Date   : Fri, 24 Oct 2008 07:40:33 -0500
From   : jules.richardson99@... (Jules Richardson)
Subject: A500 development ROMs

Adam Sampson wrote:
> Pete Turnbull <pete@...> writes:
> 
>> I'm sure the reason you think there was an A500 copro is simply that
>> early on, the A500 needed the Tube and a Beeb to do I/O/.
> 
> There are some pictures of an "A500 second processor" board here that
> looks distinctly different from a regular A500 motherboard:

Yep, that's the critter. I was going to say that I've only heard about the 
one, but it would seem that Chris has his own board - so that's two...

>   http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/8bit_Upgrades/Acorn_A5002ndProc.html
> 
> It appears to have video, audio and keyboard interfaces, but no disk
> controller...

As others mentioned, I expect it was a bridge between the AEK and the A500 
standalone machine - I just don't know why Acorn reused the A500 name as it 
just makes life confusing :-)

cheers

Jules