Apple Lisa 2/10
 | |
| Apple Lisa 2/10 with internal Widget drive | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | January 1984 |
| Discontinued | January 1985 |
| Intro price | Reported variously as US$4,995 and US$5,495; no Apple price list has been found here to settle it |
| CPU | Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz |
| Memory | 1 MB RAM (expandable to 2 MB) |
| Storage | 400 KB 3.5" floppy drive, internal 10 MB Widget hard drive |
| Display | 12" monochrome CRT (720×364 pixels) |
| Sound | Mono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD) |
| Dimensions | 15.2" H × 18.7" W × 13.8" D |
| Weight | 48 lbs (22 kg) |
| OS / Firmware | Lisa OS, Lisa Office System, MacWorks |
| Predecessor | Apple Lisa 2/5 |
| Successor | Macintosh XL |
| Model no. | Apple part numbers: power supply 661-73172, motherboard 661-93170, I/O board 661-93171, hard disk assembly 661-93176 |
The Apple Lisa 2/10 was the higher-end configuration of the Lisa 2, featuring an internal 10 MB Widget hard drive and 1 MB of RAM.[1] Released in January 1984, it replaced the original Lisa and offered improved storage capacity with a more integrated design. The Lisa 2/10 was later rebranded as the Macintosh XL in January 1985.
Overview
The Lisa 2/10 was Apple's premium Lisa configuration, designed for users requiring more storage and memory. The "2/10" designation indicated the Lisa 2 hardware with an internal 10 MB Widget hard drive. Unlike the Lisa 2/5 which used an external ProFile, the 2/10's internal drive provided a cleaner desktop setup.
The Lisa 2/10 formed the basis for the Macintosh XL, which was introduced when Apple repositioned the Lisa hardware as a high-end Macintosh.
Hardware Specifications
Processor and Memory
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Motorola MC68000 @ 5 MHz |
| Data Bus | 16-bit external |
| Address Bus | 24-bit |
| Base RAM | 1 MB (higher than Lisa 2/5) |
| Maximum RAM | 2 MB (via memory board upgrades) |
| ROM | 16 KB (bootstrap and self-test routines) |
Storage
| Device | Specification |
|---|---|
| Floppy Drive | Single 400 KB 3.5" Sony SS/DD drive |
| Hard Drive | Internal 10 MB Widget |
| Floppy Format | GCR multi-speed encoding |
| Floppy Eject | Software-controlled |
A claim that the Lisa 2/10 uses an IWM while the Lisa 2/5 uses a discrete Woz Machine was previously made here. Nothing held on this wiki supports a difference between the two Lisa 2 configurations on that point — both read the same Sony 3.5-inch mechanism — and the claim has been removed. What Apple does document is that the two machines have different I/O boards: 661-93198 on the 2/5 and 661-93171 on the 2/10. [2]
Widget Drive
The Widget was Apple's internal 10 MB hard drive designed specifically for the Lisa 2/10:
- Capacity: 10 MB formatted
- Interface: Internal parallel connection (same protocol as ProFile)
- Location: Mounted internally where the parallel port would be on a Lisa 2/5
The Widget gained a reputation for reliability issues and is often replaced with modern alternatives in restored systems.
Display
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 12" diagonal |
| Resolution | 720 × 364 pixels |
| Display Type | Monochrome CRT (black and white) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz vertical |
| Contrast | Software-controlled, plus a hardware contrast adjustment on the video board[2] |
| External Video | RCA jack (non-standard composite output) |
Input/Output
| Port | Description |
|---|---|
| Serial Ports | 2 × RS-232C (25-pin). Apple's codes 55 and 56 name them RS232 port A and RS232 port B[2] |
| Parallel Port | Internal only (routed to Widget) |
| Keyboard | 3-pin 1/4" phone plug, coiled cord |
| Mouse | DE-9 connector, single-button mechanical-optical |
| Expansion Slots | 3× proprietary Lisa slots |
Note: The Lisa 2/10 lacks the external parallel port present on the Lisa 1 and 2/5. This port was rerouted internally to support the Widget drive. External ProFile drives can still be connected using a 2-Port Parallel Card in an expansion slot.
Power Supply
The Lisa 2/10 uses a different power supply from the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2 — Apple part 661-73172 against 661-93108 — and the Macintosh XL shares the 2/10 part.[2]
Current ratings and a "DataPower" designation were previously given here and could not be sourced anywhere, and a claim that this supply is more reliable could not either. Both have been removed; the part numbers are the checkable fact.
Apple publishes no rail tolerance and no supply-adjustment procedure for any Lisa. The Level 1 procedures contain video adjustments only. Apple's own video fault table is worth reading before condemning a supply: both "a sizzling noise coming from Lisa" and "power supply trips (turns off and on)" list brightness and contrast adjustment first, with the supply, video board and flyback after.[2]
Differences from Other Lisa Models
| Feature | Lisa 1 | Lisa 2/5 | Lisa 2/10 | Macintosh XL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Floppy Drive | Dual Twiggy 5.25" | Single Sony 3.5" 400K | Single Sony 3.5" 400K | Single Sony 3.5" 400K |
| Hard Drive | External ProFile | External ProFile 5 MB | Internal Widget 10 MB | Internal Widget 10 MB |
| External Parallel Port | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Power supply (Apple P/N) | 661-93108 / 661-93149 | 661-93108 | 661-73172 | 661-73172 |
| Motherboard (Apple P/N) | 661-93106 | 661-93106 | 661-93170 | 661-93170 |
| I/O board (Apple P/N) | 661-93104 | 661-93198 | 661-93171 | 661-93171 |
| CPU board (Apple P/N) | 661-93103 | 661-93103, or the modified card 661-0298 | ||
| Base RAM | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
Software Compatibility
The Lisa 2/10 could run:
- Lisa OS — Original Lisa operating system
- Lisa Office System — Integrated office suite (LisaWrite, LisaCalc, LisaDraw, etc.)
- MacWorks — Macintosh compatibility environment allowing Mac software to run on Lisa hardware
- MacWorks XL — Enhanced Macintosh compatibility (with screen modification kit for square pixels)
- Xenix — Microsoft's UNIX variant (with appropriate configuration)
Boot ROM
The boot ROM on the CPU board runs the power-on self-test and draws the four card icons. Apple's service procedures do not print a boot-ROM version table, and the H/EA / H/88 / 3A mapping previously given here could not be traced to any document held on this wiki; it has been removed. What Apple does distinguish is the CPU card part number: 661-93103 for every Lisa and Macintosh XL, with 661-0298 as the "Macintosh XL Modified CPU Card".[2]
General Maintenance
For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, power supply care, and CRT handling, refer to the Apple Lisa General Maintenance page.
Troubleshooting
A comprehensive troubleshooting guide addressing power issues, self-test error codes, display problems, Widget failures, and storage issues is available on the Apple Lisa Troubleshooting page.
Common Lisa 2/10-specific issues include:
- Codes 80–85 — Apple groups these as "ProFile errors" and sends the reader to the start-up error message for the "bad ProFile" icon. On a 2/10 the internal Widget sits on that same parallel interface, so these codes cover it. 82 is not a "generic Widget failure" code[2]
- Code 57 — "Disk controller". Apple's order of replacement: I/O board, disk drive, disk drive cables, CPU board, motherboard[2]
Capacitor Replacement
The Lisa 2/10 contains electrolytic capacitors and a class-X mains safety capacitor that require replacement for long-term reliability. The higher-capacity power supply also contains capacitors that should be serviced. See the Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide for detailed specifications and procedures.
Widget Replacement Options
Due to the Widget's reputation for reliability problems, many Lisa 2/10 owners replace the original drive with modern alternatives:
- X/ProFile — Drop-in Widget replacement using CompactFlash storage
- IDEfile — Uses IDE drives or flash memory
These modern replacements offer improved reliability and silent operation compared to the original Widget mechanism.
Transition to Macintosh XL
In January 1985, the Lisa 2/10 was discontinued and replaced by the Macintosh XL. The Macintosh XL was essentially a Lisa 2/10 with:
- Updated ROM (version 3A) supporting square pixels
- Optional screen modification kit. Apple's own Macintosh XL Screen Kit manual (part 030-1240-A) is hosted here; the resolution after the kit is usually given as 608 × 431
- Bundled MacWorks XL software
- Apple positioning it as a high-end Macintosh rather than a Lisa
Many Lisa 2/10 units were upgraded to Macintosh XL specifications through Apple's upgrade program.
Related Pages
- Apple Lisa
- Apple Lisa 2/5
- Macintosh XL
- Apple Lisa General Maintenance
- Apple Lisa Troubleshooting
- Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide
References
- ↑ Apple Lisa, Apple History—link(accessed 2026-02-09)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Apple Computer, Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures (hosted here: Apple Lisa Level 1 Technical Procedures Mar85): Lisa Set-up 2.6; Lisa 2 Diagnostics 5; Lisa Troubleshooting Guide 6 and Appendix D "Start-up Error Codes"; Video Repair Procedures; and the Illustrated Parts Lists.