Re: annc: GS/OS AppleDisk5.25 Project

[Alex Freed <alex_news@mirrow.com>]

Toinet wrote:
> From my user's point of view, I have to admit that I am not interested
> in seeing another floppy controller, nor Z80 card nor any other cards
> similar to the thousands of Apple II cards out there.

I guess there are different schools of though on this issue. Personally
I prefer making hardware to writing programs and I'm trying to make 
things that are useful (at least to me).
In my mind you don't need to use say wifi to make communications between
old and new computers easier if a wire works just fine. What I do see as 
a limitation is the 140K floppy. It's not big enough for comfort and the 
media is getting hard to find.
I do own a GS, but I bought it on e-bay a few years ago and didn't have 
one when they were new. That's why to me a ][+ or //e is a "real" Apple
and I'm trying to enhance those platforms.

> Nowadays, I believe people use and work with their Apple II through an
> emulator and will continue unless a real Apple II facilitates
> exchanges with todays' platforms (wifi, usb, bluetooth) or enhances
> its current limitations (enhanced video board, enhanced sound boards).
> That is why I believe the lattest useful Apple II cards are the
> Ethernet ones.

Some people do like emulators and others do not. To me it has to be a 
dedicated box even if there is a single FPGA inside.

> But hardware is only one part of the subject and the most useful/
> feature complete card in the universe offers limited interest if it
> has no drivers nor developers supporting it: see the Second Sight
> video board: it offered powerful features and great video enhancements
> and no support... then it died.

That's exactly why I want to hear from the potential software developers
before doing anything.

-Alex.