Re: What's Next for the Apple II?

[Chris Morse <chris@sorry.no.spam.com>]

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 06:41:06 GMT, Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>
wrote:

>     One nice trend is that each year brings hardware advances which make it
>ever easier to slap together a super-Apple II. For instance, the little
>flash-ROM tab 'disks' mean an OS can easily be transferred over the net and
>plugged in.
>
>     Even with the current platform, software and hardware development
>continues. Hop to http://apple2.org.za/gswv/a2zine/Sel/index.html and click
>"Developers at Work".

I never did get into electronics that much.  In college I took one
course in computer organization where we built a simple microprocessor
(implementing the microcode).  But I never got past the most basic
electricity principles.. I could hook the lines up on chips, and
understand the basic signals..  When it comes to using resistors,
capacitors and other analog-type support electronics, I'm lost.

I'd love to build a board around the Apple II bus; maybe something
simple like a clock/calendar card.  Not sure where or how to begin.
I've seriously considered going to a local community college to start
taking some basic electronics courses.  I think that would be fun.

I just got from eBay the book "Apple II interfacing".. and I saw the
Vernier Products (like "How to Build a Better Mousetrap and 13 Other
Science Projects Using the Apple II" and "Chaos in the Laboratory and
13 Other Science Projects Using the Apple II", but they both use the
apple's game port.  (Though, that would still be fun to play around
with.)

It's something I'll just have to learn.. 

// CHRIS