Thread
Apple Lisa 2 or Mac XL...Kind Of.
Picked this up today dirt cheap (less than $5). Not sure if it was a Lisa 2 or XL yet but either way someone really didn't like money.
I have the back of it too, didn't take a picture for some reason and I'm not at home to do it.
I assume it was hit by a gold scrapper. They left all the steel inside, even the power supply's box yet kept the guts. If the point were to disable it why not just take the motherboard rather than every other PCB it contains other than the one behind the CRT?
Anyways, not sure what all I'll do with it yet. Might sell the CRT off and put something new in the case, might sell it as-is. It's not something I really need but who passes on a Lisa?
I have the back of it too, didn't take a picture for some reason and I'm not at home to do it.
I assume it was hit by a gold scrapper. They left all the steel inside, even the power supply's box yet kept the guts. If the point were to disable it why not just take the motherboard rather than every other PCB it contains other than the one behind the CRT?
Anyways, not sure what all I'll do with it yet. Might sell the CRT off and put something new in the case, might sell it as-is. It's not something I really need but who passes on a Lisa?
Wow, they really seem to have gutted this little girl for parts! The case looks good, though. I wonder if it's possible to source the motherboard and the rest of the components to restore its original functionality?
Honestly the amount that would cost isn't worth it to me. I wouldn't use it much and I doubt I can restore it for $30 or so. Maybe if I ever find a 2nd trashed one somewhere (broken case or something) I can do that.
Well if you decide not to piece restore and decide to maybe sell - I would be interested.
I'd LOVE to get my grubby little paws on that KBD shell, but you can probably get more for it on eBay than I'd be able to pay. Chassis parts (very clean!) and plastics would likely go for a bit if parted out and listed there as well.
I'd be cool having that just as a display shell.
Though you might want to check eBay, someone was parting out a bunch of Lisa stuff. A few things were pricey, but the rest wasn't.
Though you might want to check eBay, someone was parting out a bunch of Lisa stuff. A few things were pricey, but the rest wasn't.
Nice find!
If you decide to sell it, I might be interested (I'm relatively close to Yountville, so you wouldn't even have to ship it). I've been wanting a Lisa for YEARS, but I've never been (and probably never will be) able to afford a working example.
But whatever you decide to do with it, it would be a good display piece.
c
If you decide to sell it, I might be interested (I'm relatively close to Yountville, so you wouldn't even have to ship it). I've been wanting a Lisa for YEARS, but I've never been (and probably never will be) able to afford a working example.
But whatever you decide to do with it, it would be a good display piece.
c
Something is up. That Lisa is immaculate. Also, where's the stickers on the power supply? Where's the labels under the monitor?
He pulled almost everything out of the system, but didn't clip the keyboard cable? Also is the deflection yoke still there? If not, why would they put the CRT back in the machine?
It's a stretch but you're still close to the valley. It's possible this was a mock-up.
He pulled almost everything out of the system, but didn't clip the keyboard cable? Also is the deflection yoke still there? If not, why would they put the CRT back in the machine?
It's a stretch but you're still close to the valley. It's possible this was a mock-up.
Good eye, CelGen. Is the Lisa supposed to be that gray/mustardy-gray two-tone?
That more likely UV exposure.
This would be great to put a TV in, maybe put a CRT TV of the same size for better effect.
Either a TV or a modern computer in an awesome vintage case!
Either a TV or a modern computer in an awesome vintage case!
Yep, I just snagged the pics and noticed that it had been sitting with its left side facing the light from what looks to be about a 30 degree angle for a VERY long time. Check out the gray lines where the keycaps shaded the KBD bezel.
Oh wow, those key cap "shadows" are bad! lol
Kinda like this?
I've only got the front bezel, but that's a 12" RGB behind it with the chassis for 6500 drawer and TV Tuner to play old movies at 320x240 while it serves up .PDFs for hacking on the 17" Trinitron. The rest of the unit will be a riff on the pic of the ProtoLisa with just one of its wooden feets.
There's actually CRT burn in so I assume it was working at one point. If not that someone pulled the CRT from it and put an old one in.
I did notice as well there's no real labeling either. The front bezel also has "PTA Prototype" moulded into it. It looks as if there's more than mine out there with that and not sure what's up with it.
A couple more pics:
That prototype text was molded into all the cases. But that label seems a bit blank.
Someone actually pointed out to me that the Lisa 2 and XL didn't have a parallel port cutout in the case. The original Lisa, however, did.
Looking at pictures online this seems to be the case.
Looking at pictures online this seems to be the case.
I have a Lisa with a bent frame (shipping mishap) so if you want to sell this, I'm interested. I may be able to be convinced to sell my guts, but it would take a lot of convincing, since they can be organ donations for my other machines if nothing else.
Woah, what's with that Plus? Transparent case mod?
was wondering same thing. what about floppy drive too...
Nuts! I was quickly looking for the best pic I had of the BenchMacXL™ and the next iteration of the ZipMacPLUS™ is sitting in the pic. No biggie, but pick it up in that thread if you like and I'll field questions there so we don't hijack this thread. Responding to your tangent was one thing, but going into details about the other would be a bit much . . .
. . . and I STILL want to get my grubby little paws on a Lisa KBD shell! ;D
Great find Compgeke!
...I wonder how much lighter that Lisa 2 is compared to one not missing all the internals.
...I wonder how much lighter that Lisa 2 is compared to one not missing all the internals.
I seem to remember someone saying the pins on the Lisa's CRT match those on the compact Macs. So theoretically you could take all the innards of a compact Mac, wedge them in there, and connect them to the Lisa's CRT. What you have there is an excellent candidate for a 12" Mac Plus/SE/SE30. It would be everything the Mac XL was and at least 3 MHz faster!
If I wasn't currently destitute, I'd offer you some cash, and do just that.
If I wasn't currently destitute, I'd offer you some cash, and do just that.
If you can do that, why not just replace the CRT with a 12" Monochrome Display? You'd have 640x480 Grayscale and the ability to use a much better MoBo!
Dunno about clearance for the neck of the 12" RGB, but it works fine behind the bezel of my BenchMacXL™ which is probably less deep than a real Lisa case.
Dunno about clearance for the neck of the 12" RGB, but it works fine behind the bezel of my BenchMacXL™ which is probably less deep than a real Lisa case.
I dug in tonight and took more pictures.
It's looking more and more like either a 2/XL or converted Lisa 1 based on date codes.
Here's the CRT's driver board, and part number. 620-0121 matches up with what a 2\XL\Conversion would have.
1723 written on the top right of the board for some reason.
Here's the CRT, with Week 32, 1981
The next is a capacitor date code of Week 32, 1981 (again)
Here's a transistor with a date code of Week 39, 1982
Capacitor with a date code of Week 21, 1982
Here's another with Week 54, 1982 (I believe - Matsushita's numbering was a tad odd).
There's also more PTA Prototype on the other plastic pieces.
It's looking more and more like either a 2/XL or converted Lisa 1 based on date codes.
Here's the CRT's driver board, and part number. 620-0121 matches up with what a 2\XL\Conversion would have.
1723 written on the top right of the board for some reason.
Here's the CRT, with Week 32, 1981
The next is a capacitor date code of Week 32, 1981 (again)
Here's a transistor with a date code of Week 39, 1982
Capacitor with a date code of Week 21, 1982
Here's another with Week 54, 1982 (I believe - Matsushita's numbering was a tad odd).
There's also more PTA Prototype on the other plastic pieces.
Agreed, those date codes are more Lisa 1 timeline than Lisa 2/XL - Unless the managed to build way more than needed the first year, which I heard may have happened. That many Lisa 1 were converted by Apple to a 2.
Dear god this is a good idea. Correction though, that should read "at least three times as fast". 68030 @ 16MHz is waaaaay faster than an 8MHz 68000. And with a Daystar dropped in faster yet again.
Or go all the way to native 040 and stick a Quadra board in there.
Yesssssss *makes grabby hands*
The getting the Lisa case is still too hard for most of us.
I was basing "at least 3MHz" on a Plus being 8MHz and a Lisa/XL being 5MHz. At most, you could stick any 13" 4:3 monitor and a brand new Mac mini in there. 