14.002 7. The Computer Wars Chronicles: ISSUE 68/ Keep-It-Simple Upgrade
Description
This article is from the Apple II Csa2 FAQ, by Jeff Hurlburt with numerous contributions by others.
14.002 7. The Computer Wars Chronicles: ISSUE 68/ Keep-It-Simple Upgrade
If the best Apple can do for its II line turns out to be a "new
IIgs" with 1MB of motherboard RAM and 128K of sound RAM plus NO
upgrade offer to current IIgs owners... Well, the next "Apple
Fest" could turn into the first "Apple Frost". As to movement on
the 'II manufacturers upgrade front', I have yet to here a peep
from Applied Engineering, Comlog, Western Design Center, or
anyone else in the business. (Like, where are the Japanese when
you really need them?!)
So, to get things rolling, here's a specific proposal: Since the big
problem with any worthwhile upgrade is maintaining current compatibilities
while extracting graphics control and output from the motherboard kluge, why
not put everything on a single, slot-pluggable board which also plugs into the
motherboard 65816 socket?
"Everything" includes an 8-10 MHz 65816, cache RAM, 640 x 400 (at least) x
256 colors graphics controller, an input (via a short jumper chord) from 'old
graphics' output, video output & switching circuitry, ROM's, 1MB of RAM,
duplicate sound system with 256K RAM, sound input for 'old sound' output (via
another jumper chord), and a mini-connector to drive a 'to be developed'
improved disk interface. The board amounts to a vastly improved IIgs which can,
when asked, take over the motherboard and work lik
e the old machine-- NOT, to be sure, so dramatic an approach as some might
wish; but then, the idea is to 'keep it simple'.
Continue to:
My Books
