On Mar 3, 3:37=A0pm, "Michael J. Mahon"  wrote:
> apple2fr...{at}gmail.com wrote:
> > On Mar 2, 9:26 am, mwillegal  wrote:
> >> On Mar 1, 8:57 pm, adric22  wrote:
> Actually, if any actual use were to be made of the enhanced capabilities
> (instead of just running existing Apple II software), the software
> effort would be *much* greater than the hardware effort.
>
I see how this could go either way.

Most of the "enhanced capabilities" would relate to providing some of
the same conveniences that you can presently obtain by running an
emulator.  Namely, the ability to use a modern display, modern disk
drives (disguised so as to appear as some older well-supported piece
of hardware like the omnidisk), and of course the ability to run at
considerably higher processor speeds.  These enhancements need not
require any changes to the operating system.

Supporting additional (higher-resolution) graphics modes is an example
of an enhancement that would require significant software support.
Exactly how much is not really clear to me right now.

> Unless you attract a "critical mass" of software, from system software
> to application software, any enhancements are purely theoretical and
> for the amusement of the implementor.
>
I would say that the ability to use a modern flat panel display would
be mighty convenient over an old-fashioned TV or monitor -- especially
a color variant with lousy dot-pitch alignment.  Similarly, it would
be awfully convenient to be able to use a compact flash card or a SATA
hard drive and have it show up as (a SCSI drive in the case of the GS,
or a bank of omnidisks in the case of the II).  I realize the latter
enhancement is already available as a card for existing Apple II
hardware.

Beyond these sorts of convenience enhancements, I agree with you that
any further enhancements would be for the amusement of the
implementer.

> The educational benefit of the Apple II (un-enhanced) is its simplicity,
> understandability, and easy hardware and software expandability.
>
> It is possible for a human being to understand *exactly* what an
> Apple II is doing in each and every cycle in a way that is quite
> impossible for any modern machine--even for its designer! =A0;-)
>
I agree.  The same statement can be made about an Apple II-series
machine implemented on an FPGA.

> It is also possible to turn on the power and write a "Hello, World!"
> program in a single line.
>
> If having a backward-compatibility mode is all that makes a machine
> an Apple II, then any PC or Mac with an emulator already fills the bill.
>
Well, here's what I'd like -- maybe you know of a better way for me to
get it:

A replica Apple II-series machine (preferably either a IIe or a IIGS)
with the following features:

+  VGA output (even better digital video)
+  Built in floppy emulation using compact flash cards or USB memory
sticks
+  Built in hard disk (omnidisk or SCSI) emulation using compact flash
cards or USB memory sticks
+  Cycle-exact emulation of the original hardware
+  Capability to run the CPU at higher-than-original speeds
+  Emulates popular/useful plug-in cards such as the Mockingboard,
SCSI cards, Uthernet, etc.

The ability to use existing cards is not important if they can  be
easily emulated.

Some emulators provide nearly all of these features, except for the
fact that they require a modern PC or Mac running a disgustingly
bloated operating system which requires constant maintenance and which
invariably leads the user to run a plethora of applications in
parallel which leads inevitably to attention deficit disorder!

> If backward-compatibility includes the ability to use the many hundreds
> of peripheral cards that exist, then a 1MHz bus must be implemented, as
> well.
>
True -- if you want to be able to use old peripheral cards -- I don't
see the point if they can be easily emulated.

> If you want to do it because you can, I fully understand that. =A0But to
> imagine that it would become a useful platform for others is, I think,
> unlikely.
>
I certainly don't imagine it would become a useful platform to anyone
other than the sorts of people who spend their time reading csa2.  And
then useful only in the context of entertainment although perhaps, for
those who may enjoy working with reconfigurable hardware, there would
be an educational aspect as well.

I gather from your home page that you enjoy tinkering with the
hardware as well!

I myself like what Alex & Steve have done over at www.applelogic.org
and look forward to tinkering with their IIe system as soon as I
assemble the necessary hardware to put it together.

--
Apple2Freak
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