#Controller
3 messages in this thread
Dean, did you ever come out with that daughterboard that would allow a old
2090 to boot from the hard disk. I know that you were spreading rumors
about it a few weeks back, but haven't read that it is available. If it is,
how about giving some of the specs, suggested retail, etc. If not, how
soon?
That device has not yet been released. Actually it's not a
daughterboard to the 2090, it's more of a standalone device that autoboots
itself, and would then allow you to execute any required software needed to
bring up the rest of the system. Hmm, considering that some info is
appearing in print about the board, I'll relent and describe it more
fully. It's a autoboot, battery backed up RAM disk that can contain
between 64K and 256K of memory. The board is designed for the A2000 Zorro
II slots, and is about 2/3 normal length. It looks, to the operating
system, like a small disk drive. (ie. with WB it has a disk icon.)
This board is going to be the fastest method available to boot your
machine, it takes from the time the power is applied until a CLI prompt of
approx. 8 seconds. (assuming no floppies in the drives, and no
Startup-Sequence). The equilivent time for a 2090A is approx 18 seconds.
As to when it'll be released, I can't yet say. I've been having problems
developing the software to my satisifaction, and my house seems to want to
fall apart lately! Price is yet to be determined, but I can safely say
that the standard 64K version will sell, retail for under $200. -Dean
Thanks for the info on your Autoboot board. It sounds like you will have a
nice product when you get all the software bugs taken care of. Although to
be honest, I'm not sure I can justify spending the extra $200 just to get
my machine up and running 20 seconds faster than it is now. Buthere may be
other advantages to the Autoboot board that I'm missing. Anyway Dean, keep
us posted!