Re: A 21st Century Apple II?

["Simon D. Williams" <bb065@chebucto.ns.ca>]

While this whole thread has taken a turn into somehwat bewildering 
territory, I have to chime in wrt the original topic:

This is an idea that's been batted around a few times on CSA2 in one form 
or another and it usually meets with a good deal of scepticism.

While it's true that an emulator running on a modern laptop serves the 
purpose rather well, I do understand the desire to have aself-contained 
machine. I'm no programming wizard, but I do find I make a lot more 
progress when I'm in front of a real Apple II than I do when I'm running 
an emulator (some of us lack discipline, Michael ;-)

I'm not all that jazzed on the idea of going 32-bit, but that's because my 
chances of understanding anything beyond 8-bits is practically nil. What I 
would like to see is an Apple II clone that can run mutliple "shells"... 
I'm not talking about multi-tasking or anything like that -- just the 
ability to switch between virtual machines. Functionally the same as if 
you had say an 8-way KVM switch hooked up to a stack of Apple IIs.

VGA support is a definite plus since that would allow the use of LCD 
monitors. I like the idea of it being a much more energy-efficient system 
than the original. Maybe something that could even run on batteries?

Did anyone mention ethernet support yet?

Of course the problem with pursuing a project like this is that it 
inevitably turns into a business. Though I think the success of relatively 
pricey Apple II cards like Uther and CFFA would make me somewhat 
optimistic, but it all depends on what it does and for how much. I can see 
myself dropping maybe $200 and providing my own monitor, keyboard and 
case. It would also be quite feasible to source some small cheap keyboards 
and monochrome LCDs and put together something like the Tandy 100, though 
I imagine that be a fair bit more expensive to produce and sell. TBH 
that's something I've sort of fantasized about since I got into Apple 
II... a small, battery-powered A2 that I can throw in my backpack and pull 
out at those inevitable moments when I get a sudden flash of A2 brilliance 
while I'm on the bus (or wherever).

Just my 2c

] SIMON D WILLIAMS