Apple Lisa 2/10
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.
 | |
| Apple Lisa 2/10 with internal Widget drive | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Apple Computer, Inc. |
| Type | Personal Computer |
| Released | January 1984 |
| Discontinued | January 1985 |
| Intro price | US$4,995 |
| 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 | PWM square wave with software-controlled volume |
| 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 |
| Codename | Lisa |
| Model no. | A6S0300 |
Overview
editThe 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
editProcessor and Memory
edit| 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| Device | Specification |
|---|---|
| Floppy Drive | Single 400 KB 3.5" Sony SS/DD drive |
| Hard Drive | Internal 10 MB Widget |
| Disk Controller | Integrated Woz Machine (IWM) chip |
| Floppy Format | GCR multi-speed encoding |
| Floppy Eject | Software-controlled |
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.
Widget Drive
editThe 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| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 12" diagonal |
| Resolution | 720 × 364 pixels |
| Display Type | Monochrome CRT (black and white) |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz vertical |
| Contrast | 64 software-controlled levels |
| External Video | RCA jack (non-standard composite output) |
Input/Output
edit| Port | Description |
|---|---|
| Serial Ports | 2× RS-232C (25-pin), up to 38.4 Kbps |
| 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
editThe Lisa 2/10 required a higher-capacity "DataPower" power supply to support the internal Widget drive:
- North American: 1.8A at 120V, 60 Hz
- 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.
Differences from Other Lisa Models
edit| 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 | 1.2A | 1.2A | 1.8A | 1.8A |
| Disk Controller | Discrete Woz Machine | Discrete Woz Machine | IWM chip | IWM chip |
| Base RAM | 1 MB | 512 KB | 1 MB | 1 MB |
| ROM Version | H/EA | H/EA | H/88 | 3A |
Software Compatibility
editThe 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)
ROM Versions
editThe Lisa 2/10 shipped with ROM version H/88. During self-test, the system displays the ROM version. Common versions include:
- H/EA — Lisa 1 and Lisa 2/5
- H/88 — Lisa 2/10
- 3A — Macintosh XL (includes square pixel support)
General Maintenance
editFor detailed maintenance practices including cleaning, PRAM battery management, power supply care, and CRT handling, refer to the Apple Lisa General Maintenance page.
Troubleshooting
editA 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:
- Error 82 — Generic Widget drive failure
- Error 57 — Disk controller error (check IWM chip)
Capacitor Replacement
editThe 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.
Widget Replacement Options
editDue 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
- Sun20/30/40 — 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.
Transition to Macintosh XL
editIn 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 for 608×432 resolution
- 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.