jim@fritz.UUCP (Jim Gilbert) (08/07/86)
I would like to obtain the following reference information for the PCPI Applicard Z-80 processor and the accompanying CP/M implementation. I think that Personal Computer Products Inc. was purchased by Micropro or went out of business. I know some people know this (employees of Empathy Software, former PCPI employees), and there must be somewhere to write to obtain at least some hardware reference information. Now it gets boring: Apple View of Applicard: - use of standard slot-dependent addresses for scratch RAM, ROM, and interprocessor communication - interrupt daisy chain handling - dma daisy chain handling - location, size, and entry points of 6502 monitor - boot sequence Applicard view of itself and the Apple - RAM and ROM addressing/bank switching - i/o space resources - ports used to interface to 6502 - boot sequence - writing and installing device drivers Hardware - schematics - meaning of the 2x4 and the 2x25 jumpers or expansion connectors I have done various CP/M OEM ports, written drivers, spoolers, etc. and am very familiar with all the insides of the Microsoft Softcard implementation. I know I can figure all this out again by disassembling lotsa code. And I can figure out the hardware by tracing the etch of both sides of the board and reverse-engineering the schematics. This is just an extremely tedious process. I would be willing to pay a modest amount, e.g. under $20 for significant portions of the information mentioned. I have no commercial interest in any of this. I am merely exploring this implementation. Thank you kindly for your interest if you have read this far. Any assistance will be appreciated. Jim Gilbert FileNet Corporation 3530 Hyland Ave. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 ihnp4!trwrb!felix!jim
ihom@NOSC.ARPA (08/11/86)
No, PCPI did not go out of business. The last I heard, they were phasing out on Apple stuff and concentrating on the IBM market. The PCPI card alone contains 64k of onboard memory. The 2x5 and 2x25 expansion pins are used to piggy-back another memory module onto the Appli-Card. Each memory module can contain up to 128k of memory. Only two modules max may be added, though. This gives you a RAM disk with a 222k workspace, -2k for the directory, and - 32k for software management. PCPI offers an OEM package for about $50 that gives the technical info you need. Also included are two disks which contains sample drivers, a 6502 cross assembler and loader. You might want to contact them to see if this package is still offered. --Irwin Hom ...crash!ihom!pnet01!@nosc
jeffm@mmintl.UUCP (Jeffrey Miller) (08/16/86)
In article <1537@fritz.UUCP> jim@fritz.UUCP (Jim Gilbert) writes: > > >I would like to obtain the following reference information for the PCPI >Applicard Z-80 processor and the accompanying CP/M implementation. >I think that Personal Computer Products Inc. was purchased by Micropro or >went out of business. Recently I called PCPI ((619)485-8411) and got lots of their BIOS info just by talking to one of their tech support people. They are very helpful. Their implementation of CP/M is much more elegant and customizable than that of Microsoft. I know they're not out of business unless they are advertising their new laser printer in PC Week for masochistic purposes only. I'm looking for CP/M 3.0 or ZCPR3 for the Applicard. Does anyone know if they are available? Jeff * ************************************************* * Jeff Miller * * Multimate International Corp. * * 52 Oakland Avenue * * East Hartford, CT 06108-9911 * * (203) 522-2116 x257 * * UUCP: * * ...!seismo!utah-cs!utah-gr!pwa-b!mmintl!jeffm * * * --> * P.S. I can't *mail* to ARPA but I can receive * <-- --> * from there. News I *post* should get there. * <-- ************************************************* (an Apple CP/M guy in a strange MS-DOS land) *
jeffm@mmintl.UUCP (Jeffrey Miller) (08/22/86)
*
Regarding the request for info on the Applicard, please see my response
on net.micro.apple.
Jeff
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* Jeff Miller *
* Multimate International Corp. *
* 52 Oakland Avenue *
* East Hartford, CT 06108-9911 *
* (203) 522-2116 x257 *
* UUCP: *
* ...!seismo!utah-cs!utah-gr!pwa-b!mmintl!jeffm *
* *
--> * P.S. I can't *mail* to ARPA but I can receive * <--
--> * from there. News I *post* should get there. * <--
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*