Re: Need info on A2 card

[dalloff@gcfn.org (Dave Althoff Jr)]

Bill Garber (willy4SPAM6pa@comXcast.net) wrote:

: "Glenn Jones" <rg.jones@rogers.com> wrote in message
: news:PVljb.119679$ko%.113652@news04.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com...
: >
: > "Bill Garber" <willy4SPAM6pa@comXcast.net> wrote in message
: > 4qOdnQRXv78yexCiRVn-jw@comcast.com">news:4qOdnQRXv78yexCiRVn-jw@comcast.com...
: > >
: > > I know I've probably asked this before, but if anyone
: > > has the pinout for the DB25 port connector on a Profile
: > > interface (Apple II interface) card, I would appreciate it.
: >
: > Bill, the profile drive was compatible with the Apple III and Lisa. this
: is
: > the spec of the parallel port on the Lisa - taken from
: > http://www.crazychucks.com/Lisa/GOODTHINGS.PDF pg 141
: >
: > Hope this helps

: It might be the same pinout, but this is an interface card with
: "Apple II Interface" marked right on it. If you can email me
: with a valid address I'll scan both sides of the card and send
: the pics to you.

Indeed...the proFile was designed to work with the Apple ///, and I think
it just plugs into a built-in parallel port on that.  Later, Apple used
the same drive on the Lisa, but I think you still need an Apple /// to do
a low-level format on the thing.

Apple did eventually offer an Apple ][ interface card for the proFile, as
was usually the case with Apple, it was too little, too late, and too
expensive.  But I have actually seen an Apple ][e running an AppleWorks
database off of a proFile.

I suppose that the best way to set up a //e with a proFile would be to use
a monitor stand, then put a Monitor /// on top of the proFile.  This was
back in the days when people were using Monitor ///'s for ][e's, since the
Monitor ][ (which is MUCH nicer!  If only because it lacked the cloth
screen surface!) hadn't been released yet.

So no doubt from me that the card you have is for an Apple ][...in fact,
the Apple ][ is the only Apple that ever supported the proFile that would
require the use of a special card!

I'm guessing that with much better alternatives than the huge, noisy
hulking beast of a 5Mb hard drive called a proFile available, you are
perhaps thinking of using the card for some other bi-directional parallel
port application?

(Incidentally, it may look like a DB-25 port, but look closer...there are
only 24 pin locations!)

--Dave Althoff, Jr.
-- 
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