Re: Franklin Ace 2000

[Roy and/or Janet Miller <millers@inetnebr.com>]

There was also the 2100, and 2200, the only difference being, 0,1,2 disk
drives. I think it came with 256K of RAM, and could be expanded on the
motherboard to 512K, but I'm not sure. The ACE 500 was a //c clone, but the ACE
2000 series was a //e clone. Franklin created these two models after they lost
their suit to Apple, and had to trash the 1000/1200 line of ACE computers. I
think the 2000 had a built in RGB port, I'll check on that, but that could be
what your DB9 port is. Franklin had it's own clone of ProDOS, didn't Laser
also?

Which brings me to another issue. Some here have talked about creating new
]['s, it's quite possible that Laser (Central something wasn't it?) and/or
Franklin would sell, lease their rights to their ROMS and operating systems if
someone wanted to create a new hot ][. Who's up for it?

Roy

**** **** wrote:

> Hey guys,
>     Another thrift store find. I've went and bought what is my 5th apple2,
> depending on whether you are a purist or not. A Franklin Ace 2000, which I
> almost mistook for some crappy little 286. It's as interesting on the
> outside as the inside. Styled more after a pc, than an apple2, it has 2
> internal 5 inch floppies, and an external keyboard. On the inside, it has 2
> expansion slots (completely compatible with a2? partially? something
> different?) and another square board on standoffs. This board has a ribbon
> leading to a DE9 connector. No idea what it is, but my guess is either a
> mouse card, or possibly just plain serial. A second board on standoffs
> appears to be a memory expansion board (also possibly 80 column?). The only
> other item of note, is a side mounted card edge bracket, in 2 pieces. Not
> quite big enough to be ISA, and I have no clue what it might be.
>
> Anyone have any interesting tidbits about this machine?
>
> Cost: $3.98
>
> Thanks,
> John Oyler
> jojo4@va.mediaone.net