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Apple 1 retro fun

Apple1I'm thinking of asking for a replica Apple 1 kit for Christmas. Amazingly there are at least two choices, either a Replica 1 from Briel Computers (US), or an A-One from Achatz Electronics (Netherlands) There also seems to be a guy who has designed an even more faithful replica using the original Apple 1 PCB layout and unused surplus components. I can't find more than an unused ebay auction for his kits.

To make sure I won't get bored within an hour of completing it, there are thankfully a few emulators around to play with (Woz having released the original Monitor ROM sources for free some time ago). The one I'm having most success with is the patched version of pom1 released by the author of the Krusader Apple 1/6502 assembler (with the assembler and Apple Basic in ROM).

The ironic thing is that the hp48 calculator that I am using to do decimal/hex conversions (since I can't do them in my head yet) has way more cpu power, a bigger stack, more ram, more advance graphics and even IR!

I'm also looking into the C port of pom. It sounds like it has more issues than the Java version, but I don't much like Java so I might hack on it. The code is nice and clean - only 3.5k lines of c and header. Half of that is in the 6502 emulator. Of course to put 3.5k lines of c into context, check out the hex dump of the entire Apple Basic interpreter by Woz :)

Image source: fantastine.com

09:06 PM, 23 Nov 2006 by Mark Aufflick Permalink

Apple 1 Replica

Dear Mark, We have broadband in the North Pole these days and quite like reading your blogs :-) In your Christmas stocking... Would you like a Kit with USB or a Kit without USB? Love Santa

by Unregistered Visitor on 12/01/06

A-One on it's way

I've decided to go with the A-One from Achatz electronics for the following reasons:

  • Franz is now shipping it with the Krusader assembler in rom (As well as the A1 assembler from SB)
  • It has a more beautiful pcb layout, with a lower chip count. I think Woz would approve.
  • The video circuitry seems a little more robust.
Can't wait to get my soldering iron warmed up. Thanks Santa :)

by Mark Aufflick on 12/07/06

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