Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!uwvax!vanvleck!uwmcsd1!ig!agate!ucbvax!decwrl!mejac!gryphon!cadovax!keithd
From: keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Studebakers
Message-ID: <2113@cadovax.UUCP>
Date: 17 Jun 88 18:19:54 GMT
References: <4400@gryphon.CTS.COM> <56089@sun.uucp> <1326@sbcs.sunysb.edu> <56647@sun.uucp>
Reply-To: keithd@cadovax.UUCP (Keith Doyle)
Organization: Contel Business Systems, Torrance, CA
Lines: 28


I spent a little time thinking about the "dumb" bridgeboard idea quite
a while ago, but came to the conclusion that at least 90% of the most 
interesting AT boards out there had 8086 firmware in PROM.  While this 
could possibly be replaced by host resident 68000 drivers, I wouldn't hold 
my breath waiting for enough of them to get done in order to make the entire 
product concept viable.  The board manufacturers themselves would either
have to do it, or be convinced into making the information available.  If
you can't come up with a solution that allows you to buy boards off the
shelf and make them work without special help from the manufacturer, you're
in for a lot of hassle.

What you really want is a 8088 bridgeboard who's cost is a bit more like
a gray market PC clone sans monitor, cabinet and power supply.
JDR Microdevices (Los Gatos) offers this at:

	motherboard       $97.95
	256K              $26.55
	floppy controller $29.95
	360k drive        $69.95
	-------------------------
                     $224.40

Now if we could just get them to re lay it out into an AT/Zorro-II format
board.

Keith Doyle
#  {ucbvax,decvax}!trwrb!cadovax!keithd  Contel Business Systems 213-323-8170