Re: slots

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Adalbert Goertz <goertz@cyberspace.org> wrote:

> re
> Without giving up the mouse for GS apps.  Prodos8/DOS programs still
> have to have the slot setting to MOUSE, correct?
> >>
> Adalbert Goertz responds >>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>
> I dont think so. You can set your slots to YOUR CARD and still
> use the printer (in slot1), modem (in slot2) and mouse (in slot4)
> in your ROM03 GS.

No, this is not correct.  This feature applies only to slot 4 and the
mouse firwmare.

There are _some_ applications which can still access the printer or
modem port if you have set the corresponding slot to Your Card, but the
majority of general purpose applications which use the serial ports
require the slot set to Printer Port or Modem Port.

(The exceptions tend to be communications software with their own
drivers that access the serial hardware directly.)

AppleTalk in a ROM 1 complicates things, because it requires slot 1 or 2
set to "Your Card", and slot 7 set to "AppleTalk", but the printer or
modem port is actually tied up by the AppleTalk firmware.  If an
application tries to go behind the firmware's back and access the port
directly, it will conflict with AppleTalk and bad things will happen.

The ROM 3 is somewhat tidier, because AppleTalk is enabled via the slot
corresponding to the port being used, so the built-in firmware is still
present.  (An application could still try to go behind the firmware's
back and access the hardware directly, with the same results.)

> In ROM01 this is true for slot2 only.

Also not correct, for the same reasons as above.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P O Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand