Re: Apple IIgs upgrade points to ponder

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Jason Whorton writes ...
> 
> Hello.  I looked at tws's page after reading the "know someone who will make
> cards" part and came up with a few points that I hope will spur further
> thought.
> 
> 1.  Applied Engineering had the ability to make a PC Transporter for an
> Apple II.  The Diamond Trackstar card for PC's is as best I can remember, is
> a card that plugged into an ISA slot and allowed the use of Apple II
> programs somehow.  From what I remember reading about the Apple IIgs, the
> 8-bit Apple II part was put on two chips that are on IIgs motherboards.  It
> is now over 10 years later and the technology part of making hardware
> advancements for the IIgs should be pretty much readily available.   This
> does not take into account anything other than the technology question (i.e.
> Is the technology out there to make a new IIgs hardware item?)
>

     Yes. One of the nice things about having PC around is that the
demand for newer hotter PC's and peripherals keeps pushing technology. 


 
> 2.  A new hardware item such as tws is proposing would be pretty much a
> replacemnet for whatever motherboard you had now.  I think that it would be
> harder to create, manufacture, market, and sale a replacement instead of an
> add-on.

     Of course. Tws, however, does not appear to be pushing any
particular solution.

     One approach, an add-on Expansion box for the IIgs, does not
replace anything in the current machine. It lets users add 'NewGS'
capabilities. 



> I am a daily reader of the Atari 8-bit, Commodore, Texas
> Instruments, and Tandy newsgroups.  The Commodore, Tandy, and TI groups have
> new hardware items discussed often.  For example, I was on the TI list
> server and several people stated they would be glad to pay $200 for an
> 80-column card for their machine.  I don't see that level of support in the
> posts in comp.sys.apple2.

     This just shows you can find _anything_ on the net. It would
probably cost more to develop and produce an 80-column card for the TI
than could ever be made in sales even if every current TI user bought
one.

     Really, the main difference in 'new hardware' activity between
other old computers and the II series is that we are already where they
are trying to go. We have run into barriers which every platform
eventually encounters. The Upgrade the GS page and these discussions on
Csa2 are about cracking the barriers and moving ahead.
 


> 
> 3.  I would like to see more information available to newbies as to what all
> their Apple II computer can do.  Maybe a web site with a couple of screen
> shots and a brief explanantion of some of the more widely used programs
> would help.
>

     One good starting point is this newsgroup's FAQs. Check out the
"Main Hall" file F005A2MHALL.TXT at
ftp://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs .

     Still, it is surely true that more on-line newbie information would
be a plus because so many new owners lack manuals.

     

 
> 4.  The person that posted about making more IIgs accelerators hit the nail
> on the head.  I hope someone makes some accelerator cards.  I think they
> would sell well.  With word of mouth and a little advertising on the
> Internet or newsletters, I think it wouldn't be too hard to sell 100 IIgs
> accelerator cards.  Dr. Buggie has sold 182 or so of his BUGG-POWER power
> supplies.  Surely one must think 100 accelerator cards would sell for what
> $100??? a pop?  Perhaps those of you with accelerator cards can provide some
> information on which major programs it helps out on and how much.  Go ahead,
> create some interest for a potential future builder.
>

 ....

     If someone can sell, say, a 10MHz GS accelerator card for $100,
he/she is likely to get more than 100 orders!




Rubywand