Re: What if we designed and built a "32bit" Apple II?

["Jayson Smith" <nospamratguyspambegone@nospamplease.bellsouth.ihatespam.net>]

For the past few years I've dreamed of a computer which would have the
traditional seven slots, but a lot of extra hardware E.G. 5.25 and 3.5
drives, serial ports, etc.  This computer could emulate absolutely any Apple
II computer, from the original II right on up through to the Rom 03 GS.
It'd probably have to have its own separate control panel-like setup program
so you could choose which Apple was being emulated, and options relevant to
that particular computer.  E.G. does the IIe have an 80 column card?  If so,
does it have the extended memory?  For that matter, is it an enhanced IIe or
not?  Just a thought.
Jayson.

"Ranando King" <rk@magictouchcorp.com> wrote in message
news:413e16fd$1_2@news.vic.com...
> Sure, in todays' market, it'd be little more than a novelty for collectors
> to play with, having no intrinsic historical value whatsoever, but
wouldn't
> it be cool to see if we can do what many of us wish Apple Computers had
done
> instead of making the Lisa and Mac?
>
> BEGIN: [*Rant and Reason*]
>
> Apple Computers basically tried to squeeze the life out of the II series
to
> support it's new "better thing" computers, neither of which was anything
> like what people had come to expect from the Apple brand name. Instead of
> investing the capital from the II series sales into something compatible
> with the II series, they shut down production, then sales, then support
for
> the line altogether, nearly killing the company just to push Macs on
people.
> Even the more flexible, albeit slower, IIgs was under-supported and
> under-advertised when it arrived.
>
> I'd really like to see what would have come (hardware-wise) of Apple
> commissioning the design of the WD65SC832(not quite sure about that
number)
> which was supposed to be a 32bit 6502 compatible chip. But since HELL is
> likely to freeze over, thaw out, and freeze again before Apple will do any
> such thing.....
>
> END: [*Rant and Reason*]
>
> In truth, the only reason I switched to PC's was because at the time,
Mac's
> didn't come with any programming tools. It was all sewn up like the
> proverbial black box with no user serviceable parts. At least PC's came
with
> basic. But I still long for the days of old when I could sit down over the
> course of a few days and churn out software to make my computer flash and
> tweet in ways I'd never seen before. I just don't get that from modern
> programming anymore.
>
> I know..... "Go buy an Apple II off eBay." Did that. Got it. Love it. WANT
> MORE POWER!!!
> ..."Use an emulator and turn off the speed limiting." Done that too. Very
> fun but not the same as what I crave.
>
> I really just want to build a 32bit machine, compatible with the II series
> hardware, and somehow manage to maintain the level of simplicity of the
> hardware and software programming interfaces.  I'd just love it if I could
> turn on a 32bit box with no special cards, no drives, and only a monitor
and
> keyboard, and be greeted by a BASIC prompt instead of the irritating "No
> Operating System\nInsert boot disk and press any key."
>
> So is this just a pipe dream?
>
> R. King
>
>