Clones

Mar 8 2012

The Albert Apple ][ Clone in Living Color

ResetVector, run by Tony Diaz, has put up a new article outlining the history of the Albert Apple ][ Clone.  The Albert, was created with  all of the drives built into into it's own box and the machine complete with all of the normal Apple ][ features as well as a number of enhanced features all on board.  While most manufacturers of the time were busy copying the Apple ][ as is, wholesale, cards and all, the Albert was a truly innovative computer.

According to the posting on the ResetVector website, "Albert Computer said theirs was not a copy, but an improvement. The courts on the other hand, were not convinced and they ended up retreating. Despite their soft-boot method, perhaps they were just a few years too early as Video Technology (Laser Computer) managed to finally figure out how to do it and launch a product a year later”

You can read the entire story of the history of the computer at the reset vector website at:

http://resetvector.com/a2/33/albert-computer-a2-clone/

Tony has also added 19 photos of the Albert on the ResetVector Gallery.

By admin • Apple ][, Clones, Vintage • 0 • Tags: , ,

Jan 5 2012

Agat Emulator V.1.22 Released

The latest version of the Soviet era Agat computer emulator has been released.  The Agat is an Apple ][ compatible computer which was developed in the Soviet Union and runs a good number of Apple ][ titles.

Improvements in Version 1.22 are as follows:

  • Implemented floppy drive controller for Acorn Atom system.
  • Added support for extension ROMs for Acorn Atom.

The Agat Emulator is made for Win32 based systems and can be found here:

http://www.emucr.com/2012/01/agat-emulator-v122.html

By admin • Apple ][, Clones, Emulation, Emulators • 0 • Tags: , , ,

Oct 10 1984

Fighting The Fakes On Two Continents

Apple Inc has been awarded a preliminary injunction against a Las Angeles distributor of one of the copies of the Apple II computer being sold in the US. A judge of the US District Court in California enjoined Formula International, distributor of the “Pineapple” computer, from copying or selling any of Apple’s copyrighted software in the computer’s memory or on disk, specifically the Autostart ROM, Applesoft, DOS 3.3 and Integer BASIC.

The judge concluded that US copyright statutes cover programs stored in ROM, and said that Congress intended to include Operating Systems such as DOS under the protection granted by the copyright laws.

In a similar case between Apple and the Franklin Computer Corporation now pending in Philadelphia, a District Court judge found that ‘the intent of Congress is unclear on the computer software protection granted by US copyright laws.

Meanwhile Apple Australia have been granted a court order prohibiting Newcastle microcomputer dealer Microeductional from selling the “Golden II” and “Wombat” computers, which contain substantial amounts of Apple software in their ROMs. Commenting on the order, David Strong of Apple Australia said “We will continue our efforts to prevent the public being misled by Apple ‘look-a-likes’ which often do not have the same warranty protection as the genuine article. While we support suppliers of Apple-compatible products, we will continue to take whatever steps are necessary against products which infringe our copyright.”

(See ” Fake Apples” in this issue)

By AAR • Apple ][, Australian Apple Review, Clones, Documentation, Magazines, Vintage • 0 • Tags: , , , ,