Eprom Programmer press release
By Soenke Behrens
Copyright (c) 1992 Apple Users' Group, Sydney
Republished from Applecations, a publication of the Apple Users' Group, Sydney, Australia.
c't-Eprop Apple edition
Eprommer for the Apple // family of microcomputers
Adapted from a design by c't
The AUGE crew Munich proudly presents "c't Eprop Apple edition", an eprommer that can work with any Apple // that has slots.
Adapted?
The original design is for the IBM-PC series of microcomputers. The host-adapter was changed to work with an Apple //, the rest was left unchanged. This means that you may use the eprommer on an IBM when you get the host-adapter for it. You don't have to have an eprommer for both machines.
The design was found in c't, a computer magazine.
Technical data
The eprommer consists of 2 pieces: A host adapter and the eprommer itself. The host adapter will go in any slot (yes, even 3, but I wouldn't recommend that :), the eprommer is connected via cable.
This thing can burn at the moment all Eproms on the market, including the yet-to-come 8MBit(!) pieces. The software upgrade that was released recently and is being built in to the Apple //GS software you can burn EEProms and FlashProms, too. With a hardware adapter you could burn micro controllers.
Two Textool sockets for 8-bit and 16-bit Eproms.
Software
Software currently runs on a //GS and needs ORCA shell or GNO. Well structured C source is included. Software for the older Apple //s is a bit off right now, but there are people who said they'd like to work on it. Besides, you _do_ get the source with the thing :)
Hardware enhancements
"If customer demand warrants it" (that is, at least one person asks me to do it _and_ is willing to pay the price), I will do an adapter for burning microcontrollers. Be aware that this is not cheap: A board costs ~$20 at these low production rates, and the additional Textool socket is not had for nothing too.
Price, how to get one
This is the tough one. This is, though professionally layouted and manufactured (gold connectors), a phreak product. That means: I have only my prototype at the moment. If at least 10 people want the thing, I can do a mini series.
Else all I can do is give you boards done with "hobby equipment" and you have to get along with them (drill, solder) yourselves. Of course, that "hobby boards" will be below the price of a mini series. But so will be the quality, too.
Because of the low production rates the price will be $170.
A moment of silence
Three totally innocent 0.8mm HSS drills had to give their lives during prototype building. One resistor array will never again feel the joy
of voltage pulsing through it. One Elko went up in flames. RIP. Several hollow rivets lie splattered, limb and useless on the ground, the foul odor of corrosion wavering up from them.
Concluding comments
Let's show those IBM people that an "obsolete" Apple // is as good a development platform as their high-powered computers. With your help, Apple // community, this board can be turned into a platform for developing micro controller applications. Think of all the possibilities!
Decide wether this thing is worth the money for you, and tell me so. If not, alas, one more vaporware for the Apple // that died.
Soenke Behrens
Muenchner Str.9
8039 Puchheim FRG
Phone: ++49-89-8002640
Internet: behrenss@informatik.tu-muenchen.de
GEnie: S.BEHRENS2
FIDO: Soenke Behrens 2:246/13.0
CompuServe: 100034,2556

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