Re: Apple ][ clone?

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (vax2.concordia.ca)]

In article thebishop <thebishop@atheist.com> writes...

>I have come across awhat appears to be an apple ][ clone. The Case is
>marked "SPIRAL ][" and the OS boots up with the message "Golden ]["

    Yup, that is certainly an Apple II clone. The very first computer
I bought and owned was a Golden II, although its copied autostart ROM
displayed "GOLDEN64" and the name-plate on the cover read "Golden II".
I've dug up the old ad booklet for the machine, there is a sticker on
the cover which says Spirale Computers, with a Montreal address (though
I doubt it was their head-office since these machines were made in
Taiwan).

>It appears to be consistent with every thing I remember or have read
>about the ][.

    Basically, as illegal clones, they were very close copies of real
Apple II's. Later ones started adding their own features though, and
became souped-up Apple II clones. The ROMs were 1:1 copies, with one
minor change: the boot screen words "APPLE ][" were replaced with a
custom name (Apple later used this against clone manufactures and put
a checksum in their ProDOS operating system to look for this. If it
was different, ProDOS would freeze on the boot screen).

>I am asking for information about this computer. Who made it?

    I would assume Spirale Computers, who were a Taiwanese based
company. Though my motherboard says "Zeus 2001" so maybe that was
their name, or perhaps "Golden Computers" (see below as an example
of how confusing this can be).

>When did it come out.

    Probably early 80's. I purchased one in the summer 1984 but I
know they were available from before that point (I have seen many
early revisions that pre-date mine, which incidentally, was the
final model released from what I recall).

>What is it's compatiblity with the apple ][?

    Pretty much 99.9% compatible, in all the years I used mine, I never
encountered a piece of software which wouldn't run (the advantages of
owning a clone rather than compatible ;). The only one thing that would
of course not work was ProDOS 8, although by patching a few bytes, that
was runnable too (or you could swap the ROMs with "APPLE ][" in there).

>What is it's worth in the collectors market.

    Nothing, I'm afraid. It does have a great deal of sentimental value
to me though, I doubt I'd sell mine for even $1,000 (don't ask why, it
just means alot to me being my first computer and all the learning and
fun I experienced with it :). It might be worth a couple of dollars,
as a usable Apple II Plus clone, but has no value beyond that.

>From what my ever-fading memory can recall, in "WEST OF EDEN", a short
>lived apple ][ clone is described. There is no further information, nor
>did my WWW travels turn up anything

    Oh, there were dozens upon dozens of clones, though only one was
able to remain a legal "compatible" and thus survived the rest. That 
of course of was the Laser 128.

>If anybody has heard of this computer and can tell me anything about it,
>or would like more information on it, or ANYTHING, please feel free to
>mail me. It is in perfect working order and I'd really like to know more
>about it. everybody I have talked to locally has never heard of it, nor
>did they believe I have an apple ][ clone.

    There were so many Apple II clones it's no wonder I guess. Speaking
of unheard of clones, I picked up an obscure one myself about 3 weeks
ago, I wonder if anyone has heard of it:

    It is called an "Elite Computer" and the machine identifies itself
as "ELITE-5" when powered up; the Taiwanese company is called FUGI (or
FUGU?) and refers to the computer as the "Lasar". It came in a narrow
desktop case with two removable port covers (I suppose for internal
floppy drives?) and a detached IBM XT keyboard with DIN5 connector.
The motherboard has 7 slots (slot #4 is missing) and a Z80 processor
which actually lets you run CP/M software without an additional slot
card! The copied ROM is on a mini slot card plugged into slot #0.
There is 64K RAM on the motherboard and it supports lowercase text
and other goodies (the keyboard has built-in macros too, just like my
late-model Golden II). It even has what appears to be a DB9 joystick
connector, like the Apple IIe, although it is definitely an Apple II
Plus clone.

    Anyone heard of this clone? Well despite that, it just goes to
show you how many obscure and relatively unknown overseas clones were
mass produced. :) (I thought it was funny how the company copied the
Apple DOS manual and replaced the words "Apple" with "Lasar" through-
out the text - i.e. LasarSoft BASIC or Lasar DOS 3.3 heh :)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca