Date   : Fri, 26 Jul 1991 21:56:22 GMT
From   : iggy.GW.Vitalink.COM!pacbell.com!pacbell!sactoh0!ijpc!ianj@uunet.uu.net (Ian Justman)
Subject: Re: Microsoft Softcard for Apple ][

efichtne@isis.cs.du.edu (Erik Fichtner) writes:

> I recently acquired a Microsoft Softcard for an Apple ][+ that sits over
> in the corner collecting dust..    I did not recieve *any* documentation
> or disks with the card, so I don't have a clue how to make it go. 

I have every clue and I'll see if I can help because I started
out on an Apple II Plus and a SoftCard.

> Is there some way to pass Z80 instructions to it on the bus (possible multi-p
> is there any way I can program this card to do Z80 things without the
> CP/M disks to run it?

You absolultely can NOT do multi-processing with a regular
SoftCard (maybe, and I mean ---MAYBE---, with a SoftCard //e).
It is physically impossible and it isn't feasible if you're
talking about running the two processors running asynchronously
(i.e. running the two processors independently of each other).
When the SoftCard is active, it effectively completely takes over
your whole computer.  It puts the 6502 to sleep and becomes the
main processor for a time.


> and if not, does anyone have disks/manuals or copies thereof that they could
> mail me via US Snail?

Gimme your address, and I'll see what I can do.

> respond via email: efichtne@isis.cs.du.edu

I like responding publicly because all can benefit.


Ian Justman               | ...!{ames|apple|sun}!pacbell_
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