Re: Unidentified IIe Card !!!

["Leslie Ayling" <layling@intercoast.com.au>]

seb <mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
B52BF932.3D40%mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr">news:B52BF932.3D40%mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr...
> in article 3905730a.0@news.acay.com.au, Leslie Ayling at
> layling@intercoast.com.au wrote on 25/04/00 12:28:
>
> >
> > seb <mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr> wrote in message
> > B52AAE49.3BA0%mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr">news:B52AAE49.3BA0%mo.cheez@wanadoo.fr...
> >> Bought a used IIe that came with several cards, but there's one that's
> >> unidentified...
> >> It's a long card (not that long) with nothing written on it except a
grey
> >> sticker that reads "DEC QC-OK". Then there are 16 little chips from
> > various
> >> makes, and one bigger from Nec that says "PIY386-147 D780C"
> >> There are also a small set of 4 jumpers and a red led...
> >>
> >> I have no idea of what that might be !
> >>
> >> Any suggestions ?
> >>
> >> Seb.
> >>
> > From memory, D780C is NEC's version of the Z-80 processor.
> > The 4 jumpers and the LED would perhaps suggest that it is a
> > Microsoft Softcard Clone.
> >
> > Leslie
> >
> >
> >
> Yeah, that's what many other people seem to think...
> Was that the early beginings of PC-compatibility on Apple computers ?

No!

The Z-80 card gave CP/M compatability to the Apple ][.
Several other improved Z-80 cards followed the Microsoft Softcard,
inlcuding(but not limited to) The "Star card", and the "Appli-Card"
both had either/or faster clock speeds/more memory to allow
CP/M V3.0 to run.

There was an 8088 card produced that allowed the Apple//e to run
run MSDOS 3.3, one turned up on EBAY last week in fact. Who
manufactured it, I don't recall.

There was also a 68000 card (I know, because I have one) that allowed
you to run CP/M-86 aswell.

Leslie