Hi All,
I'm new here, apologies in advance if I'm asking silly questions, this is a very cool forum, I just purchased the Apple I Replica Creation book in PDF.
I saw an Ebay listing for a reproduction Apple I motherboard for $300 (Newton?) and it got me thinking "cool new soldering project" (I recently soldered a Minstrel Z80).
So I searched and I found info about the Mimeo.
I see PCB's + PROMs + Parts kits but all that comes to $1000 USD and I'm in AUD so FX rate, duties and taxes will be an issue...
Is there a cheaper way to do it, are Gerbers available to get a board made in somewhere closer, can parts be sourced a lot cheaper if I'm not worried about being super close to the original?
I read the PROMs need to be purchased programmed because programmers are expensive, any way round that, something that is more programmable that's pin/signal/voltage compatible that fits in the socket or a gizmo with an MCU that can mimic the PROM?
In terms of interfacing to the replica board, is there an something similar to the "Raspberry Pi Zero Serial Terminal for RC2014" it's a Serial Terminal for RC2014 Homebrew Z80 Computer To Allow USB Keyboard Input And HDMI Video Output?
IMHO PCBWay do a really cool "Shared Projects" section where the author gets 10% of every board sold.
Thanks.
Richard
I think you will find that it will cost you a lot more than you think to simple have a single PCB made for something the size of an Apple-1. You also can't hand etch one, too many Vias. If you don't want to buy a board, then I suggest wire wrapping one. The project does come out very cool, but you need to be really good at it and realize starting Apple was actually suggested by Jobs as a way to avoid many of the troubleshooting issues with Woz building Apple-1 machines with wire wrap and point to point soldering for his friends.
Thanks Corey, is the Apple Computer Co the place to get a Mimeo PCB nowadays?
Yes myapplecomputer.net is where I sell the Mimeo. I just put in for a new batch so I should have them again for sale in a few weeks.