Re: SVGA PC on Apple IIGS

[cschroed@hercii_19hercii.lasc.lockheed.com (Curt Schroeder)]

In article <2i4heq$a65@nuscc.nus.sg>, ltchean@iss.nus.sg (Lim Thye Chean) writes:

[ intro to topic deleted... ]

|> : So I'm working on a project in which I use ine of those PC ET4000 SVGA cards,
|> : to connect to my IIGS.
|> 
|> Good! Go for it!
Yes, go for it, but why limit it to just the IIgs?

|> : I won't connect the PC card to any of the standard GS slot, since the 
|> 
|> : bandwidth is very limitet due the 1MHz signal, instead I thought about 
|> : using the Memoryexp. connector, and using the ROM area to get speed improvenmts
|> 
How about making it a SCSI device?  Also, don't think of this as needing to
replace the Apple display.  I think having it's own toolbox would be just as
useful, and thus would not restrict the project to just the IIgs.  If any of you
remember a stand-alone graphics engine from the early 80's called 'Vectrix', it
was reasonably successful for several years (and Apple IIs were among the
machines used as hosts; there is an early issue of IEEE Computer Graphics & 
Applications that described one such project).  The point is that what was a very
expensive box back then can now be encapsulated by a single inexpensive card that 
has a graphics co-processor chip on it!  Also, a driver could probably be written
to use the video card's memory as a RAM disk when not being used to drive a
display :-)

|> : What do others think about this p[roject, ... ????
I think it is a great idea!  As a matter of fact, I was gearing up to do something
like this as my Master's thesis, until I was convinced to do my thesis on the
research project that was paying my bills.  It was a good decision, but I wish I
could have had the opportunity to have fun with this idea...

Curt
-- 

Curt Schroeder                        | cschroed@hercii.lasc.lockheed.com
Lockheed Aeronautical Systems Company | marylynn@netcom.com
======================================|==================================
These opinions are mine, mine, mine!  |    --- Apple II Forever! ---