Re: Apple IIGS and speech generation for handicaped

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

Mitchell Spector wrote:
>In article mikew50@aol.com (MikeW50) writes...
>>I'd still _recommend_ a hard drive, and for anyone developing large
>>stacks, I'd _recommend_ 4M of RAM. Heck, they're not expensive anymore.
>
>    Granted hardrives and memory are no longer expensive (e.g. 300 MB
>SCSI hardrive mechanisms for $25; 1 MB SIMMs for $1/ea) -- the same
>is not true with the Apple II-specific peripherials required to make
>use of them. SCSI controllers and memory cards are still quite costly,
>at least when you compare costs with the PC world.

Not true.  Consider that you have to buy an IDE controller or
an SCSI controller for the PC in the first place.  The Ramfast
is comparable to the prices for PC caching controllers.  As
for the Focus, Alltech will sell you the card only if you want
for a couple of bucks cheaper than the 20MB unit, but the key
here is to get the controller and install your own high capacity
mechanism in there.  It is easy to put an 800MB 2.5" Quantum
GO-drive mech on the Focus card to replace the low capacity
unit.

Same goes with the Sirius card.  You can get it with no memory
and populated with the $1/meg SIMMs that PC users are giving
away and get 8MB.

Besides, how cheap DO you want the hardware?  Apple II developers
have to make _some_ profit.  Have you ever looked at the mods
for the Volkswagen Beetle in the J. Whitney mail order catalogs?
Things like power windows, engines, and the like costs more than
the car is worth, but people still buy them because it is cool
to have a decked out classic.  :)

>For the price of a
>4 MB Sirius RAM card, I could buy 64 MB worth of memory. Or an 80 MB
>Focus hardrive (with refurbished mechanism) could buy a brand-new
>1.6 gigabyte hardrive.

Again, get the Sirius with 0K and the Focus mech with no
drive or a low capacity one (if you want a little mech to
play with first).

>    I would say these things for the Apple II are much more affordable
>than they once were, but not inexpensive. :) (I do understand the II
>world is an extremely small and specific niche market, but some things
>are a little too pricey for my tastes.

Same here.  But that's no reason for trying to persuade others
to feel the same.  There is still a market here for diehard
hobbyists.  :)  Look at little C64 or even the Amiga market.
Accelerators for $150-$200!

>still costs US$150...ouch!). OTOH, there are great deals to be found
>when you purchase such items second-hand, and I certainly encourage
>upgrading GSes.

On the other hand, if you want to buy new products, many
are rock solid like the Sirius and the Focus.  As for Second
Sight, it is a video card.  Too bad we didn't get the one
based on the Amiga's chip-set instead, what was it called
again -- Turborez?  That one would have been nice.

I'd recommend Sirius and Focus wholeheartedly, but Second
Sight could use some bug-fixing!

-Scott G.