Re: How will the Apple II survive?

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

Sheldon Simms replied:

>On Thu, 22 Apr 2004 17:10:02 +0000, Michael J. Mahon wrote:

<snip>

>> Everyone (and, boy, there always seem to be a bunch ;-) who
>> wants to fantasize about a "new Apple II" always wants to
>> "improve" on it by adding VGA graphics, 24-bit addressing,
>> etc., etc.
>
>However, some sorts of improvements would be nice, such as
>a VGA-compatible video connector. If some extra graphics modes
>come for free with that, then ok, but its the monitor availability
>and picture quality that represent the real upgrade.

But it would be much easier to provide a simple analog
box that matrixes the RGB outputs to component video
and buffers them to 75 ohms.  This should be three video
op amps and a half-dozen resistors, plus a wall wart for
power (or steal it from the Apple).

All TV monitors can handle Apple II very well, and high-bandwidth
component video inputs are becoming standard in the US.
In Europe and Asia, SCART RGB inputs are very widespread.

Admittedly, it doesn't let you use a Goodwill VGA monitor,
but a good TV monitor has many uses.  ;-)

Scan rate conversions are tricky to do well--better to avoid
them whenever possible.  And newer video monitors are
_all_ "NTSC-scan-capable".

-michael

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