Re: Note to QC & PG

["Arkain" <rwking@no.usa.spam.net>]

You wanted me to reply, so I will. Please don't take offense at anything I
say. Just note that I'm very blunt!

----- Original Message -----
From: **** **** <***@***.com>
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 11:59 AM
Subject: Re: Note to QC & PG


> Arkain,
>
>
>
<shameless-website-plug>http://aIIethernet.tripod.com/<shameless-website-plu
> g/>
>
>     Unfortunately, between constantly looking for a job, and my personal
> life, I only have time to pursue one major project. This is it.
>
>     Should this ever be finished, or moves far along enough that someone
> could take over for me, I have more ideas.
>
>     ELKS - Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset
>     This is linux for the 80286, 8088 and 8086. On those platforms, it
looks
> as if it will survive, and even prosper. I've read things that suggest
that
> it might be possible to do it on a 6502, and others that say not. Either
> way, since I'm currently learning hardcore assembly (x86 and m68k) I've
been
> toying with the idea of actually doing something useful. I never am able
to
> really learn from textbook examples.

Linux on a 6502... ROFLMAO!

It probably is possible, but then again, so is creating a cascading fusion
reaction in the ocean. That doesn't mean I'd want to. *nix is to big of a
system to be ported to something small enough to run on a 65xxx series
processor. I'd say much the same thing for the pre-3 x86-based processors,
although it'll be much easier for them than it will for the 6502. Good luck
finishing that! You'll need it!

>     Enhanced Internal power supply for the GS.
>     This could almost be done by someone with zero electronics/electrical
> experience, providing they were careful not to fry themselves. In addition
> to motherboard connector, would be nice to have internal peripheal power
> connectors, standard ones like in pc and everything else

Only one question... why? The GS was never designed with any consideration
for internal components other than the cards. You'll run too high a risk of
overheating something. Heat tolerances in Apple computers weren't nearly as
high as they're forced to be in today's PC market.

>     HDB15 VGA card for the GS
>     I'm afraid this is beyond me, but if nothing else I might give someone
a
> head start by researching and posting my findings.

Here's a good idea. Maybe you could even get the video card's memory to map
into the 80/0000 - F0/FFFF range. Direct memory mapping for higher
resolution & higher color output. That woudl definitely be fun.

>     Localtalk/Cat5 Concentrator
>     I'm tired of using the damn phonenet dongles. Radio Shack sells the
> mini8 plugs, so any fool with a crimper and some cat5 can make the line
that
> will plug into a walljack. On the other end, at the rack or patch panel,
> would be a straight rj45 to rj45 patch cable. Repeater at first, switching
> on a later version. At the moment, wondering how tough to implement a
> ethernet <-> localtalk bridge on a microcontroller, after learning what I
> have from
>
<shameless-website-plug>http://aIIethernet.tripod.com/<shameless-website-plu
> g/>. That would certainly be a very future version though. The repeater
will
> probably  have eight rj45 jacks, a single mini8 jack, and perhaps a
farallon
> style rj11 jack. This is a project I can make on my own, and will. Plan on
> releasing all necessary info. (very light non-delicate soldering, sinple
> homemade pcb, parts for under $15)

I don't know about doing this for localtalk, but it would definitely
aleviate the cabling problem left behind for this legacy architecture! Good
luck, but it shouldn't be to hard.

> I have some other things I wish to pursue, that really don't have much to
do
> with the a2 specifically, but are worthy nonetheless. A cheap zorro2
> ethernet card for amiga(commercially available, but go for $200+) and a
c64
> ether. A web server the size of a paperback book. A lawnmower to mow my
> lawn, and more importantly to chase squirrels around the yard with a
> spinning metal blade. You get the picture.
>
> John
>

I've got several projects and ideas as well. If you like, I'll go through
them for you.