kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath) (01/05/88)
Ok, folks, I've been swamped. SO, right now I've put the software on hold,
and am devoting my time to hardware and a PD assembler.
First, re: Big Mac. I have been informed that perhaps Big Mac is *not* PD.
So, I'm going to try and dig up T.E.D., Big Macs predecessor. Now, TED
isn't quite as nice, but I'll be able to post it. As for Big Mac, well,
Since I've got personal feelings about how it will affect the sales of
Merlin and Merlin Pro (I think they should increase. Big Mac is nice, but
Merlin is *nicer*, and if you start doing serious stuff, you really ought to
get it.), I might bend a little. So, let it be known. I will *NOT* post
Big Mac to either comp.sys.apple of the server at Brown. I *might*
(depending on several facters) e-mail big mac. maybe. But not positivly.
Please, no flames. It's not a currently marketed product, though it could
be said to be still supported. I'm mulling it over (and a lot depends on if
I can find T.E.D.).
Second, re: the expansion box. I fully intended to build one (i.e. spec one
out) over Christmas break, but as it was, I spent more that one week hacking
away ot mom's IBM, while she fidgetted behind me, terrified I'd make all her
files go away. I nearly did, but that's another story.
In anycase, here's a quick outline of what I have in mind. I am going to
try my best to actaully post a block diagram of the schematics of the
extender/doubler. It will consist of a single slot plug in card, which will
switch between two cards attached to the other end of the ribbon cable/box.
Since the original post was about a physical switch, I will make it thusly:
(What a word, geez!) you will be able to switch cards on the fly, as they
will both be powered, though perhaps not at the same time (depends if you
want to go for a separate power supply) and they will be buffered from the
bus, thus allowing them to be switched in logically, not physically. THis
setup allows for easy modification to allow a softswitch to do the job.
The reason it is such a simple design is that I won't actually build one
(probably for some time, at least). So: Don't just build it and give it a
whirl. It's not a finished product, just some food for thought concerning
bus interfacing. OK?
Good.
So, the software awaits me. Till later (I just read 150 comp.sys.apple
messages. It might be a few days before you here from me again.).
Sean Kamath
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