Re: _Infinite Loop_ by Michael S. Malone

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Jeff Blakeney writes ...
> 
> On Tue, 25 May 1999 08:23:38 -0500, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
> wrote:
 ....
> 
> >A GS expansion with plenty of speed and RAM should be able to run current
> >stuff okay under emulator software. Some software could be converted; and,
> >as already mentioned, IIgs owners will always be able to run their present
> >software on the old-GS front end of the expanded machine. How attracive
> >old software will be once wares utilizing the new hardware start to arrive
> >is, for now, unclear.
> 
> If you are just going to come up with an incompatible computer that
> emulates an Apple IIgs under software you don't need to bother.
 ....

     As was mentioned, the suggested expansion would not interfer with running
any current software on your IIgs just as you do now. That is, there would be
no need for a IIgs owner to employ any emulation for either old-II or present
IIgs software.

     Emulation or software conversion could be _options_ in case a user wanted
to run older software on the expansion part of the 'new GS'. Should we get to
the point where the GS's available for sale no longer meet demand, a relatively
simple non-GS front end could be produced. Users with a new front end + the
expansion would be able to run all 'new GS' software but would have to use
converted software or emulation to run old stuff.



> Just go pick up a PowerMac and buy Bernie ][ the
> Rescue.  Not only will you be able to run all your Apple II software
> but there is no need to wait a year or two for new applications
> because there is lots of Mac software already out there.
> 
> Oh, and with this method you can use Mac software from all the way
> back in 1984 because the PowerMacs are backwards compatible with the
> older Macs.

     For most IIgs owners, neither Bernie nor XGS is an acceptable option to
the real thing. The reason is, really, very simple: we are not hobbyists
playing around with some toy. We are users who employ the GS for functions it
performs well. We want to see a better IIgs and to create software to run on
it.

     Were I to purchase a Mac, I would not write GS software that has to run on
an emulator. I would write Mac software which could run at full machine speed
and take advantage of every possible Mac feature.


     In order to be a project some users' group or small company formed by
users can actually design and produce for sale at an attractive price, the
expansion has to be reasonably simple. Since Apple shows no inclination to dump
all IIgs ROM code and System 6.0.1 into the public domain, the expansion's
firmware is likely be be limited to a good monitor and not a whole lot more.

     So, we can have something which looks like a very fast 65816, piles of
RAM, good video, sound, and I/O, plus Slots for new cards. It will be up to
users and any interested software makers to come up 'new GS' software,
including a graphical user interface.



Rubywand