Re: Apple II to PC modding

["Craig Bower" <to.email.me@post.a.request>]

"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