Re: Apple IIgs @ 300mhz

[kmitchel@nyx.net (Kirk Mitchell)]

turner1199@yahoo.com (Robert K) wrote in message news:<ac96903d.0204091003.29fa3b99@posting.google.com>...
> Ok, I've been using my IIc for over 15 years now; my IIgs for 6.  I
> know that there are tons of closet-Apple II users out there.
> 

Yes there are.  Getting fewer by the week, but every now and then we
get a burst of young blood that remembers their elementary school
days.

> I've been doing design specs for a souped-up IIgs.  Completely
> compatible with the Apple II line, but with a true 32-bit system, and
> ISA/PCI architecture.  Adding support for GCR and MFM (ie: PC/Apple II
> disks would be readable) isn't going to be a problem either.
> 

Nice to run with if you have the skills.  Don't know if there'd be a
market for it, but if it's a labor of love....

> I can get this running off of a 68040 @ 300Mhz (debating wether to

Oh?  As far as I know, the 68040 never made it above 40 MHz... are you
sure about this?  Are you thinking about the PPC or G3 or G4?

> emulate the WDC chip, or just add it on).  Which means the IIgs would
> have plenty of OS/App breathing room. External devices would be
> compatible, but (obviously) none of the internal cards would.  It DOES
> mean that most commercial Ethernet,Sound and Video cards would be
> compatible.
>

That's a plus in your favor.
 
> Doing this wouldn't cost a lot of money (the parts are cheap), but it
> would take a lot of development time.  I was wondering if there was a
> market for this thing.  I can't see the retail price of it going above
> $150 for the whole system.
> 

Emulation will always sap your market.  When current cards for the
Apple II run in the $100-$200 range (The CF and LANceGS), I really
can't see how a motherboard with whatever features you'd offer could
even reach that kind of price.

> Anyone interested?  Should I even bother?  
> 

We are eternally interested, Robert.  B-{)  As for bothering, if you
love it, do it.  B-{)

> Just getting a general feel of everyone here, so all feedback is
> appreciated.

Personally, I think an accelerator card using a PPC with an emulator
in ROM and memory also would be cool.  I have lots of GS's.  I can
network them for storage, but they could be faster, and they generally
lack memory.

Kirk