Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!apple!usc!wuarchive!psuvax1!psuvm!cxt105
From: CXT105@psuvm.psu.edu (Christopher Tate)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: NuBus/030-Direct cards for IIsi
Message-ID: <90296.165727CXT105@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 23 Oct 90 20:57:27 GMT
References: <329@ub.d.umn.edu>
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 35

In article <329@ub.d.umn.edu>, halam1@ub.d.umn.edu (Haseen I. Alam) says:

> I was looking at the spec sheets for a Mac IIsi, and saw that you can buy
> EITHER an "030 Direct Slot Adapter Card" OR a "NuBus Adapter Card" for the
> IIsi.  Both of these adapters come with a 68882 FPU.  [stuff deleted]

First, a question:  from what I've seen of the spec sheets, it seems that
in order to expand your IIsi, you MUST purchase one or the other of these
adapter cards -- you can't plug anything into the IIsi directly.  Is
this really true?

Now, the complaint:  why has Apple gone and forced its customers to make
such a decision?  It can't be that difficult to build an adapter that
would allow *either* a NuBus card or an 030-Direct card, depending on
(for example) a switch setting on the adapter.  You might need more than
one card socket, one for each type of card, but how hard is that?

By arranging things this way, Apple forces people who buy IIsi's to
decide whether they want NuBus or 030-Direct, but not both, as soon
as they decide they need a coprocessor!  Why can't the coprocessor fit
into a drop-in socket on the motherboard, for instance?  Why do you
need a slot adapter just to have a coprocessor?

IMHO, this is one of the stupider design choices Apple has ever made.
It cripples the IIsi market by inflicting indecision on customers.  In
words often quoted, "there's got to be a better way."  But no, IIsi
owners are forced to decide in advance whether they would rather have
NuBus or 030-Direct technology.  And if they want both, they have to
buy TWO coprocessors!!  Stupid, stupid, stupid....

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Christopher Tate                      |                      etaT rehpotsirhC
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