[buescher]

The fact that the Apple II met the new FCC requirements was a major competitive advantage for Apple, and there have been rumors over the years about how that happened. The higher emissions allowance was why you saw the big shift from monsters like the Atari 800 (heavy cast metal frame, aluminum or pot metal) and Commodore PET to lighter chassis like the Atari XL series and the Commodore VIC-20 and C64.

[EvanAnderson]

The old FCC Standards kneecapped Atari. I think Atari would have had a much showing against Apple had they not had to have the heavy and expensive cast box inside every 400/800 and the increased cost for "smart" peripherals versus "dumb" slots. Those Atari machines are arguably more technically advanced and capable than the Apple II. The cost of FCC compliance drove up the price and hurt their market share.

I've always thought the whole Apple / aftermarket RF modulator trick was a bit underhanded.

[flomo]

When I was a kid, I had a green screen Apple, and I wish I knew about 3rd party RF modulators. (It didn't work with an Atari-style modulator.) I never saw a setup like that, so I wonder how common they really were.

[kwertyoowiyop]

It was the typical way to connect a TV to an Apple. I used one before I bought a monitor.

[flomo]

Maybe 'typical' only in the very early days? I just never saw one plugged into a television rather than a computer monitor, nor did I ever hear about such a thing. I would have loved to play those games in color.

[kwertyoowiyop]

I feel very old.

[flomo]

We are both old, buddy. My dad bought this pretty loaded used system from a 'hacker', so at least I can post about z80 softcards and etc.

[MarkusWandel]

Except that after the initial model, the PET's case was plastic, or rather, structural foam, with no shielding applied to it all.

[kmoser]

After the initial 2001 model, Commodore used a mix of materials, with some models made of all metal and some of a metal/plastic hybrid (metal base, plastic top), according to this website: https://www.zimmers.net/cbmpics/cbm/PETx/petfaq.html (look for "WHAT MODELS OF THE PET ARE THERE?")

[zabzonk]

Source? Every Commodore PET I've ever come across had a metal chassis. Commodore64s and VICs had plastic ones.

[MarkusWandel]

The chassis (the bottom black part) was always made out of metal. But all the white part above, on the very first PETs (the ones with the rectangular keyboard) it was made out of metal, and on all subsequent ones (with normal keyboard and green-on-black screens) it was made of this plastic material. Source: Personal experience (I'm old).

[buescher]

Interesting. I didn't know that.