Very cool love prince of Persia
This is a handy card if you can find it apple ast multi io
Tom
Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Excellent - yours has black lettering on the keys like mine so I'd be surprised if it was a rev A unless someone has swapped some parts around.rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 4:27 pmSo, Prince of Persia runs just fine, so I guess I have double hi-res Doesn't kind of match with what I've read, but it is a European Apple ][e and I've heard there are variances.
What can you do with the extra RAM? I seem to recall you could use some of the period RAM expansions as a disk but can't figure out what use that would have except in productivity apps.rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Fri Sep 03, 2021 4:27 pm
RAM module is very cool, you can choose from 5 options:
1. 64Kb
2. 512Kb
3. 1Mb
4. 4Mb
5. 8Mb
Plus you can store the configuration you want to use in NV memory so that it always starts the RAM in your desired configuration.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
@lilwashu There is a lot of conflicting evidence as to why it could be a REV B. For example, the Bs supposedly had the chips soldered, mine are socketed and the part number points to it being an A. However it has the black key lettering and Apple also did go back to calling the boards REV A later on. All very confusing. Also I heard that European models could be different again, but just can't find the info to bear it out.
In terms of the RAM, I have Petscii Robots and that uses 128kb definitely, but not sure what might use 8Mb.
The thing is, it was the same price to get the modern 8Mb card as an original 64kb card, so modern card it was.
I'll just leave it set to use the max memory until I hit incompatibility problems and adjust as required.
In terms of the RAM, I have Petscii Robots and that uses 128kb definitely, but not sure what might use 8Mb.
The thing is, it was the same price to get the modern 8Mb card as an original 64kb card, so modern card it was.
I'll just leave it set to use the max memory until I hit incompatibility problems and adjust as required.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Yes, PAL IIe info is definitely thin on the ground. Here's my model number etc. for reference (socketed chips also):rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 12:28 pm @lilwashu There is a lot of conflicting evidence as to why it could be a REV B. For example, the Bs supposedly had the chips soldered, mine are socketed and the part number points to it being an A. However it has the black key lettering and Apple also did go back to calling the boards REV A later on. All very confusing. Also I heard that European models could be different again, but just can't find the info to bear it out.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Identical markings to my mainboard.lilwashu wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 8:15 pmYes, PAL IIe info is definitely thin on the ground. Here's my model number etc. for reference (socketed chips also):rubber_jonnie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 04, 2021 12:28 pm @lilwashu There is a lot of conflicting evidence as to why it could be a REV B. For example, the Bs supposedly had the chips soldered, mine are socketed and the part number points to it being an A. However it has the black key lettering and Apple also did go back to calling the boards REV A later on. All very confusing. Also I heard that European models could be different again, but just can't find the info to bear it out.
IMG_0551.jpeg
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
So there isn't a great deal I can say about the Floppyemu, it just works!!
It's the usual system of cassette like forward/back/stop buttons and a small screen that allows you to navigate up and down the directory tree on the included SD card to select/de-select the image you want to boot from.
It is also quite neat that it can emulate two 5 1/4" floppy drives so you can have 2 drives inserted at once
At £103 delivered, it cost me almost as much as the Apple ][, but given it will work with several different types of apple machine and can emulate 140kb, 800kb and hard disks, I'd say definitely worth the money.
My next purchase floppy wise off eBay for £30 was this:
The drive itself seems to be in overall great physical condition, bar some yellowing. The case is very solidly built and was made in 1983 by VTL. Serial number is 110060. As usual for something from this era, shielding is completely over the top!!
The DIN plug is 5 pin and seems to be factory fit. 5v & 12V can be found at the socket when connected to my Apple ][e. I suspect if you had it connected to a machine that didn't provide power via the floppy controller (Is there such a thing in the world of Apple?), it would act as a power in connector.
Mechanism is manufactured by Sankyo. The belt seems to be in good condition, not slimy or melting, but dry and nicely tensioned.
If I connect it to port 1 of the FDD controller, it tries to boot, though I don't have a suitable boot disk. I did try to copy a disk from my Floppyemu to a blank unformatted 5 1/4" disk, but it kept showing write fails. A disk speed test also came out very odd, but these problems could be simple to solve since there is very little on the PCB, just 6 ICs 2 of which are 74LS series. Also, I'm still trying to work out what I'm doing having owned the machine for about a month and the FDD since yesterday
It's the usual system of cassette like forward/back/stop buttons and a small screen that allows you to navigate up and down the directory tree on the included SD card to select/de-select the image you want to boot from.
It is also quite neat that it can emulate two 5 1/4" floppy drives so you can have 2 drives inserted at once
At £103 delivered, it cost me almost as much as the Apple ][, but given it will work with several different types of apple machine and can emulate 140kb, 800kb and hard disks, I'd say definitely worth the money.
My next purchase floppy wise off eBay for £30 was this:
The drive itself seems to be in overall great physical condition, bar some yellowing. The case is very solidly built and was made in 1983 by VTL. Serial number is 110060. As usual for something from this era, shielding is completely over the top!!
The DIN plug is 5 pin and seems to be factory fit. 5v & 12V can be found at the socket when connected to my Apple ][e. I suspect if you had it connected to a machine that didn't provide power via the floppy controller (Is there such a thing in the world of Apple?), it would act as a power in connector.
Mechanism is manufactured by Sankyo. The belt seems to be in good condition, not slimy or melting, but dry and nicely tensioned.
If I connect it to port 1 of the FDD controller, it tries to boot, though I don't have a suitable boot disk. I did try to copy a disk from my Floppyemu to a blank unformatted 5 1/4" disk, but it kept showing write fails. A disk speed test also came out very odd, but these problems could be simple to solve since there is very little on the PCB, just 6 ICs 2 of which are 74LS series. Also, I'm still trying to work out what I'm doing having owned the machine for about a month and the FDD since yesterday
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
- stephen_usher
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
The Apple floppy controllers I've seen on-line all seem to use standard Shugart (edge connector) cables.
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Not this one!!stephen_usher wrote: ↑Mon Sep 06, 2021 3:51 pm The Apple floppy controllers I've seen on-line all seem to use standard Shugart (edge connector) cables.
It is a super simple mechanism, stepper seems to work and the disk spins, but it won't init a disk (write fails) and RPM is not good, so I will start there.
Really nice drive in terms of construction though. The 20 pin IDC connector fits the homebrew FDD controller just fine and the drive gets 5v/12v no problem, just not working properly.
Once I figure it out I can write or copy a disk and see if I can boot from it.
This is my controller:
The diag software I have shows both disks present, and this appears as an Apple Disk II card.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Well.
The ironic thing for me is that I ordered the drive emulator, thinking it would take forever to get her but it's turning up today. It's ironic because I won't have the Apple IIe till today either.
The ironic thing for me is that I ordered the drive emulator, thinking it would take forever to get her but it's turning up today. It's ironic because I won't have the Apple IIe till today either.
If it ain't broke, test it to Destruction.
- rubber_jonnie
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Re: Oops, my obsession with computers from my childhood strikes again!
Lol, well that's annoying!!
Trust me, you won't be disappointed in the Floppyemu, and it'll work with more than just the Apple II as well.
BTW, which version did you order? I got the full kit with case and accessories. The case is a bit of a faff as you need 3 hands to hold the bits whilst you assemble it, and there aren't any instructions. Works well enough when you get it done though.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...