> > Had a great time this morning at the TRW Swap meet. John, Doug, Dave, and I
> > were there. The trip was rewarding, and lunch after was great. Doug found
> > an Basis 108 that he didn't want to take back, so it is now sitting on the
> > kitchen table (thanks Doug!) The others can comment on their "scored"
> > items. Nothing like a fun morning to start the weekend off properly!
> Yup, the Basis was a very interesting machine and in like-new condition.
> I'd never seen one before.
Shure ? there was one at VCF 2.0 - you remember the junk guy that
thought the WOZ IIgs was $$$ ?
I was very suprised to find one in the US ... I never knew
they did export to te US. ANd now there is even a second unit !
> Apparently a German Apple II clone with a Z80
> in addition to the 6502 (from 1982).
Jep, it is, but it's not 'only' a cole, it's _THE_ clone. WIth
the BASIS the wole clone thing started off - The company was at
the beginning (~1978/9) an Apple distributor and engeneering
company in Germany. They stated early 1979 to make an 'better'
Apple II - the BASIS (108), with a real case (metal), seperate
keyboard, upper/lower case, German Umlauts, build in Z80, seriall
and paralell interface build, 80 colume card and 64 (later up to
256) K of mem. Althrugh they asked an _extrem_ high price (some
5000-9000 Mark or ~2-3000 USD at this time), theyy had a big success.
The new Apple Germany (~80) of course didn't like this competition
and tried to punch them out of bussines via law suits. Eventualy
they succeded, but to late: BASIS did order their production of
the 108 and 208 at, back than, new and unknown companies in Taiwan.
These companies where, after BASIS was send to bankrott by Apple,
without their former customers looked for a new markt, and started
to produce exact clones of the Apple II (the Basis was a complete
reengeneered APPLE II - more like the IIgs or Platinum IIe) and
sold them around the world.
And, as usual in Taiwan, soon a lot of other small companies
poped up around and offered even more clone products (back then
there was almost no genuine development at all). in 1983..85,
when the PC took off, they already developed a structure to
participate ... So, the BASIS is a true part of history, the
very reason for Taiwans position ind the clone market (and
nowadays, they _are_ innovative).
Gruss
H.
--
Der Kopf ist auch nur ein Auswuchs wie der kleine Zeh.
H.Achternbusch
Received on Mon Feb 01 1999 - 09:19:08 GMT