Re: What's Next for the Apple II?

[Steve Nickolas <dosius@dosius.com>]

On 15 Jan 2004, Obsbedia2 wrote:

> Well, we've recently added hardware with the reliable CompactFlash hard drive
> card and the PS/2 Mouse Adapter allows users of Apple MouseCards to use modern
> PS/2 mice.  Me?  I'm using a CFFA card with a 256 Meg Compact Flash for my
> solid state hard drive, along with a wireless presenter's mouse that operates
> in midair, as well as on the table top.  Hmm, I still haven't tried playing
> Flobynoids from across the room with full body motions.

ROFL

> There are reports of a hacked version of ProDOS out there that allows 510 files
> on the main directory, so an unofficial update of ProDOS 2.0.3 might be a nice
> addition to feed our Apple IIs in the near future.       

ProDOS 3! XDDDDD

> One last item for hardware:  someone, please, make a kit to update the arrow
> keys.  The arrows never had a good layout, all strung out in a row like that. 
> Now the half-a-key height arrow keys on the G3 laptop are easy to use,
> intuitive in any game, and should leave plenty of room for an extra open-apple
> key on the right side of the space bar.

Ideally, I would like to build my own Apple //e clone, with the following 
slot arrangement:

  1. DB25 Parallel Printer Port (PC-compatible)
  2. DB9 Serial Port
  3. 3 MB RAM Works-compatible expansion
  4. Mockingboard-compatible sound card; Z80 daughtercard
  5. 3.5" disk drive
  6. PS/2 Mouse adapter.
  7. Hard disk

and something like the No-Slot Clock, 

5.25" drive?  If the 3.5" drive and EMU]['s Megadisk driver can be made 
compatible, it would make a 5.25" drive completely unnecessary, and I 
wouldn't even bother.  Keyboard? PS/2, using Win for Opt and Alt for 
Apple, and Break for Reset.  Hm, Turbo mode?  Ctrl-Alt-Esc option menu? 
XD~~~~~~

This "Super ][" would not be the ultimate Apple ][ I would have hoped for 
- that would be a 32-bit system running a souped-up GS/OS and this is 
8-bit based on a 65SC02 (as my Apple //e is) running ProDOS, CP/M 3 and/or 
some DOS 3.3 hack...

-uso.