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From: amos@csri.toronto.EDU (Tak Ariga)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Enhancing a //e
Message-ID: <8707241404.AA02377@finch.csri.toronto.edu>
Date: Fri, 24-Jul-87 10:04:47 EDT
Article-I.D.: finch.8707241404.AA02377
Posted: Fri Jul 24 10:04:47 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 25-Jul-87 14:06:10 EDT
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The upgrade consists of a few hardware changes.  Basically,
it means swapping the CPU, replacing the 6502(A) with the
CMOS version 65C02.  That adds a bit of speed and a few
extra instructions.

Also, ROMs must be changed.  The system ROM, which is the boot
up routine, etc. in the firmware, and the Character Generator.
The Char Gen. has the MouseText characters in it.  This is the
part that is a little difficult.  If you do it yourself, you
will either have to get the upgrade kit from a dealer, which
they usually are reluctant to do.  Apparently, they have an
agreement with Apple to do the installation themselves, and not
give the kits out to the custormers.  But, I have heard of 
people coaxing the dealer into letting them do the modifications
themselves.  Of course, buying the kit from the dealer is
likely to cost you the same amount as to having the dealer
do it for you...

to actually save money, you will probably have to get the ROMs
bootlegged.  Which is illegal, and if not that, immoral. (I
doubt that it's fattening though.) :-)  This involves
copying the ROMs in an enhanced //e, and burning it into
a blank 4164 EPROM.  You will need an EPROM copyier for that.

So, in my opinion, $70 is reasonable, unless you own an
EPROM programmer, or can borrow one...  in which case,
the parts themselves will cost less than half that.

--Tak
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