Re: Under appreciated hardware/software for Apple II's

["Brian J. Bernstein" <bernstbj@ix.netcom.com>]

>      For hardware, my nominee is a product named "Paddle-Adapple" from
> Southern California Research Group. It allows Apple II users to connect two
> two-button joysticks and can be 'programmed' (via jumpers) for different X-Y
> and button configurations.

  Actually, I would move to say that Paddle-Adapple was rather popular
and not shy of advertisements.. I remember seeing in magazines (early
80's) regarding the product on many occasions. I also knew several
people who owned the hardware (including myself). I think this product
faded around '84 or '85 when the //e and //c's external joystick ports
kind of defeated the purpose of Paddle-Adapple.

  Just to note it for people not familiar with this device, it was
basically a small circuit board (about 3"x2") with a connector that ran
to the Apple's joystick port, and then two ports on this board. A small
toggle switch let you select which port you wanted to use, so you could
have two controllers (or a joystick and a set of paddles, or a joystick
and a Koala pad, etc..) and it wouldn't be that difficult to switch
between the two. This was more important to the original ][ and ][+
since their game connector was internal (a 16-pin DIP socket), and if
you wanted to switch from Paddles to Joystick, you had to open the
computer and switch the connector around. This made the connector
external (MUCH easier!). The jumpers he mentioned was basically a 32-pin
DIP socket which let you put jumper wires across for which of the 16
pins you wanted to connect. This device did not make it possible to have
two joysticks simultaneously. 

  Again, the device faded from view around 84/85 since it wasn't as much
of a hassle to switch controllers on the external ports of the 'new' //e
and //c computers.

  Good thread.

-- 
Brian J. Bernstein
bernstbj@ix.netcom.com
http://www.netcom.com/~bernstbj/