Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ukma!xanth!nic.MR.NET!gonzo!dfazio From: dfazio@gonzo.ETA.COM (Dennis Fazio) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Don't toss those SIMMs Summary: Computer Care Inc. SOFTSTEP products. Keywords: 256K, 1M, SIMMS, SOFTSTEP, Computer Care Message-ID: <1198@nic.MR.NET> Date: 6 Mar 89 19:25:17 GMT Sender: news@nic.MR.NET Reply-To: dfazio@gonzo.UUCP (Dennis Fazio) Distribution: usa Organization: ETA Systems, Inc., St Paul, MN Lines: 77 I have seen several inquiries in this group for Computer Care's Softstep products. Mr. John DePew of Computer Care paid a visit to our local Macintosh user group to show his wares. At the risk of sounding like a commercial pitch, here is a summary of the info on their products. Computer Care, Inc. is located here in Minneapolis at: 5124 Russell Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55410 Their phone is (800) 950-CARE [ (800) 950-2273 ] In Minnesota, call (612) 920-2273 They are a $1 million company that produce and sell memory enhancement products for all Macintoshes. At present, they have 5 major products for expanding your memory by making use of the memory SIMMs you already have. Prices are current as of March 1, 1989: Softstep I: is a 2 meg upgrade for the Mac Plus/SE. It is a 256K SIMM with a socket that accepts the factory installed 256K SIMMs. No modifications are required and the SOFTSTEP I is completely transferable from the Plus to the SE. The computer recognizes the full 2 megabyte upgrade providing an excellent alternative to using 1 meg SIMMs. Cost: $425 / 4 module set. SOFTSTEP II: is an upgrade for the Mac II/IIx. It uses the existing SIMMs to give you up to 8 megabytes of memory without replacing your 256K SIMMs. SOFTSTEP II packs 3/4 meg plus control circuitry on to each module. The 256K SIMMs are connected to the SOFTSTEP II to complete a 1 meg SIMM. The speed remains at 120 ns. Cost: $950 / 4 module set. (This was a very popular product last summer and fall during the height of the memory shortage. Even at its now reduced price, it has become less cost effective) SOFTSTEP III: is a module with no onboard memory for the Mac II or IIx. The user attaches 4 256K SIMMs (120 ns) to each module to build 1 meg SIMMs for the Mac II or IIx. Each module has 4 SIMM sockets and control circuitry to complete the upgrade. The module, with the SIMMs installed, is inserted into the SIMM sockets on the motherboard as usual. Cost: $60 / module; $195 / 4 modules. (This provides a nice upgrade for Mac IIs that are full of 256K SIMMs. With 2 modules, you can stuff your 2 megabytes into 2 SIMM slots, and add 2 more 1M SIMMs for a total of 4 megabytes. You cannot have a full height internal disk installed with these - only half height. When Apple updates the System software to recognize > 8 megabytes, I believe that you will be able to use this to build a 4 megabyte SIMM out of 4 1M SIMMs to enable creation of a 16 or 32 megabyte system.) SOFTSTEP IV: is a module with no onboard memory for the Mac Plus. The user supplies 4 additional 256K SIMMs with the SOFTSTEP IV to build a 2 megabyte upgrade for the Plus. Cost: $169 / 4 module set. SOFTSTEP V: is a module eith no onboard memory for the Mac SE. The user supplies 4 additional 256K SIMMs with the SOFTSTEP V to build a 2 megabyte upgrade for the SE. Cost: $169 / 4 module set. They say there is no excessive heat or power consumption with any of these upgrades and speed is not sacrificed. They also have standard 1 meg SIMMs available at $265 for DIP and $285 for low profile. Warranty on all products is 1 year unconditional. At present, they say they are the only company doing this kind of thing. They are considering additional products such as a low cost SCSI module to create a RAM disk, print buffer modules, or RAM spooler modules. That's the basic scoop. This information was copied from a product brochure, so if you have any additional questions, contact Computer Care. No matter what your system, including older 512K, 512KE, systems with accelerator boards, etc., give them a call and describe your circumstances to see if you can make a cost effective upgrade. There's a home yet for that orphan memory! Dennis Fazio Footnet: ETA Systems Inc. ETC03D Internet: dfazio@eta.com 1450 Energy Park Dr. Gabnet: (612) 642-3578 St. Paul, MN 55108