Re: Apple II to PC modding

["Miles Attacca" <milesattacca@gmail.com>]

I can't pretend to have anywhere near that kind of skill, having at
most put one PC together and minorly modified a couple others. I was
thinking about that eject issue, though -- obviously using the
mechanism in the way it was originally made would be impossible and
probably rather messy if there was a way. It'd be easier if the 5.25
had used an ejection method with a neat button like a 3.5; as it is,
I'd welcome innovative ideas. As for the drive activity light, if
wiring couldn't be done, a bright enough LED could probably be diverted
with fiber optics, right?

I'll doubtless have plenty of time to let the details come. I just made
a new PC this summer, after all, and such projects are rather costly!

And once again, has anyone ever heard of a motorized 3.5 eject for a PC
drive? It's almost like a Yeti legend...

P.S.: On the topic of the 100+ GS motherboards, maybe the solution
would be to get totally new cases made and sell a "like-new" set! How
does one simply run into that many mobos, though? Sounds like El Dorado
to me!

Craig Bower wrote:
> "Miles Attacca" <milesattacca@gmail.com> wrote in message
> 1162268670.044020.221800@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com">news:1162268670.044020.221800@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> > One of my dream projects is to find a derelict IIGS shell and implant
> > in it the heart of one of the new smaller-form PC motherboards. This
> > project would also involve hiding a slot-loading CD drive in an
> > external 5.25" unit, and perhaps even using a regular VGA monitor
> > inside the shell of an (also hopefully already-broken) old Apple
> > monitor. However, one detail eludes me, and that's of a PC floppy drive
> > that takes advantage of Apple's idea of motorized/software-controlled
> > disk loading and ejection (since mounting a drive inside an external
> > 3.5" unit might otherwise involve some creative cutting, and destroying
> > part of the illusion).
> >
> > On another note, I'm not sure of the exact dimensions, but one could
> > almost fit a Mac Mini into a 5.25" drive's casing! A properly-sized
> > shell over one would be a fun case mod to see.
>
>
> Hi Miles,
>
> Awesome idea! - It's along the same lines as a current project of mine.
>
> Take an old //e case, 5.25" drive, and build a retro-case modern PC.
> I'm going to forego the Mini-ITX boards and processors as they tend to lack
> the oomph for a lot of applications.  I'm planning on getting creative with
> the keyboard on the old //e case and wiring a few key combinations
> to control PC side power on, reset, etc.  The original //e power light
> will of course be split in half, left side power, right side Hard Disk drive
> access lights.  In the 5.25" drive, once I figure out a way to mount it
> and make it look like it rolled out of cupertino, I'll have a slot loading
> DVD RW wired in to utilize the drive access LED and some unique
> switch ability where a slight push down on the original drive latch
> mechanism will control the DVD's eject / inject button.  It ought
> to be a nifty little project when done.
>
> Keep us posted on your project and as I dive head-long into mine,
> I'll post pics of the build in progress.  It'll be a good feeling to have
> an apple 2 back on the desktop and as a 'main' computer again! :)
> 
> Cheers,
> Craig