Re: What's Next for the Apple II?

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

On 15 Jan 2004 19:28:19 GMT, mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon) wrote:

>If you want VBL (60Hz) interrupts on a //e, your best bet is to
>install a mouse card.  Readily available on eBay fpr $5 to $10,
>that's pretty hard to beat.
>
>-michael

No, I'm talking more about a "new" card that could be assembled/built
on command... So there is never a supply shortage.

There is/was a TimeMaster II H/O card on eBay now; something I owned
back in the 80's.  Also saw 1 or 2 mouse cards.. And there's a company
that still sells a clock card for the //e (while supplies last.)

I think that at least SOME of the people designing hardware cards for
the //e are willing to have to completely open.  So you can download
the schematics, buy the parts and assemble it yourself.  The LANceGS
card is certainly not one of those -- from what I've heard, the guy
actually scratches off the ethernet chip's model number so you don't
know what it is.  And he's said that he won't release any information
on programming the card/ethernet chip directly.  Dunno why, tho..

I remember working for a small company, near the end of high school,
called Alpha Products in Darien, CT.  They built an expansion card for
the //e that used some SCSI chip to give the //e a second bus (called
an A-Bus, I think).  There was an external box that let you then plug
in all sorts of data acquisition cards into this new bus.  I started
off there doing testing -- checking the cards with an ohm-meter and
such.  Then did a little programming.. But I think they went out of
business a little while later.. market was dropping.. It was basically
run by 2 guys (owner and an engineer), a secretary, and me (part time,
doing mostly testing and helping with shippping when loads were high.)

I wish I could remember more; that engineer guy must have been in his
early 20's and did some cool stuff.. not sure if I could track him
down now.  Doing a google search didn't turn anything up... oh well..

My goal over the next 4 years is to teach myself electronics.. with
the //e being my main focus and motivational factor.. luckily I've got
some good hardware engineers at work I can talk to and ask questions
from.. and they have some nice hardware I can use (like an eprom
burner.)  Right now, though, I am working from home 4 days a week..
and the trek into work is almost 2 hours long.. so i'll have to write
all my questions down! heh..

'Nuf for now.. I admit I've had a little red wine tonight and I'm
probably thinking out loud a little too loudly.

// CHRIS