Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!helios.ee.lbl.gov!pasteur!ucbvax!IUS3.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU!Ralph.Hyre
From: Ralph.Hyre@IUS3.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: smartport documentation (Re: Danger of IIgs+ )
Message-ID: <582227621.Ralph.Hyre@IUS3.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU>
Date: 13 Jun 88 17:53:00 GMT
References: <8060@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 42

In article <8060@brl-smoke.ARPA> you write:
>In article <1891@pt.cs.cmu.edu> ralphw@ius3.ius.cs.cmu.edu (Ralph Hyre) writes:
>>Apple is ignoring or forgetting its origins.
>
>I have to disagree with your point about IIGS documentation.
>This is the first time in YEARS that Apple has made such an effort
>to publish complete technical information about a product.
>I think they should be encouraged for it, not dumped upon.
OK, I cheerfully admit that the GS doc is the best I've seen from Apple
in a long time.  I was just frustrated that the stuff I was interested in
wasn't there.

I think that all I need is something on the level of the DOS 3.3 manual in 
terms of interface schematics and theory of operation.  Come to think of it, I
got most of my useful Apple Disk ][ interface info from an issue of Call Apple
(the one with 'the $450 Apple' on front (It was an Apple I).)

>
>I haven't looked up the SmartPort protocols, but documentation
>for Apple's SCSI interface is available.  Why would you want to
>put the protocol converter between your SCSI interface and the
>processor?

As I understand it, the Apple //c has a smarport interface, but that's it.
People wanting hard disks are unable to take advantage of cheap Mac
hard disks, and are dependent on suppliers who outfit their drives with
some manner of Apple Floppy interface electonics.

My //e is out of slots, partly because I already have two disk interface
boards in it.  One for the UniDisk 3.5, another for the Disk ][.  I'd
happily trade the Disk ][ to someone in exhange for info on hooking up
my Disk ][ to the Smartport chain on the //e 'LIRON' card.

The //GS comes with a smartport interface, but no native SCSI interface.

I agree that SCSI is the way to go for the future, but there's a large
installed base of product out there that are stuck with Apple's ongoing
'interim' solution.
--
					- Ralph W. Hyre, Jr.

Internet: ralphw@ius2.cs.cmu.edu    Phone:(412)268-{2847,3275} CMU-{BUGS,DARK}
Amateur Packet Radio: N3FGW@W2XO, or c/o W3VC, CMU Radio Club, Pittsburgh, PA