I finally have an Apple IIɢꜱ! Kinda

For the last few years I’ve been trying to source an IIɢꜱ, Apple’s last major hurrah for the Apple II platform, and the only 16-bit model in the lineup. I know I say this about every retrocomputer, but this was a fascinating machine. Here’s the motherboard for my 1986 ROM1 unit, in all its dusty glory: I’m missing more than a few components, as you can see. It doesn’t have a case. It has no input devices, like an ADB keyboard or mouse. It has no interface cards or memory expansion. The backup battery hasn’t leaked, but still requires urgent replacement. Most consequentially, it even lacks a power supply. Gulp. This is a static museum piece for now, though I was assured by the seller that it was fully tested prior to shipping. I’ll save my detailed post about the history of this weird and wonderful machine for another time. Today, I want to ramble about just how improbable it was turning out that I would ever get this board, and why I’m so relieved to have this logic board even now.…