Re: Apple IIe new user

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Ed Eastman wrote:

>Jayson Smith wrote:
>> I'm just curious about one thing.  I wonder why somebody hasn't come out
>with DOS 3.3 as an mp3?
>
>Well considering that a Q&D null modem cable and the terminal mode of a 
>serial card will allow another computer to 'type in' DOS or other 
>programs, I see no need for an audio transfer version that will only 
>work on II, II+, and IIe.

But, considering that it would require only a mono audio cable
from speaker out to cassette in, an audio solution would be a
pretty elegant solution to bootstrappping the diskless.

>Ultimately I'd like to see a game controller to parallel port cable 
>built for the serial communication, but for the complication and price 
>of building such a cable, most could afford to get a modem cable, serial 
>card, and null modem adapter if needed much easier and may be more 
>useful considering the plethora of comm programs out there for the Apple II.

I was thinking the same thing as I read the OP.

The cable would only need a ground and two signal wires (clock and
data), so a hank of telephone cable would do the job.  Then you'd
have to fold the conductors over and slip them into the PC parallel
port and strip a bit and slide the other ends into the game port.

Real connectors would be nice ;-), but in a pinch you could do with
just 4'-6' of 3-conductor, solid wire cable.

The only "trick" would be setting up the PC side so that it ran at
about the same speed regardless of the processor's speed.

For more reliable and convenient use, two more conductors
carrying signals from the Apple to the PC would make half-duplex
bidirectional communication straightforward.

"Just a small matter of programming..."  ;-)

-michael

Check out parallel computing for 8-bit Apples on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/