On 3 f=E9v, 01:29, Alex Freed  wrote:
>
> Anybody interested so far?
>
> -Alex.

Alex and al.,

The idea is interesting just like all other Apple II hardware
projects, mainly because I do not understand a bit of them.

From my user's point of view, I have to admit that I am not interested
in seeing another floppy controller, nor Z80 card nor any other cards
similar to the thousands of Apple II cards out there.

Nowadays, I believe people use and work with their Apple II through an
emulator and will continue unless a real Apple II facilitates
exchanges with todays' platforms (wifi, usb, bluetooth) or enhances
its current limitations (enhanced video board, enhanced sound boards).
That is why I believe the lattest useful Apple II cards are the
Ethernet ones.

But hardware is only one part of the subject and the most useful/
feature complete card in the universe offers limited interest if it
has no drivers nor developers supporting it: see the Second Sight
video board: it offered powerful features and great video enhancements
and no support... then it died.

Still, from my user's point of view, I would like the following:
- Apple II emulators remove their "standard" limitations by offering
enhancements (e.g. Apple IIgs emulators link other softswitches to get
enhanced video resolutions, or ease file exchanges between the host
computer and the emulated Apple II)
- Hardware gurus build Wifi, USB or Bluetooth boards. I would be
delighted to help for the driver's part (even though my knowledge on
the matter is "short")

I am an Apple IIgs developer (hum) and I would like to see IIgs
emulators evolve like AppleWin does. It offers emulation enhancements
by handling expansion cards, which is really convenient.

Last but not least, what I *really* would like is that Apple releases
the complete Apple II source code (especially the IIgs one ;-) in some
sort of GPL. That would ease a developer's access to our platform,
which is, according to me, the weakness of our platform, especially on
the IIgs.

I cannot count the number of hours for the disassembly of the IIgs
toolsets in ROM, understanding QuickDraw II's internals has been a
huge work, the work on the FSTs has been even heavier and some parts
still remain unclear. Having the official Apple source codes would be
useful to all of us.

I might be wrong, I enjoy doing my sort-of useless work, that changes
my mind from my interesting real job but if we keep on creating the
same hardware parts not bypassing our beloved platform's limits, then
we shall lose interest in the software part.

I will support HW creators by buying their cards, I will develop for
them if it expands our communicability with other platforms or offers
great enhancements compared to the original platform.

That is my 2 euros ;-)

Antoine
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