Re: Strange A][ clone

[Jeff Thomas <a2forever@usa.net>]

PL wrote:

> I did some testing with the machine.
>
> When I boot it, "BOSS ][" (instead of APPLE ][) appears on tope of the
> screen. Also, it looks like the machine has Applesoft ROMs since the prompt
> is "]".
>
> I have some A// diskettes. The machine boots with some of them, but at the
> moment I can't verify if they were DOS 3.3 or ProDOS disks. However, since
> there is Z80 installed, I tried to boot CP/M. Didn't work. I don't know if
> the diskette is corrupted or if it just doesn't work. When I have time, I'll
> try to create new CP/M disk to see if it works.

The easiest way to tell, the difference between ProDOS and Dos 3.3 is when
booting either disk format. ProDOS usually comes up, with a startup screen
message, announcing "ProDOS" and version number. Dos 3 or later, normally begins
off, with one Applesoft prompt near the bottom of the screen during the loading
of the "Hello" program or whatever program name, it has been given when the disk
was formatted.

I had a look at your pictures, I would say, that it would have been released
after 1981. It looks more like an IBM PC than an Apple, especially the
detachable keyboard.

I don't know, what the compatibility is like with a real Apple. I guess, it is
just a matter of trail and error. You might want to run some diagnostic tools?

I hope, that helps.