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Apple Lisa 2/10: Difference between revisions

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| release date = January 1984
| release date = January 1984
| discontinued = January 1985
| discontinued = January 1985
| price = US$4,995
| 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
| cpu = Motorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
| memory = 1 MB RAM (expandable to 2 MB)
| memory = 1 MB RAM (expandable to 2 MB)
| storage = 400 KB 3.5" floppy drive, internal 10 MB Widget hard drive
| storage = 400 KB 3.5" floppy drive, internal 10 MB Widget hard drive
| display = 12" monochrome CRT (720ร—364 pixels)
| display = 12" monochrome CRT (720ร—364 pixels)
| sound = PWM square wave with software-controlled volume
| sound = Mono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD)
| dimensions = 15.2" H ร— 18.7" W ร— 13.8" D
| dimensions = 15.2" H ร— 18.7" W ร— 13.8" D
| weight = 48 lbs (22 kg)
| weight = 48 lbs (22 kg)
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| predecessor = [[Apple Lisa 2/5]]
| predecessor = [[Apple Lisa 2/5]]
| successor = [[Macintosh XL]]
| successor = [[Macintosh XL]]
| codename = Lisa
| model = Apple part numbers: power supply 661-73172, motherboard 661-93170, I/O board 661-93171, hard disk assembly 661-93176
| model = A6S0300
}}
}}


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|-
|-
| Hard Drive || Internal 10 MB Widget
| Hard Drive || Internal 10 MB Widget
|-
| Disk Controller || Integrated Woz Machine (IWM) chip
|-
|-
| Floppy Format || GCR multi-speed encoding
| Floppy Format || GCR multi-speed encoding
Line 66: Line 63:
|}
|}


The Lisa 2/10 used the Integrated Woz Machine (IWM) chip for disk control, unlike the Lisa 1 and 2/5 which used a discrete component state-machine implementation of the Woz Machine.
A claim that the Lisa 2/10 uses an IWM while the Lisa 2/5 uses a discrete Woz Machine was sometimes made. Nothing held on this wiki supports a difference between the two Lisa 2 configurations on that point โ€” both read the same Sony 3.5-inch mechanism โ€” 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.
<ref name="lisal1">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.</ref>


=== Widget Drive ===
=== Widget Drive ===
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| Refresh Rate || 60 Hz vertical
| Refresh Rate || 60 Hz vertical
|-
|-
| Contrast || 64 software-controlled levels
| Contrast || Software-controlled, plus a hardware contrast adjustment on the video board<ref name="lisal1" />
|-
|-
| External Video || RCA jack (non-standard composite output)
| External Video || RCA jack (non-standard composite output)
Line 100: Line 98:
! Port !! Description
! Port !! Description
|-
|-
| Serial Ports || 2ร— RS-232C (25-pin), up to 38.4 Kbps
| Serial Ports || 2 ร— RS-232C (25-pin). Apple's codes 55 and 56 name them RS232 port A and RS232 port B<ref name="lisal1" />
|-
|-
| Parallel Port || Internal only (routed to Widget)
| Parallel Port || Internal only (routed to Widget)
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=== Power Supply ===
=== Power Supply ===


The Lisa 2/10 required a higher-capacity "DataPower" power supply to support the internal Widget drive:
The Lisa 2/10 uses a '''different power supply from the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2''' โ€” Apple part
* North American: 1.8A at 120V, 60 Hz
'''661-73172''' against '''661-93108''' โ€” and the Macintosh XL shares the 2/10 part.<ref name="lisal1" />
* International: 1.0A at 220-240V, 50 Hz


This power supply is more robust than the 1.2A version in the Lisa 2/5 and is considered more reliable for long-term use.
'''Current ratings and a "DataPower" designation circulate for this machine 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.
ย 
'''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.<ref name="lisal1" />


== Differences from Other Lisa Models ==
== Differences from Other Lisa Models ==
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| External Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || No || No
| External Parallel Port || Yes || Yes || No || No
|-
|-
| Power Supply || 1.2A || 1.2A || 1.8A || 1.8A
| 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'''
|-
|-
| Disk Controller || Discrete Woz Machine || Discrete Woz Machine || IWM chip || IWM chip
| CPU board (Apple P/N) || colspan="3" | '''661-93103''' || '''661-93103''', or the modified card '''661-0298'''
|-
|-
| Base RAM || 1 MB || 512 KB || 1 MB || 1 MB
| Base RAM || 1 MB || 512 KB || 1 MB || 1 MB
|-
|}<ref name="lisal1" />
| ROM Version || H/EA || H/EA || H/88 || 3A
|}


== Software Compatibility ==
== Software Compatibility ==
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* '''Xenix''' โ€” Microsoft's UNIX variant (with appropriate configuration)
* '''Xenix''' โ€” Microsoft's UNIX variant (with appropriate configuration)


== ROM Versions ==
== Boot ROM ==


The Lisa 2/10 shipped with ROM version H/88. During self-test, the system displays the ROM version. Common versions include:
The boot ROM on the CPU board runs the power-on self-test and draws the four card icons. Apple's
* '''H/EA''' โ€” Lisa 1 and Lisa 2/5
service procedures do not print a boot-ROM version table, and the H/EA / H/88 / 3A mapping that circulates for these machines could not be traced to any document held on this wiki, so it is not given here.
* '''H/88''' โ€” Lisa 2/10
What Apple does distinguish is the '''CPU card part number''': '''661-93103''' for every Lisa and
* '''3A''' โ€” Macintosh XL (includes square pixel support)
Macintosh XL, with '''661-0298''' as the "Macintosh XL Modified CPU Card".<ref name="lisal1" />


== General Maintenance ==
== General Maintenance ==
Line 167: Line 174:


Common Lisa 2/10-specific issues include:
Common Lisa 2/10-specific issues include:
* '''Error 82''' โ€” Generic Widget drive failure
* '''Codes 80โ€“85''' โ€” 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<ref name="lisal1" />
* '''Error 57''' โ€” Disk controller error (check IWM chip)
* '''Code 57''' โ€” "Disk controller". Apple's order of replacement: I/O board, disk drive, disk drive cables, CPU board, motherboard<ref name="lisal1" />


== Capacitor Replacement ==
== Capacitor Replacement ==


The Lisa 2/10 contains electrolytic and RIFA safety capacitors 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.
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 ==
== Widget Replacement Options ==
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* '''X/ProFile''' โ€” Drop-in Widget replacement using CompactFlash storage
* '''X/ProFile''' โ€” Drop-in Widget replacement using CompactFlash storage
* '''IDEfile''' โ€” Uses IDE drives or flash memory
* '''IDEfile''' โ€” Uses IDE drives or flash memory
* '''Sun20/30/40''' โ€” Third-party internal drives (20-40 MB) that could be installed in lieu of Widget


These modern replacements offer improved reliability and silent operation compared to the original Widget mechanism.
These modern replacements offer improved reliability and silent operation compared to the original Widget mechanism.
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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:
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
* Updated ROM (version 3A) supporting square pixels
* Optional screen modification kit for 608ร—432 resolution
* 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 ร— 431
* Bundled MacWorks XL software
* Bundled MacWorks XL software
* Apple positioning it as a high-end Macintosh rather than a Lisa
* Apple positioning it as a high-end Macintosh rather than a Lisa

Latest revision as of 12:45, 27 September 2026

Apple Lisa 2/10
Apple Lisa 2/10 with internal Widget drive
Specifications
ManufacturerApple Computer, Inc.
TypePersonal Computer
ReleasedJanuary 1984
DiscontinuedJanuary 1985
Intro priceReported variously as US$4,995 and US$5,495; no Apple price list has been found here to settle it
CPUMotorola 68000 @ 5 MHz
Memory1 MB RAM (expandable to 2 MB)
Storage400 KB 3.5" floppy drive, internal 10 MB Widget hard drive
Display12" monochrome CRT (720ร—364 pixels)
SoundMono, via a continuously variable slope demodulator (CVSD)
Dimensions15.2" H ร— 18.7" W ร— 13.8" D
Weight48 lbs (22 kg)
OS / FirmwareLisa OS, Lisa Office System, MacWorks
PredecessorApple Lisa 2/5
SuccessorMacintosh 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

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

Processor and Memory

[edit | edit source]
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

[edit | edit source]
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 sometimes made. Nothing held on this wiki supports a difference between the two Lisa 2 configurations on that point โ€” both read the same Sony 3.5-inch mechanism โ€” 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

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]
Specification Value
Screen Size 12" diagonal
Resolution 720 ร— 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

[edit | edit source]
Port Description
Serial Ports 2 ร— 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 3ร— 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

[edit | edit source]

The Lisa 2/10 uses a different power supply from the Lisa 1 and Lisa 2 โ€” Apple part 661-73172 against 661-93108 โ€” and the Macintosh XL shares the 2/10 part.[2]

Current ratings and a "DataPower" designation circulate for this machine 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

[edit | edit source]
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

[2]

Software Compatibility

[edit | edit source]

The Lisa 2/10 could run:

  • Lisa OS โ€” Original Lisa operating system
  • Lisa Office System โ€” Integrated office suite (LisaWrite, LisaCalc, LisaDraw, etc.)
  • MacWorks โ€” Macintosh compatibility environment allowing Mac software to run on Lisa hardware
  • MacWorks XL โ€” Enhanced Macintosh compatibility (with screen modification kit for square pixels)
  • Xenix โ€” Microsoft's UNIX variant (with appropriate configuration)

Boot ROM

[edit | edit source]

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 that circulates for these machines could not be traced to any document held on this wiki, so it is not given here. 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

[edit | edit source]

For detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, power supply care, and CRT handling, refer to the Apple Lisa General Maintenance page.

Troubleshooting

[edit | edit source]

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 80โ€“85 โ€” 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 โ€” "Disk controller". Apple's order of replacement: I/O board, disk drive, disk drive cables, CPU board, motherboard[2]

Capacitor Replacement

[edit | edit source]

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

[edit | edit source]

Due to the Widget's reputation for reliability problems, many Lisa 2/10 owners replace the original drive with modern alternatives:

  • X/ProFile โ€” Drop-in Widget replacement using CompactFlash storage
  • IDEfile โ€” 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

[edit | edit source]

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 ร— 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.

[edit | edit source]

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. โ†‘ Apple Lisa, Apple Historyโ€”link(accessed 2026-02-09)
  2. โ†‘ 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.