Re: Power supply brick for Franklin ACE 500

[Exegete <millers@noneofyourbusiness.com>]

The 500 is Franklin's version of the //c. Like the Laser 128, it has a 
built in numeric keypad. Also like the Laser, it has built in RGB and 
parallel port. It came with 256K standard, but as a factory option could 
have 512K and a clock calendar. Once I button mine back up, I'll see if 
a AppleLinc member's soldiering job worked, and if I have 512K.

If I knew what chips it took, I'd like to put in the clock calendar was 
well. It obviously used a Lithium battery, and three chips, as well as a 
number of resistors. Perhaps someone has a copy of the Technical Manual, 
and can give us the needed data?

Finally, the 500 had 12 programmable function keys so you could use 
them, for example, for BASIC keywords, or in a program that you wrote 
yourself. The version of Microsoft BASIC that came with it used those keys.

I'm not sure what to make of Franklin DOS 2. It seems to be an AppleDOS 
clone with ProDOS capabilities, but I need to check it out further. It 
claims to be 7 times faster than DOS, but so is ProDOS. Once I get my 
machine back up, perhaps Michael and I can give you more info.

The 500, and the 2000 were legal clones. The 2000 (I don't have one, but 
REALLY want one) was a //e clone with three times the //e's standard 
128, and could go higher, none, one, or two internal disk drives (2000, 
2100, 2200), a built in fan, and, I think, three open Apple slots, while 
also having standard ports already installed on the back.

I just won an auction for 2000 motherboards and manual, once I get them, 
and figure out what to do with them, I'll post what I've learned here.

Bart, I also have a 1000, 1200, and the less common 1000Plus.

Roy

Bart wrote:

> I have never seen a Franklin 500.  I have a 1000 and 2 1200s but no 500.  Is 
> this a Franklin //c? that is their flavor of like the Laser 128?  
> Lasers used the exact same Brick-on-a-Leash that the //c did.  Or, is this a 
> varriant with a weird power supply?