Re: A Cat on eBay

[Roger Johnstone <roger@roger.geek.nz.removethisbit>]

In <460add90$0$24861$c30e37c6@pit-reader.telstra.net> Tristan Mumford  
wrote:
> It seems as though the seller from Runcorn is unloading a pile of 
> stuff. This time a Dick Smith Cat. Ie a DSE branded Apple][ clone. 
> I've never actually seen one before. I have to say I'm genuinely 
> surprised by its size!
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com.au/DICK-SMITH-Cat-personal-computer-Apple-II-
> compatible_W0QQitemZ190096084263QQcategoryZ1247QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
>
> That's Item number: 190096084263 in case the link chucks a wobbly.

The Dick Smith Cat was the first 'Apple II' I owned. I still have it, 
but alas the power supply went years ago taking the logic board with it. 
It was also sold as the Laser 3000, but seems to be even more rare under 
that name. The biggest drawback it had was that it was an enhanced II+, 
not a IIe. For instance the 80-column text, double hi-res graphics and 
64KB RAM were implemented differently from the IIe. It actually 
surpassed the IIe in many ways (RGB graphics mode, 2MHz CPU, sound chip), 
but the enhancements were of little use since next to no software ever 
supported them.

It was quickly replaced by the Laser 128 which was IIe/IIc compatible, 
but dropped all the enhancements the Laser 3000/Dick Smith Cat 
introduced.

-- 
* Roger Johnstone, Invercargill, New Zealand -> http://roger.geek.nz
* PS/2 Mouse Adapter for vintage Apple II or Mac
* SCART RGB video cable for Apple IIGS