Re: ADTPro beta available

["mdj" <mdj.mdj@gmail.com>]

Paul Schlyter wrote:
> In article <1153104005.198830.233830@35g2000cwc.googlegroups.com>,
> mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Michael J. Mahon wrote:
> >
> >> No, you have to look at it with a time machine.  The Apple II *was*
> >> a big market, hence a big platform, and, to those who enjoy nostalgia,
> >> that period is forever frozen in time.
> >
> > It was really three platforms in the end: 64k Apple II, 128k Enhanced
> > IIe/IIc/IIgs, and IIgs.
>
> There were even more platforms than that:
>
> Up to 48K Apple II with Integer Basic in ROM
> Up to 48K Apple II with Applesoft Basic in ROM

I was considering the three distinct Apple II platforms that existed
simultaneously. Both the aforementioned platforms were effectively
obsoleted by progression; a 64k II+ can run anything the older
iterations can from a practical perspective, and those machines can be
(and indeed most were) upgraded to II+ specifications.

Indeed, the 64k II+ is the definitive lowest common denominator Apple
II platform, as all later machines are backwards compatible with it.
Drop one machine (two if you count the unenhanced IIe, which I
personally don't, as it too is obsoleted by a more or less defacto
standard upgrade) and you have the next platform, being the 128k 65c02
Apple II (which also guarantees a consistent 80 column firmware
interface). Drop another two (or three if you want to treat IIc+
seperately to IIc) and you're left with the IIgs (which again, left in
it's original revision is useless as anything other than a fast IIe)

> > And always problematic for Apple as well: The third party market
> > extended the 64k platform and 128k platform in ways that later
> > 'official' Apple II platforms were not compatible with.
>
> ...yep .... Apple CP/M, Apple OS/9, DTACK grounded.... etc etc etc

These are useful for bringing other platforms to the Apple II, that's
for sure :-)

Matt