Re: Apple II Video Overlay Card

[ewing@VHP.VANDERBILT.EDU (Rick Ewing)]

On 20 Jan 1994, Scott Henson wrote:

> Anyone have a copy of the specs for the Apple II Video Overlay Card?
> Also, does anyone know where one can be purchased, and at what price?
> 
> I recall that this card was (is?) manufactured by Apple for the purpose of
> using video (probably NTSC composite) with the Apple II series.  I do not
> recall whether only the IIgs was supported, or if the card was designed to
> work with all of the II series.  I am not sure whether video digitization
> was supported, or if the card was just for displaying video on the same
> monitor as the computer's video.
> 
> Any information would be much appreciated.
> 
> -- 
>    /////  /////  /////  /////   Scott W. Henson
>   /      /       \     /   /    Computing and Communications Services Office
>  /      /         \   /   /     University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
> /////  /////  /////  /////      scotth@uiuc.edu
> 

The Apple II Video Overlay card would work in a //e but really exceled
inside a IIgs.  It was designed to provide video genlocking ability for
the screen, mostly so that you could provide video interacting with
graphics.  You could select a color which the card would Genlock to, and
then all the video would be seen through that color.  So, you could ask 
to have CNN replace the drab blue of the Finder.  The card could also 
generate quality color composite video output, which the IIgs couldn't do 
well.

To install the card in a IIgs, the card MUST sit in slot 3.  If you have 
a Transwarp GS or ZipGS, you need to move it to slot 4 (it will work 
there).  Software is supplied in the System 5 and System 6 installation 
disks.

I believe the card is still sold, although I'm not sure of the price.  
The ones that Apple has sold has gone mostly to schools, so not many used 
ones have appeared on the open market.  You should check with your campus 
computer store on pricing.  I believe that the card's retail price was in 
excess of $300, but educational prices vary of course.

--Rick Ewing
  Vanderbilt University