Hardware Guides

The Brain Board II: Bringing Integer BASIC and Apple 1 emulation to your Apple IIe/II+ with a single card

I have released an updated ROM for the Brain Board II, with the focus on making it a true dual purpose card. This allows a user (especially with known good Applesoft BASIC roms / IIe system ROMs in their system) to bring Wozaniam (Apple 1) mode and Integer BASIC to a system with one card, and also always leave the systems own ROM space usable. This is nice if you have a system already nearly full of expansion cards and your ROM version is happy as-is, since previously to have both integer and applesoft BASIC with this card, you had to disable your system ROMs entirely.

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The chaotic shambles of EPROM voltages, from 2708 through 2764

Early EPROMs required an unruly assortment of positive and negative power supplies, variously different programming voltages, an assortment of programming voltages.  And they adopted inconsistent part numbering schemes to distinguish these features.

Most surprisingly -- and irritatingly -- manufacturers gradually switched to elevated power supply voltages during programming.  So a 1977 Intel 2716 can be programmed with VCC=5 volts, whereas a 1988 AMD 2716 requires VCC=6 volts during programming.  And Texas Instruments's horribly-complicated TM2716 requires VCC=12 volts during programming!

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Prototype Clear TAM Trackpad

Thought people might want to see a picture of this. I was passed this from a friend.

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Cracking Open the Time Capsule

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An in-depth look at Apple's Time Capsule: how to get more room for backups, and a cooler, quieter-running Time Capsule with a single upgrade.

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iBook G4 12 inch Logic Board Issues - The definitive Guide

Chances are that if you're reading this, you have an iBook that isn't working properly. For the last two years, I have been supporting a deployment of 2k plus iBook G4 12 inch computers. If there is an issue that could rear its head on these machines, chances are good that I have found it. I'm going to break this guide up into a few sections - symptom charts, what parts work in what machines, and whether it's worth doing the work yourself. I will refer you to the excellent take apart guides that the folks at www.pbfixit.com have available.

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Fixing the Epson 'Prints Blank Pages' Problem

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A number of Epson inkjet printers suffer from a problem where they eventually print nothing but blank pages, even with new ink tanks. Here's a way to try to fix the problem.

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Intel Mac mini: Take Apart Guide (RAM & HD)


This guide describes how to take apart the Intel Mac mini and upgrade the RAM and hard drive.

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3.5" hard drive on laptop/Mac Mini internal IDE

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Want a cheap way to add storage and speed to a stationary laptop that might not have Firewire or USB 2.0? Disappointed that your Mac mini uses a puny little laptop hard drive? If you've got a desktop hard drive that you'd like to connect to either of these, it's possible with a little work.

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Repairing the PowerBook 5300


A design flaw in this PowerBook inevitably leads to a flakey power connector. Learn how to repair it.

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Building a Case for the Replica I

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In this detailed tutorial, Larry Nelson explains how to make a traditional-style Replica I case out of Birch and Walnut.

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