Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!apple!mattd
From: mattd@Apple.COM (Matt Deatherage)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: rom 03 upgrade (or lack thereof)
Message-ID: <38266@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 1 Feb 90 19:50:06 GMT
References: <4822.feeds.info-apple@pro-tcc>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 50

In article <4822.feeds.info-apple@pro-tcc> lvirden@pro-tcc.cts.com (Larry Virden) writes:
>In-Reply-To: message from girardin@acsu.buffalo.edu
>
>The rom 03 features are NOT available thru software. At least, not the
>keyboard driven mouse features, the smart shift keying and the more flexible
>slot/port access.  Nor is the redesigned music chip hardware, which eliminates
>noise, available in software.  Finally, the 1 meg on the motherboard is
>obviously not available in software :-) .  Basically, the only thing
>'available in software' is the latest set of tools - and even that is not
>available in software on the MOTHERBOARD - ie ROM 03 tools are in ROM and thus
>do not have to be loaded at boot time.
>
>Basically, NOTHING from ROM 03 machine is available in software.
>

I can easily assure you that at least 75% of the engineering time that went
into the ROM 03 IIgs (and it was a lot of engineering time; these things aren't
as easy as some people would like you to believe) went into the newer and 
faster tools included in the ROM.

You obviously can't have ROM 03 features on a ROM 01 machine if those features
can't be patched.  The most significant features *can* be patched on ROM 01, 
and in fact are.  You've just gotten so used to the idea of updatable system
software through ROM patches that it doesn't seem that remarkable to you that
all the engineering that went into the new ROM could benefit older ROM users
as well.  It can and it does.

>
>Basically, NOTHING from ROM 03 machine is available in software.
>
Totally, patently and absurdly false.

>There are ways to inferiorly simulate a tiny few of the ROM 03 features.
>

There are ways to inferiorly simluate logic in a flame, as well.  But that's
a different discussion.

>Larry W. Virden                 ProLine: pro-tcc!lvirden
>674 Falls Place                 Work:   lvirden@cas.bitnet
>Reynoldsburg, OH 43068-1614     Aline:  LVIRDEN
>                                CIS:    75046,606


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Matt Deatherage, Apple Computer, Inc. | "The opinions represented here are
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