Re: hard drive for Laser

[obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2)]

	OK, you've motivated me.  I checked out an earlier bad Laser that I saved for
parts. The external slot is part of a main board, but the wires that go to it
are exposed and raised off of the surface, so soldering to them might not be so
bad. 
 
	I'm considering CANNIBALIZING the bad Laser's external slot with the exposed
wiring already attached.  Soldering cable wires to this shouldn't be too hard,
and since Apple II slots are upwardly compatible, the Laser's slot should be
too.

	Do you forsee any problem with soldering directly onto the existing wires on
the good Laser EX/2, or should the external slot be use instead???  

	Tony Diaz spoke at my Apple II club about a year ago and told us that the
Focus Drive in a IIe will allow two partitions for every slot that does NOT
have a drive card in it (printer card, mouse, empty, etc.).  I know from
experience that this is true, so if the wiring can be done without sacrificing
the external slot, then the hard drive should allow the external slot to still
be used by non-drive cards.

	The new slot's position will need to be at a 90 degree angle to accept the
Focus Card positioned across the bottom (side to side).

	<<  My main
motivation for this project is to make a Laser with an
internal hard drive of some sort.  This will go a long way
in making the Laser complete. >>

	How far have you come?  

	I can think of adding: 
[]	an LCD screen in increase portability,
[]	an extra meg of memory,
[]	an 8MHz Zip Chip for speed,
[]	a battery pack (if one could be adapted) for
	 portability,
[]	an adapter to run it off of the car battery

	Does the EX/2 accept the 8X Zip Chip???

	I've just picked up an LCD screen (they're not as bad as some folks have
written them out to be).  It's on a IIc that needs the keys cleaned badly.  I
have two jobs for the LCD screen:  to make it easer to transport an Apple II to
students homes when I tutor or make home visits, and for myself at the
University.  For the students, much of the software is on copy-protected 5.25"
disks, so I need the larger drive on the IIc, but for myself, I like the larger
capacity of the 800K drive on the IIc+ to run AppleWorks.  Your idea of using
the Laser with a Focus hard drive card would (except for the weight) suit my
needs perfectly since my Laser EX/2 has the 5.25" drive.

Jay Edwards