�ber IIgs

["IceWeasel" <noaddress@for.you>]

Looking at the "Apple II Accelerator Project" thread after writing my
�ber-IIgs dream machine article got me thinking a bit philosophically about
computer hardware.  It's  a common thing, esp. among classic computer
devotees, to have a particular attachment to the hardware that comprises the
computer.  With the A2 for instance, we could all be running 40MHz IIgs's
via the Bernie II emulator.  But it wouldn't be the same.  My question here
is: why?  Why is it not the same?  Where, in the bowels of a tricked-out
computer, lies the heart of the machine?  What particular component
comprises its soul?

Start on the outside: it's not the case that matters.  See
http://www.landfield.com/faqs/apple2/faq/part13/ - "How can I move my IIgs
to a PC tower case?" for evidence.

It's not strictly the processor, else the ZipGS and Transwarp wouldn't still
enjoy popularity in this age of die-hards.  True, they're 65c816-based, but
they weren't shipped in the original machine.  Similarly, it isn't the RAM
or any peripheral.  PC joystick adapters, Mac enhanced keyboards and
PC-based modems abound.  Peripherals are good; they enhance the capability
of the machine without changing its essence.

I see two possibilites: the OS, and the motherboard.  Were it just the OS,
GNOme probably wouldn't have been created, and emulators might be more
popular.  But if it really is the motherboard, why am I left with the
feeling that large numbers of people would happily consume a 65832-based,
backward-compatible motherboard, were such a thing available?

I'd think, then, between emulation being an unacceptable substitute and the
willingness to upgrade to a different motherboard, that it's the idea of a
motherboard that's *dedicated* to running one platform's software that makes
the difference then.

So, similar to the idea of an add-in x86-based CPU booster, why not just
design an emulator for an x86 machine that actually *is* the operating
system?  It's possible... rather like how Windows defaults to certain system
minimums (VGA, no sound card, etc.), an x86 GS/OS 7 could be written, with a
hardware abstraction layer available between the OS and peripherals.
Default to emulating 640*200 video and trap all the sound events, with no
sound card actually set up yet.  If a sound card has is later defined for
the OS, just move it through via the GS/OS 7 driver to the SB
Live/GUS/whatever.  New drivers could be written to support things like
Ethernet cards, rather than building A2-specific hardware, and the drivers
look to the OS like something bizarre that just happens to be in Slot 7...

Just a thought.  Responses?