So I managed to get a CFFA3000 card from someone. Should be labeled CFFA-USB-3000. At first when it came, the person included a CF card (I forgot how big they were) and I realized I don't have a CF card reader/writer for my Mac. Then I started reading the manual. I could use a USB key!!!! A couple of hours later copying down the Azimov image archive over FTP (26+gb, ok I grabbed the whole thing I can clean it up later), I was in business.
I really don't use my Apple II plus that much other than with the Willegal superproto board to test ram chips for my Altair and Sol-20 systems that I am restoring (Don't worry I haven't left my Apple-1 stuff behind, stay tuned for a posting very soon). But I managed to grab a nice 1976 Sony 9" trinitron TV that matches the Apple II plus so well, I decided it's time to play some games. I have a limited amount of disks, so the addition of the CFA3000 card changes the whole thing....
It brought tears to my eyes when I heard the "Sea Dragon" talking screen. The memories of playing it at Camp Watonka in Hawley Pensylvania as a kid. Funny enough it brought back memories of dirt bike riding, camping and shooting in the woods.
I even loaded a bunch of those Learning Company games and showed one of my kids, this is what educational games were before you had to have the best graphics and sound. Basically when the game taught you something and not overwhelmed the senses.
I can't believe how this simple card has transformed the machine sitting in the corner of my office. Unlike the Apple-1 where I enjoy the loading off an iPod or cassette, the Apple II really came into it's own with a floppy drive, but 30+ year old media makes me cringe when I have to use it because I don't want it wearing out.... This solves everything!!!!
Oh well off to play Bill Budge Pinball Construction set!!!
Cheers,
Corey
Yeah, I have two of them, one in my //e Platinum, and one in my IIgs. SCSI cards are so high priced, but, the CFFA is so much better. Not to mention that you don't have to worry about mechanical failure. We use some MPEG encoding equipment at work, and we bought all new encoders. The old ones had 64mb and 256mb CF cards. Guess where they all ended up when the equipment was taken out.
I have probably 100 of them, so I'm set. Glad you got one.
CFFA rocks hard!
Typically games that are good tend to "associate themselves automatically" with other good times in your younger years. For me, it was reading and learning about the space program, going to the planetarium, playing Star Raiders (Atari 800), and subLogic A2-FS1. A nice package of good times.
I also agree that today's tablet-based games, educational or not, are little more than collections of distractions.