modern restoration typically involves:

  • Complete capacitor replacement
  • Battery removal (prevents corrosion)
  • Drive mechanism cleaning and lubrication
  • ROM updates for reliability
  • Modern storage solutions (SCSI2SD, X/ProFile)

See Also

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References

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  1. ↑ Return to the Little Kingdom: Steve Jobs and the Creation of Apple Computer, Overlook Press
    ISBN 978-1590202036}
  2. ↑ Hide Under This Desk– Andy Hertzfeld, Folklore.org—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  3. ↑ Apple Lisa 2 product announcement, Computer History Museum, 1984-01-10—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  4. ↑ Apple Lisa Hardware Information, 68kMLA Wiki—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  5. ↑ Lisa 2 Floppy Drive Information, Applefritter—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  6. ↑ Apple Widget Hard Drive, Vintage Mac World—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  7. ↑ Macintosh Revealed, Hayden Book Company
    ISBN 0-8104-6560-2}
  8. ↑ MacWorks Brings Mac OS to Lisa, Low End Mac, 2006-03-21—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  9. ↑ Lisa 2 Upgrade Manual, Apple Computer, 1984—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  10. ↑ Lisa Manufacturing Changes, Applefritter—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  11. ↑ Lisa 2 Power Supply Repair, 68kMLA Forums—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  12. ↑ Widget Hard Drive Service– Patrick Schäfer—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  13. ↑ The Lisa Computer System, BYTE, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 33-50, February 1984
  14. ↑ Apple Lisa 2/10 - Macintosh XL Specs, EveryMac.com—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  15. ↑ Lisa Diagnostics, Lisa FAQ—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
  16. ↑ Why the Apple Lisa Is a Holy Grail for Vintage Computer Collectors, Cult of Mac, 2018-08-15—link(accessed 2025-01-25)
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