Re: Vintage Computing Advice

[Steven Hirsch <snhirsch@gmail.com>]

Jason wrote:

> Video:  I'd like to use an existing LCD panel display I have (with VGA 
> input).  I note that several companies manufacture composite video to 
> VGA converter boxes for $40-$60.  Can anyone comment whether this 
> produces an acceptable display?  I'd prefer to avoid dealing with an 
> older CRT if I can avoid it.

I do not think you'll be very happy with the picture from a composite-to-VGA 
converter.  This has been discussed to death on earlier threads.

> Program storage:  I understand some people may enjoy the swishing sound 
> the Disk ][ drive makes when loading programs, but I can live just fine 
> without managing a large stack of floppies and worrying about keeping 
> them away from magnetic fields and wondering when they may go bad on 
> me.  I see there is a CFFA adapter for the larger Apple // computers, 
> and there has been some talk of creating one for the //c, but it is 
> still presumably vaporware and some time off, no?  Are there any 
> alternatives?  I see the 8-bit Atari platform has a nice adapter (SIO2PC 
> I belive it's called) that allows the Atari to connect to a modern PC 
> with the PC emulating many different peripherals simultaneously.  Is 
> there anything analagous that will work on a //c?

The SVD is designed to connect directly to a Disk ][ controller.  AFAIK, the 
//c has a different electrical interface that's closer to a SmartPort (is this 
correct, or am I getting mixed up with something else?)

I have an SIO2PC for my Atari 800XL and agree that something of this sort 
would be helpful for a //c.  It would have been ideal if the //c had a 
functional LocalTalk interface.  There is some stub code in the ROM for 
LocalTalk support, but I don't think it's complete or functional.

From everything you've said, I suspect you'd be happier with a //e (although 
that does not solve the video issues).