Laser 128

The Laser 128 was a clone of the Apple II home computer series, which was first produced by the company VTech 1984. VTech has developed its Apple -compatible ROM as clean room implementation by reverse engineering, unlike the Apple II copies of Franklin. Apple Computer tried VTech to prosecute and to let the laser take 128 from the market, but failed so unlike Franklin.

As the name suggests, had the laser 128 random-access memory of 128 KB. As the Apple IIc he was a one-piece, semi -portable unit with carrying handle and a built-in 5 ¼ -inch floppy disk drive. In contrast to the Apple IIc, he had further includes a numeric keypad and an Apple IIe compatible expansion slot. Thus, the laser was 128 equipped with better expansion options than the Apple IIc. The retail price amounted to just U.S. $ 700 and was significantly less than the Apple IIc.

In response to the laser 128 Apple Apple developed IIc . Was in turn followed by VTech Laser 128EX EX2 and the laser.

The laser 128 has been aggressively promoted in the United States, both of shipping companies as well as retailers such as Sears. Because although her ​​only memory not descended directly from the Apple counterpart, the laser 128 series was largely compatible to competing products from Apple.

This was due in particular that VTech had purchased a license for Applesoft BASIC from Microsoft, had done exactly like Apple this previously. Since it was part of Microsoft's policy to retain the rights to their software, and Apple had failed to complete an exclusive sales contract for Applesoft BASIC, VTech has been able to also purchase a license. A large part of the Apple Software was based on various assembler routines which has been a part of the BASIC in ROM. It is considered very likely that the laser would not have been as successful if he had possessed no compatible ROM entry points.