Hi all and Merry Christmas:
In my lot of stuff from earlier in the year, I discovered I have an un-populated genuine Apple ROM card. Bare-card; no components.
I am looking for some education on the value/use of these cards before I start adding components. I did the requisite Google searches and found pictures of the original box and images of the card but not documentation. I'm not looking to sell the card, just learn about its use.
Does anyone have any documentation scanned?
Cheers,
mark
The first version of this card was loaded with Applesoft ROMs and intended to provide original Apple II computers with Applesoft capability without swapping ROMs or loading Applesoft into RAM. A version of the Blue Book was provided with this card as the documentation. Appendix A discusses installation of the card. I don't recall their being any other documentation.
https://www.apple.asimov.net/documentation/programming/basic/Applesoft_Reference_Manual_1978-%20bluebook.pdf
best regards,
Mike Willegal
Thanks info and the link Mike!
When you say original, would that include the II+ or just the II?
Cheers,
mark
The original Apple II included integer BASIC, which had some serious shortcomings, particularly lack of floating point number support. Apple's solution to this problem, was a port of Microsoft BASIC, which was named Applesoft. Initially, it was made available as a cassette tape that could be downloaded to DRAM on your Apple II. When it was completely debugged, it was released in ROM form. Systems shipped with Applesoft instead of Integer BASIC in ROM were badged as the Apple IIplus and given a different serial number. The FIRMWARE card was made available for Apple II owners who wanted a floating point BASIC for the Apple II systems that they had already purchased.
I believe that a version of the firmware card with integer BASIC ROMs installed was later released for Apple IIplus owners that wanted to run integer BASIC.
regards,
Mike Willegal