Re: What is a Workstation card?

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Obsbedia2 <obsbedia2@aol.com> wrote:

> Hi, 
>       I have an Apple Personal LaserWriter  LS that I'd like to hook up to the //e.
> The manual that I have for  the Apple Personal Laser Writer NT tells that it
> can be connected to an Apple //e, but first install the apple II Workstation
> card.  I take it that it's not the same thing as a SCSI or SuperSerial card?

No.  It is a card made by Apple that provides an AppleTalk (LocalTalk)
interface for an enhanced Apple IIe.  The card provides two Mini-Din-8
serial connectors (via a connector box that clamps into the back panel
of the IIe and has a cable running to the card).  One can be used for
LocalTalk, the other only supports a standard serial printer (e.g.
ImageWriter). 

The card has its own microcomputer - a 65C02, with its own RAM and ROM.
This processor implements the AppleTalk protocols, and exchanges data as
required with the Apple II's processor.

The software supplied with the card is sufficient to allow the IIe to
use an AppleTalk ImageWriter II, ImageWriter LQ or LaserWriter.  (With
most software, it is necessary to download an ImageWriter emulator to a
LaserWriter; this may not work with recent models.)

It also allows the IIe to use a networked Macintosh as a file server.
(The Mac must be running the AppleShare server, or have File Sharing
turned on.)  If the Mac is running AppleShare 2.0 or 3.0, the IIe can
even be booted over the network, and doesn't need a disk drive at all.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand