declan@portia.Stanford.EDU (Declan McCullagh/LZ) (07/08/90)
Cirtech is pleased to announce a major new Apple product! DUET Duet transforms the Apple IIGS into a powerful, low-cost, color Mac! Duet is an innovative new product that provides a real bridge between the Apple Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers. For the first time, it is possible to run both Mac and GS software using the SAME computer! Duet comprises a co-processor card and special 'link' software. The card (which fits into any standard slot in the IIGS) has a 16MHZ 68020 processor with one to eight Megabytes of RAM togther with a custom ROM. The system uses all standard Apple peripherals as 'Mac' ports or drives and is totally transparent to the computer user and all Mac applications. Bothe the 68020 AND the GS 65816 processors operate at the same time. The 65816 handles all input/output tasks while the 68020 is used to run Mac programs and the main operating system. This system results in amazinlgy fast performance (in a 'normal' Mac the processor has to handle almost all I/O itself, degrading overall performance). The Duet system actually outperforms the Mac IICX! Options- 68882 co-processor chip (fits into socket on Duet card). RAM expansion (supplied with 1 Meg, expandable to 8Meg). Duet is currently in the final stages of development and is scheduled for shipping by December 1990. --- End of Press Release --- This interesting bit of information was found in a press release dated July 3rd. Personally, I'm amazed and more than a little bit skeptical, but if this product ever sees the light of day, it will be a more than welcome addition to MY IIgs. Let's see: According to recent articles on comp.arch, a 68020 sells for about $70 or so. One MB of RAM in SIMM form is $55. You can buy Mac ROMs from CDA Computers in New Jersey for under $100... Hmm... It's almost plausible. I want more details... And, hell! I want a PMMU so I can run A/UX in my IIgs... (But I'll still have to get an Ethernet card so I can link the IIgs to the NeXT. Oh well. Perhaps I'll just spend $9,000 on a IIfx system instead.) -Declan -------- Declan McCullagh / declan@portia.stanford.edu / Registered NeXT Developer