Re: Question about ROM 03 machines

[dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <1993May2.041207.25616@osl.or.gov> visitor@ednet1.osl.or.gov (Compass Guest) writes:
> 
>         I don't know 'bout problems with burning the ROMs, but the ROM 03
> has some -VERY- maddening bugs - like not running half of the FTAs demos.

That isn't a bug in the ROM 03: it is a serious oversight on the part
of the FTA, assuming that internal entry points for certain ROM
routines would never change.  Apple have always said that programmers
should only use published entry points.  FTA didn't, and their programs
broke when a new ROM version came out.  I don't think ROM 03 is a
problem for most of their programs, anyway - I can run all the FTA
demos on my ROM 03.

A stock ROM 03 can't run some FTA demos because it doesn't have enough
RAM.  The original version of Nucleus, for example, requires 1.25
megabytes, and a ROM 03 without a memory card only has 1.125 MB.

Their programs also fail to work with a SuperDrive card, again because
they broke the rules and directly called a routine in the 3.5" firmware.

I'm only aware of one "bug" in ROM 03: if you have 8 megabytes of RAM,
you can't create a RAM disk.  There are also several bugs in the
toolbox, most of which are fixed by running System 6.

> I have a ROM 03 (sob). One of the advantages is that thr ROM 03 has a
> keyboard selection in the control panel and the 01 doesn't. The 03
> can do keyboard buffering with it. As far as I know, the 01 can't. :)

Yes it can.

The ROM 03 does have "sticky keys" and "keyboard mouse" support built
into the hardware (can be implemented in software with a ROM 01, but
some programs aren't compatible), and more options for mouse tracking
speeds.  There are quite a few other improvements, especially in the
monitor program.
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz    <--- Note my new E-Mail address!            
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand