Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!jarthur!cdouty From: cdouty@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Christopher Douty) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: Re: Mac ROMs available for AMAX emulator [COMMERCIAL] Summary: But still pretty cheap Message-ID: <921@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 21 Apr 89 20:04:17 GMT References: <16630@oberon.USC.EDU> <10421@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> Reply-To: cdouty@jarthur.UUCP (Christopher Douty) Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA Lines: 47 In article <10421@cit-vax.Caltech.Edu> bdiscoe@tybalt.caltech.edu.UUCP (Ben W. Discoe) writes: > The AMAX looks like a very attractive option for me. However, the prices >aren't exactly all that low: > AMAX, when available ........ ~$200 > 128K ROMS, IF available ..... $150 > Mac drive, w/edu discount ... $283 > --------------- > $633 > One option, which my EE friends say is possible, is to copy the ROMs out >of an existing Mac onto fresh eproms. > Anyone know about the feasibility/legality of the above? It's important >to bring the price of this thing DOWN. >- Ben "to new to have a .sig" Discoe True, the actual package cost is a lot higher than $200, but I think that it is still a damn good deal. Think about it, for an extra $600 or so you get the equivelent of a Mac Plus with a reasonable screen size. #8^) Looking at my handy college computer price list, I find that a baseline Mac Plus is $1222. That is with one 3-1/2" floppy and a standard keyboard, and of course NO COLOR. For slightly more you can have an Amiga 500 and 1084SD monitor, 1 Meg, and the AMAX package. If you are really creative you could probably work a 2nd floppy drive in there. I think that is a pretty good deal. The situation only gets better as you go up both the Amiga and Mac lines. An Amiga 2500 with the AMAX package will cost around $5000, while a similarly equipped Mac IIx will cost about $5400 with less RAM and of course no multi-tasking. Enough haranguing on that subject. I don't know about copying the ROMs. I know that it is technically possible. I once had a device specifically for the purpose of copying Atari 2600 cartriges, so the copying of Mac ROMs should be the same. I do know that it is blatently illegal though, or at least Apple's lawyers will claim so while they haul you into court. It probably IS a violation of the licences and copyrights on the ROM software, but the deciding factor is that Apple can spend much more on prosecution than any individual and few companies can spend on defense. Just something to mull over. -- Christopher Douty cdouty@jarthur.claremont.edu with STANDARD_DISCLAIMER; use STANDARD_DISCLAIMER; "Gun control is being with SILLY_QUOTE; use SILLY_QUOTE; able to hit your target"