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 | 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 |
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 |
| 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
[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 × 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 | edit source]| 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
[edit | edit source]The 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 | 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 | 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
[edit | edit source]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)
ROM Versions
[edit | edit source]The 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
[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:
- Error 82 — Generic Widget drive failure
- Error 57 — Disk controller error (check IWM chip)
Capacitor Replacement
[edit | edit source]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.
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 — 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
[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 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.
Related Pages
[edit | edit source]- Apple Lisa
- Apple Lisa 2/5
- Macintosh XL
- Apple ProFile
- Apple Lisa General Maintenance
- Apple Lisa Troubleshooting
- Apple Lisa Capacitor Replacement Guide