Re: Computist alive ?

[fmlin@netcom.com (Frank M. Lin)]

Here the original article...

#9232 comp.sys.apple2 5k
From: scraft@graphics.rent.com (Steve Craft)
Subject: New ][ Hardware
Date: 6 Feb 93 00:15:31 GMT

Yes, Computist Magazine is still around.  And with neew hardware to boot:

SUPER II
Turdnil at Fortress Citadel
Monday, January 25th, 1993  19:05:25 CST

     It took a while, but, as promised last summer the Super II board
has been constructed. Super II is a MAJOR upgrade for II, II+, and IIe
users.

Specifications:

     4MHz 65C816
     1-16MB SIMM RAM on the board (uses standard 1MB SIMMs)
     128K system ROM on board
     plugs into an expansion slot
     price: $170 assembled with 0 RAM (you order your own and plug in)
     designed by Chuck Haight, editor of COMPUTIST* magazine

     Since, except for disk and similar I/O accesses, the board runs
at the full 4MHz, it is faster than the 8MHz Zip chip (which averages
about 3.9MHz) and the standard IIgs PLUS you get the advantages of
direct, linear access to nearly 16MB RAM.


Will Apple support the Super II? No way! Apple barely "supports" the
IIgs. Super II is by and for II USERS!

What software does the Super II run? It runs Super II software! There
is no attempt to kluge the design so as to be compatible with the
IIgs, Mac, or anything else. This is a 'clean' piece of hardware
designed for speed and power which takes maximum advantage of the
65C816. Initially, the plan is to rely upon DOS 3.3 and ProDOS for
disk I/O. An improved operating system and a more powerful BASIC
remain to be developed.

Will I need a bigger power supply? If you haven't already swapped-in a
heftier unit (such as the 83-watt model available from JDR
Microdevices), then, Yes, you will.

What about product support? Super II is a very new product; so,
besides the assembled board, you can expect lots of special attention
from Chuck and COMPUTIST. As the designer, Chuck has a vested interest
in seeing that 'everything works' and that you are satisfied.


     If the $170 price sounds low that's because it is. Super II
employs advanced Schottky (AS) IC's and, when the cost of the uP,
other parts, and printed circuit board is added, the total is about
equal to the price. Chuck wants to get some of the boards into the
hands of users and developers as quickly as possible. To reduce the
risk that purchasers might own an 'ophan machine', Chuck will hold
your check for a few weeks until enough orders are in to justify
producing a fair number of boards. If II user interest is less than
expected, your check will be returned.

     Since Chuck is a dedicated II user, the requirements for
"commercial success" are nothing like those of high-overhead producers
such as Applied Engineering. Of course, the Super II will
automatically be supported by COMPUTIST. Besides 'free advertising' to
attract Super II buyers, this means users can expect publication of
SII programs, old-II and IIgs program conversions, and similar
goodies. Best of all, you will have a 90's II you can 'get your hands
on' (i.e. what most of us thought we were getting when we bought our
IIgs's).

     To order an assembled Super II board send $170 to

     COMPUTIST
     33821 Orville Road East
     Eatonville, WA  98328-9590

*(A new COMPUTIST subscription for one year, 8 issues, is $27)

     Being IN at the start of a new II Revolution could be profitable
for users interested in writing software, developing support hardware,
etc.. It should, definitely, be fun!

__________________________________________________________________________
__

HYPER IIGS
Turdnil at Fortress Citadel  (#69@#25)
Monday, January 25th, 1993  19:03:07 CST

     First, the Hyper IIgs DOES exist. It has been built and tested by
Chuck Haight and some local (Eatonville, WA) hackers. Hyper IIgs is a
super speedup board set which employs a 12MHz 65C816 and two caches,
one is 64KB (12MHz) and the other is 8MB (5MHz).  So, except for
forced slowdowns (e.g. for I/O and accesses to banks $E0-$FF) the
board screams along at 12MHz and, for fast cache misses, drops(!) to
5MHz. Chuck doesn't quote an average speed. My 9MHz 32K-cache Zip/gs
averages about 7MHz; the Hyper IIgs is probably good for something a
bit better than a 10MHz average. A very nice plus is that, when
reliable 14Mhz (20MHz...) '816's become available, only the uP and,
perhaps, the 64K cache should need to be upgraded.

     Hyper IIgs is not currently available for sale to users. Instead,
those behind the project are asking IIgs 'speed freaks' to write and
express interest. The explanation is cost. Hyper IIgs comes on two
boards and, for small production runs, would sell for $500 assembled
and tested.

If interested, send your comments and/or questions to

      COMPUTIST/ Hyper IIgs
      33821 Orville Road East
      Eatonville, WA 98328-9590


-- 
frank m. lin
fmlin@netcom.com