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An unknown apple Profile ROM spotted on ebay

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TorZidan:

--- Quote from: ried on September 23, 2024, 01:29:17 pm ---I have 10 5MB ProFiles.

--- End quote ---

Don't want to pick on you, but how do you justify this, given that more-reliable, cheap modern replacements are available? How many are enough?
I, personally, have 5 5MB ProFiles out of which only one works; my justification is: "one day I will find the time to sit down and repair them; it will be fun; then I will sell them".

sigma7:

--- Quote from: TorZidan on September 23, 2024, 08:58:52 pm ---... how do you justify this, given that more-reliable, cheap modern replacements are available? How many are enough?

--- End quote ---

I expect some portion of the reason is that it is a "collection", maybe not an intentional collection, but rather picked up in a lot along with Lisa parts etc. as time goes on. ie. not purchased for actual use (which is a purpose better served by a modern replacement as you point out), nor purchased because more are needed to have enough.

In that case, the justification amounts to not needing the space for something else, but maybe there is a nefarious long range plan to corner the market!

In my case, I have more Lisa memory boards than I need... more than enough -- none purchased as an individual item. My justification amounts to not being troubled to have them, and to some extent they may have some utility.

ried:

--- Quote from: sigma7 on September 23, 2024, 11:49:26 pm ---
--- Quote from: TorZidan on September 23, 2024, 08:58:52 pm ---... how do you justify this, given that more-reliable, cheap modern replacements are available? How many are enough?

--- End quote ---
In that case, the justification amounts to not needing the space for something else, but maybe there is a nefarious long range plan to corner the market!

--- End quote ---

Busted!  ;D

I justify having those ProFiles because I have five Lisas (spanning generations) and I wanted two ProFiles attached and stacked on top of each. These are not practical machines in 2024, so there's no point in trying to justify any of it other than as a hobby. The sheer curiosity about a pivotal time in computing history, and trying to piece together systems and make them all work properly 40 years on. I have learned a great deal about computers by repairing and trying to push these old things to their limits - like dragging them onto the Internet, kicking and screaming. That also means I've swapped a couple of the ol' Seagate ST-506s out for X/ProFiles, among other enhancements - thanks to the talent of people here, generous with their time and knowledge.

It's the exact same way with cars, like building (and rebuilding) a hotrod. You don't build them for practical purposes. It's just fun.

AlexTheCat123:

--- Quote ---Don't want to pick on you, but how do you justify this, given that more-reliable, cheap modern replacements are available? How many are enough?
--- End quote ---

For me, it's just because I have a fascination with hard drives and using a real drive is just so much more satisfying than using an emulator. And this is coming from someone who has designed a ProFile emulator! Emulators are definitely the better choice for ease of use and reliability, but it's just really fun to collect ProFiles and Widgets, figure out what's wrong with them, and get them up and running again. They aren't reliable at all, but fixing them and slowly expanding your knowledge of all the things that could possibly go wrong with a ProFile/Widget is half the fun!

ried:

--- Quote from: AlexTheCat123 on September 24, 2024, 11:54:04 am ---
--- Quote ---Don't want to pick on you, but how do you justify this, given that more-reliable, cheap modern replacements are available? How many are enough?
--- End quote ---
...it's just really fun to collect ProFiles and Widgets, figure out what's wrong with them, and get them up and running again.

--- End quote ---

I have had 4 or 5 Widgets and none of them worked. I did my darnedest, too (thank you for your help, Tom!). Took them apart, played with the little trim pots, and so on. One would need an oscilloscope and serious skill to make them work in my case, which I still lack. Maybe someday! As an aside, someone brought their Lisa over to my workbench for some tinkering last week and I did get to see one working for the first time. Pretty neat little contraption.

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