Re: When's An Apple II not an Apple II?

[Henrietta Fishman@flood.xnet.com (Chris Wicklein)]

Jeffrey Thomas Sheldon (jeff@tiger.lsu.edu) wrote:

: Well, we've seen the Mac undergo a new architecture and still retain the 
: "Mac" name, and soon we'll see it adopt more construction and abilities 

	With the introduction of the PowerMac, Apple has redefined 
"Macintosh" to mean any computer that uses Apple Computer Co. 
GUI-elements.  This was a necessary move: They couldn't well toss out 
their Macintosh trademark.  I don't think of the PowerMac as part of the 
same Macintosh family I grew up with.  It is built around a different 
CPU, and runs Macintosh software though an emulation, which is far from 
being an exclusive software environment on this new machine. 

: I've heard a lot of support that the line should still be active and 
: such, but on what terms is the general consensus?  Do you mean on the

	Well, it would be fun to see an enhanced Apple II product, but 
today there isn't enough market to make such a beast viable.
 
: 6502, or w/ the same card support, or with the GUI for the GS?  Obviously 
: slapping a label on a 100mhz super-risc micromachine with mental control 
: and 3d output wouldn't make it a _genuine_ Apple II.

	Such a machine would have to run existing software and support 
Apple II expansion boards, IMHO.  Options for improvement include adding 
a 32-bit 65832 with its own high-speed RAM/ROM much like the existing 
FPI, a new video-display mode accessed though a 32-bit CPU direct bus, 
and of course the necessary logic to shadow old video modes to the new 
display (ala Second Sight?)  Slot 7 firmware should support Your 
Card/built-in SCSI adaptor.  Tossing in some harware graphics COPs would 
be nice too.  Essencially, as the GS is a //e inside another computer, 
this new machine would be a GS inside another computer.  Neat, but not 
practical to build or market.

: So I'm curious to see...where would the rest of you like the Apple II to 
: become, if Apple woke up and decided to restart assembly? 

See above.

: Jeff Sheldon                                   Member, Dead Computer Society
: Join the LSU Computer Club!
: (Meetings?  We don't need no stinkin' meetings!)           Apple II Forever!

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		       Chris Wicklein, chrisw@xnet.com
	     "Look!  The angry, red, vocal hate-beam is gone..."
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