Re: Want an Apple I workalike?

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

Bill Garber replied:

>"Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
>20030908134856.19368.00000461@mb-m20.aol.com">news:20030908134856.19368.00000461@mb-m20.aol.com...
>> Scott Alfter wrote:
>> >I think this project has been brought up before, but now it's more or
>less
>> >finished and now available for purchase:
>> >http://www.vintagecomputer.tk/
>> >Wired has an article on the machine, dubbed Replica I:
>> >http://www.wired.com/news/mac/0,2125,60329,00.html
>> >The Replica I website's a bit sluggish...wonder why?
>> >http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/09/08/1045210&mode=neste
>> d&tid=107&tid=137&tid=187
>> >Prices range from $100 for just the board and programmed logic on up to
>$200
>> >for an assembled board.  It needs an AT power supply, a II+ keyboard or a
>> >PS/2 keyboard, and a composite monitor to get up and running.
>>
>> I've been following this project, since I was interested to see if
>> it would actually be completed.
>
>I too was very curious about it's completion, being there have
>been so many projects begun and never brought to that point.
>It is refreshing to see that there are still people who are so into
>this hobby as to see it all the way thru.
>
>> It's a curious thing.  It would not appeal to "collectors" since it is not
>> physically like the Apple I.  And it would not have much appeal to
>> "users" since there is so little to "use" about an Apple I--and that
>> need could be better satisfied with an eumulator.
>
>Albeit true your statement, do you ever encourage anyone to do
>anything? Seems you tend to discourage all ideas, designs, and
>even those projects brought to complettion. Jealousy? Perhaps
>there are issues involved here that YOU need to address.

Easy there, Bill!  I was responding with "cold water" (as you put
it) to the notion that this replica was being offered for _sale_.

I have no issues with whatever some enthusiast wants to do
with their own time for the love of the craft.  One must wonder
though, when there seems to be an attempt to milk money
from the beast...

I think it's a fine hobby project, and some few will no doubt
find it interesting as well, but probably not the "mainstream"
Apple II community, if I can use that phrase.  ;-)

>> It would seem to appeal to a special breed of folks who enjoy
>> replicating old machines in modern technology, which I expect
>> is a very small subset of "users" and "collectors".
>
>Thank you for the compliment. I too am one of those "special"
>breeds which enjoys seeing someone do what they love and love
>what they do. Again your statements are true in many respects,
>but you are dropping water on the fire.

I remain open to the idea that someone may discover a "market"
among Apple II enthusiasts--like the CFFA card--but viable ideas
in this area are few and far between, it seems.

-michael

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