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From: dseah@wpi.wpi.EDU (David I Seah)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re:  The Future of the Apple II
Message-ID: <8902030734.AA11825@wpi>
Date: 3 Feb 89 07:34:34 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 43

>Seems to me that there is a lot of things that Apple could have
>done to make the IIGS more powerful to start with.  Like:
>
>       - faster speed (10Mhz or more)
>       - coprocessors (graphics, sound, io)
>       - more standard memory
>       - lower price (with more features, price is higher, obviously)

About coprocessors:

Has Apple ever ever put a coprocessor as a standard feature in ANY of their
machines?  I believe the Mac II supports them, but the devices themselves
(68881, MMU) come from reaching deeper into your pockets.

I suppose one could count the Ensoniq DOC as a coprocessor.  I'd like to see a
copy memory-to-memory device supported for blisteringly fast data transfers
with no speed limits to maintain "video compatibility".  (Can someone explain
to me just WHY the clock must be 1Mhz to maintain compatibility?  Is it the
same Woz-designed hardware in a new package?  Is the Mega II in its current
form just too slow to handle a fast system clock?)   Another feature I would
like to see is a QuickDraw accelerator or custom chipset that you could plug
in any Apple IIGS or Mac motherboard for speedy hardware enhanced graphics. 
If QuickDraw is taken out of software and instead controlled through
well-documented & defined I/O ports (essentially a smart device), then perhaps
some real speed could be pulled out of it.  Better yet, some third party
vender may design an even faster one!  While we are still daydreaming, how
about making all the storage devices use some kind of DMA to plop data right
where you want it?

As for memory, will a 8 or 10MHz 65816 require me to dump all that 150ns RAM I
picked up last year?  Shucks...Put cacheing on board!  Build some stuff around
existing 65816s to fetch and enqueu data!  Easier said...eh?

Three guesses, everyone.  Will Apple drop the price on the Apple IIGS to match
that of the Apple //e when the fabled GS PLUS steps out?

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|  Dave Seah --- Worcester Polytechnic Institute  |
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