Re: Apple II just won't die.

[rubywand@aol.com (RUBYWAND)]

re. Dream Machine/GS, GS-X, ROM-5, ....

1- built-in 28.8 modem: external modem is better. Internals take up board
or Slot space and generate heat. Main problem is that 28.8 is likely to be
superceded by something faster.

2- built-in 6x CD-ROM drive: so long as it is an IDE device and is easily
removable. 8x IDE CD-ROM drives now sell well below $200. New, faster,
higher capacity CD-ROM's are scheduled to appear soon, too.

3- '486 PC Transporter: Dangerous! Look at what happpened to Mac. If the
new PCT works well-- like 2nd Sight users can play many new PC wares on
their IIgs's-- then the IIgs may become just another PC clone. If it is
just a half-way PC-- i.e. another power-sucking klunker like the current
PCT-- then, who needs it?

4- 40MHz: Scorcher! A Zip 40/64 would be a monster. Even a mere 25MHz
accelerator would be adequate for the next year or two. If the Fast uP is
on the motherboard, and base buss speed brought up to 8MHz, the speed
enhancement would be noticable.

5- 16MB SIMM sockets: Necessary. We need lots of memory to handle big,
SVGA-class graphics and Sound blocks. 8MB SIMMs are 'okay' but quickly
being superceded. Accessing 16-64MB will require bank-switching with a
65C816. It would be better to go ahead and implement the 65C832 (or
65C1632).

6- IDE: SCSI has been an adequate interface; but, clearly, it is losing
out against modern IDE. A new IDE interface will give GS-X users access to
piles of cheap PC hardware.

7- 2GB HD: Naturally. 2GB is a decent chunk of mass storage; and, with an
IDE interface, we can easily swap-in bigger units as prices drop.

8- VESA, XVGA, ... : Should we go with including a Slot which will accept
PCI video cards? The gain is a reasonably cheap, quickie fix for our
display problems. The costs are getting stuck with a fairly cumbersome
graphics interface and becoming more PC-like. Maybe most important, a new,
for GS-X design is a chance to build-in advanced features and leapfrog PC
performance..

9- Sound Canvas/ Sound Blaster XX: Another cheap, quick fix. Should we
include a Slot for PC sound cards or go with a new design?

10- BASIC in ROM: It may be that many csa2 readers are fairly comfortable
with C and/or Assembler + Toolbox programming. Most II users are not. GS-X
should have a built-in advanced interpreted Applesoft-- one which allows
access to new graphics and Sound features.  Vis-a-vis Mac and PC,
Applesoft/GS-X could be the biggest advantage of all and the new machine's
best shot at winning new users.
         

Rubywand