Looking to get into the ][

[magnusfalkirk]

7 hours ago, Grizaptimus said:

  

A 2c+ would indeed be an awesome option.  If you have any leads on one I would be very interested, unfortunately I have been unable to even locate one for sale!

 

In my travels I ran across the Ultrawarp Accelerator and I see that it uses a 65816.  What would that open up?  Could I run prodos16 on a //e with a card like that?  Is there any 16bit software written that could take advantage of it, or does it just act as a accelerated 6502?

 

Speaking of expansion, what would you all say would be the mandatory modern expansions for the modern a2 enthusiast?  I would like to use CP/M.  I'm not sure however if I should get one of the PCPI/Applicard clones or just build a RC2014 system and use the apple as a terminal.

 

This way of looking at it interests me and really made me start thinking in another direction.  I may end up get that II+ motherboard kit eventually for that experience!

 

 

Anyway I'm getting really excited about all of this.  I decided to pick up the The New Apple II User's Guide.  I have started cruising ebay, but the prices there are getting up there!  If any of you all have any leads on a good system, I would be most appreciative.

The Ultrawarp Accelerator is just an accelerator card. something along the lines of this:

 

https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/reactivemicro-driveturbo-for-iie-and-iigs/ 

or this:

https://www.bigmessowires.com/floppy-emu/

 

would be an excellent add on. Either one of those can act as a HDD and allows you to run disk images on the computer instead of having to use real diks in a disk dirve. I have a CFFA3K, which is similar to the TurboDrive, in my GS and it works great. I've also got the FloppyEMU plugged into my //c+ and it is also great. Another add-on that would be useful is this:

 

https://www.reactivemicro.com/product/reactivemicro-mini-av2hdmi-video-adapter/

 

which would allow you to use an HDMI monitor in place of the Apple II monitor. I'm thinking about getting that. there are several other options available, explore both ReactiveMicro and  Big Mess O' Wires websites to see what else is available.

magnus

Edited July 7, 2022 by magnusfalkirk

[Grizaptimus]

So my Apple //e just showed up today!  I think I was able to get a relatively good deal.  It's in very nice condition, and came with the 64k/80col card, a Super Serial Card as well as an IO controller card.

 

One thing that it unfortunately did not come with was a Disk Drive.  Many years ago I remember buying a lot of disk drives for various machines, I did remember a couple of Mac external drives so I decided to take a look and Lo and Behold I find a Disk IIc, which seems to have the same port as the IO controller.  After a little research it at least seams that the IO controller is in fact a newer Disk Controller.

 

I must say as the keyboard snob that I am, If I had known that the keyboard was as good as it was on the //e I would have picked one up ages ago!!  It is simply the best stock keyboard on an 8-bit machine I have seen,  I was planning on the clicky mechanical keyboard from MacEffects being one of my first upgrades, but the keyboard is so good that I might just get a couple of other upgrades first!!

 

Everything seems to be working just fine, I haven't been able to test any of the cards that came with yet with the exception of the 80col card. Even with the Disk IIc though (If it works) I don't have a dos disk, but that's a problem for another day

[Keatah]

There are many best-in-class features when it comes to the Apple II series. The keyboard is one as you discovered. Then there is the Disk II controller card, one of Woz' best technical achievements. And it's got the fastest disk drive in town. It can read a whole disk in about 14 seconds. And then write it back in the same amount of time. And of course the materials from which the machine is constructed, no cheap seats here.

[magnusfalkirk]

4 hours ago, Grizaptimus said:

So my Apple //e just showed up today!  I think I was able to get a relatively good deal.  It's in very nice condition, and came with the 64k/80col card, a Super Serial Card as well as an IO controller card.

 

One thing that it unfortunately did not come with was a Disk Drive.  Many years ago I remember buying a lot of disk drives for various machines, I did remember a couple of Mac external drives so I decided to take a look and Lo and Behold I find a Disk IIc, which seems to have the same port as the IO controller.  After a little research it at least seams that the IO controller is in fact a newer Disk Controller.

 

I must say as the keyboard snob that I am, If I had known that the keyboard was as good as it was on the //e I would have picked one up ages ago!!  It is simply the best stock keyboard on an 8-bit machine I have seen,  I was planning on the clicky mechanical keyboard from MacEffects being one of my first upgrades, but the keyboard is so good that I might just get a couple of other upgrades first!!

 

Everything seems to be working just fine, I haven't been able to test any of the cards that came with yet with the exception of the 80col card. Even with the Disk IIc though (If it works) I don't have a dos disk, but that's a problem for another day

What kind of modern computer do you have? I ask this as there are several websites you can download disk images from for the Apple II, here are two of the best, in my opinion:

https://www.apple.asimov.net/

and

https://archive.org/search.php?query=apple II software

 

If you have a Super Serial Card in your Apple II you can use this program: https://adtpro.com to transfer the disk images to your Apple II from your modern computer. You'll need blank disks to transfer the disk images to. If you don't have any I have a box with 47 boxes of 10 5.25 disks each, that i can send you. It would have been 48 but I used one box of them back before I picked up the CFFA3K. Let me know if you'd like that box of disks.

 

magnus

Edited August 17, 2022 by magnusfalkirk

[Bill Loguidice]

6 hours ago, magnusfalkirk said:

What kind of modern computer do you have? I ask this as there are several websites you can download disk images from for the Apple II, here are two of the best, in my opinion:

https://www.apple.asimov.net/

and

https://archive.org/search.php?query=apple II software

 

If you have a Super Serial Card in your Apple II you can use this program: https://adtpro.com to transfer the disk images to your Apple II from your modern computer. You'll need blank disks to transfer the disk images to. If you don't have any I have a box with 47 boxes of 10 5.25 disks each, that i can send you. It would have been 48 but I used one box of them back before I picked up the CFFA3K. Let me know if you'd like that box of disks.

 

magnus

Don't forget, he can also bootstrap through the cassette port using the Apple II game server online: http://asciiexpress.net/gameserver/

Although I have many solutions for running software on my II series systems, this was always a favorite of mine for the cool factor since all you need is a 3.5mm audio cable and any viable computer, smartphone, or tablet.

 

There's also Apple Disk Server for non-games: http://asciiexpress.net/diskserver/

[Grizaptimus]

@magnusfalkirk, @Bill Loguidice

 

Both of those options seen good, I will give them a try when I get the chance.