Re: What if we designed and built a "32bit" Apple II?

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

Wayne Stewart wrote:

>John Van Winkle wrote:
>> I think to expand on the Apple II series and yet preserve the HW lineage, I
>> would like to see more of the Transwarp type products produced.  Since the
>> CFFA cards replaced the Profile hard drives, these newer Transwarp type
>> cards could also "replace/upgrade" the 6502 and make them faster yet
>> preserve the hardware.  Since I don't have a Transwarp, that is what I
>would
>> like to experience under the hood of my A2.
>
>The TransWarp has 5 PALs that might be harder to duplicate. A Zip chip
>on a card might be more feasible. A look at the TransWarp II and IIc+
>might yield enough information to do it.
>
>For the IIgs a ZipGS might be possible. My understanding was that one
>of the reasons for stopping production was that they were out of ASICs
>and there's a minimum order for custom chips. Maybe that can be done
>in smaller batches or inexpnsively now. The specs on the ASIC are
>likely still available and with a supply of ASICs the rest is easy.

The IIc+ also has the ASIC, so it doesn't help that much.

The specs for the Zip Technologies ASICs are no doubt proprietary.
Perhaps someone would be willing to sell the IP, but I'd be a bit
surprised.

Then there's the problem of finding a vendor to make a part that
was designed for late-1980's processes.

-michael

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