ch1@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Chris Helferty) (09/17/89)
I've been thinking about an IBM compatible (for help with after hours work, mind ya!) and I keep seeing those adds for Applied Engineering's PC-Transporter board. I was wondering if some souls out there could give me some information on just how good/bad are they: o What's the theory behind this board? I mean, is it essentially just a miniaturized PC motherboard cutting off my Apple's motherboard or does it really use some components of my Apple's motherboard to do its work? o How are peripherals handled? Will it find my printer card and internal modem? o Does this thing even work? Is it really compatible? o How fast is it? o How is the display? Text and graphics. o Very important and confusing for what I've read: What is the deal on disk drives? I think I can use my duodisk to read/write ibm on Prodos, but then, of course, I can't pop these disks into any other computer. Or can I use my duodisk drives as IBM drives? If not, do I have to buy the drives offered to go with the board or can I use any third party ibm drives? How 'bout the Unidisk? (i think i might be able to grab onto one of those from somebody) o How is the Ram in Apple mode? Does it make an easy Ram disk or extend the memory of the Apple or does it give problems? o How is the larger keyboard of an IBM handled (on a IIe)? Should I buy an ibm keyboard or is a third party keyboard good? o Are you happy with the one you have? Was it a good buy? Or should I just look towards a true compatible? From AE's sales pitch for drives, coprossessors, and keyboards for the thing, I might as well by a whole new computer. But I can't really afford that. If I can buy a board for $350 - $400 to make my Apple go IBM blue every once in a while, I'd be happy. *I don't want to buy keyboards, disk drives, etc. for the thing. That, to me, defeats the purpose.* o Any other comments, info? Thanks, Jon Pearsall NASA Industrial Applications Center Univerity of Pittsburgh
buchho@studsys.mu.edu (buchho) (09/18/89)
In article <19597@unix.cis.pitt.edu> ch1@unix.cis.pitt.edu (Jon M. Pearsall) writes: > o How are peripherals handled? Will it find my printer card >and internal modem? Current peripherals work as they would on an IBM XT. It will find the printer card and internal modem. There is a set up utility that will handle it all. It'll even use your Apple's mouse (if you have one) as a MicroSoft Mouse. > o Does this thing even work? Is it really compatible? This was the part I couldn't believe. Yes, it does work, as long as you use programs that don't go over it's memory requirements (max 640k) and as long as it'll run on an XT. > o How fast is it? Approximately three times as fast as an XT. > o How is the display? Text and graphics. The display is a normal IBM CGA display. The text characters and graphics "quality" (Ack, hate CGA) are the same. > o Very important and confusing for what I've read: What is >the deal on disk drives? I think I can use my duodisk to read/write >ibnidisk? (i think >i might be able to grab onto one of those from somebody) Okay, here's the deal on disk drives. To boot MS-DOS 5.25" disks, you will need to get one of their 5.25" drives that they sell with the PC-T. Your DuoDisks and UniDisks will not work. However, Apple 3.5" drives are capable of reading MS-DOS 3.5" format, and you should have no problems there. You can create a MS-DOS directory on a hard drive, and you can also use the 5.25" Apple format disks as storage devices, although they will not be compatable with MS-DOS, and will contain significantly less information. Up to four devices can be chained from the PC-T itself. > o How is the Ram in Apple mode? Does it make an easy Ram disk >or extend the memory of the Apple or does it give problems? The RAM in Apple mode is basically in the form of a Ramdrive. I haven't seen any expanders yet that will allow you to use this for, say AppleWorks, for instance. > o How is the larger keyboard of an IBM handled (on a IIe)? >Should I buy an ibm keyboard or is a third party keyboard good? The other keyboard presses on the IIe are handled by Open and Closed Apple keypresses, but of course you miss out on the keypad... > o Are you happy with the one you have? Was it a good buy? Or >should I just look towards a true compatible? From AE's sales pitch >for drives, coprossessors, and keyboards for the thing, I might as well >by a whole new computer. But I can't really afford that. If I can >buy a board for $350 - $400 to make my Apple go IBM blue every once in >a while, I'd be happy. *I don't want to buy keyboards, disk drives, etc. >for the thing. That, to me, defeats the purpose.* Me, I don't have one. I did spend an awful lot of time playing around with one and testing it when it came out two years ago (or so). But, since the technology with MS-DOS computers has far exceeded the capa- bilities of the PC-T, I'm planning on getting a '386 machine, at least 25 Mhz, etc., etc. If you plan on doing just normal-type stuff that can be done on a XT with CGA, then go for the PC-T. You will need at least one of their MSDOS drives. In any case, go to your local dealer and request one set up for you to "test drive." Jake Buchholz __________________________________________________________________________ | | | | Jake Buchholz | "You mean I've got to make one of these things | | buchho@studsys.mu.edu | too?" | |_______________________|__________________________________________________|