Louis Ohland wrote:

https://web.archive.org/web/20021209112019/https://www.macgeek.org/museum/trackstarplus/

IBMMuseum wrote:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/162829945281

Did we get any images (of the microchannel version) when this auction
was live?...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

There are a few sites showing the 8-bit (ISA) version - including this one (the pictures show a Model 30 286). No images (or ADF listed) for the microchannel version. I'm just wondering if people were initially confused that the listed "PS/2 Model 25 and
30 compatible!" (there's a neat Model 25 internal cable included with the adapter) to think there was a microchannel version too.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

R022TRKSTAR.TXT https://mirrors.apple2.org.za/apple.cabi.net/FAQs.and.INFO/A2.Csa2.FAQs/R022TRKSTAR.TXT

Louis Ohland wrote:

Louis Ohland wrote:

https://web.archive.org/web/20021209112019/https://www.macgeek.org/museum/trackstarplus/


IBMMuseum wrote:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/162829945281

Did we get any images (of the microchannel version) when this auction
was live?...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

https://books.google.com/books?id=HXDkCoqMiVIC&pg=RA1-PA12&lpg=RA1-PA12&dq=%22trackstar+plus%22+apple&source=bl&ots=foUXUL8Jin&sig=ACfU3U1bgWNAIb5fQ_khGiQOUcL1wwen3A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwih5aO_5v3_AhVilYkEHYmRDDU4FBDoAXoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=%22trackstar%
20plus%22%20apple&f=false

IBMMuseum wrote:

I've waded through pages on the various 8-bit versions - but haven't found either an ADF or image of the microchannel version. Pictures, or it didn't happen. It was a thing to convert your PC, XT, Tandy 1000 ('uxwbill' video), or PS/2 Model 25 and 30

to act like an Apple II - but would businesses do that with a microchannel system? The lack of a known ADF is incriminating; All references to microchannel seem to come from a single source.

'Vintage Geek' also did a video a year ago of installing an adapter on an 80886-based Model 30 (just like Clint did for a portion of the video released today)...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

I've waded through pages on the various 8-bit versions - but haven't found either an ADF or image of the microchannel version. Pictures, or it didn't happen. It was a thing to convert your PC, XT, Tandy 1000 ('uxwbill' video), or PS/2 Model 25 and 30 to
act like an Apple II - but would businesses do that with a microchannel system? The lack of a known ADF is incriminating; All references to microchannel seem to come from a single source.

'Vintage Geek' also did a video a year ago of installing an adapter on an 80886-based Model 30 (just like Clint did for a portion of the video released today)...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

https://archive.org/details/DiamondComputerSystems_TrackstarBrochure/mode/2up?q=%22trackstar+plus%22+apple

Louis Ohland wrote:

https://books.google.com/books?id=HXDkCoqMiVIC&pg=RA1-PA12&lpg=RA1-PA12&dq=%22trackstar+plus%22+apple&source=bl&ots=foUXUL8Jin&sig=ACfU3U1bgWNAIb5fQ_khGiQOUcL1wwen3A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwih5aO_5v3_AhVilYkEHYmRDDU4FBDoAXoECAIQAw#v=onepage&q=%

22trackstar%20plus%22%20apple&f=false

IBMMuseum wrote:

I've waded through pages on the various 8-bit versions - but haven't
found either an ADF or image of the microchannel version. Pictures, or
it didn't happen. It was a thing to convert your PC, XT, Tandy 1000
('uxwbill' video), or PS/2 Model 25 and 30 to act like an Apple II -
but would businesses do that with a microchannel system? The lack of a
known ADF is incriminating; All references to microchannel seem to
come from a single source.

'Vintage Geek' also did a video a year ago of installing an adapter on
an 80886-based Model 30 (just like Clint did for a portion of the
video released today)...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

"(but not Micro Channel PS/2)" being the critical phrase, in a publication from Fall 1989 - I think a single-source got confused about the bus type of a Model 25 and 30 and it populated out that there was a microchannel version (or that it never hit the
wild).

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Imagine that...

Still, ISA suggests it could be brought over to MCA.

IBMMuseum wrote:

"(but not Micro Channel PS/2)" being the critical phrase, in a publication from Fall 1989 - I think a single-source got confused about the bus type of a Model 25 and 30 and it populated out that there was a microchannel version (or that it never hit

the wild).


--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

The chart listing the Trackstar Plus as having a microchannel version (why not name that product differently for being so unique?) appears to have been compiled (and is repeated elsewhere) from unofficial sources - with the coincidence that the PS/2
Model 25 has to use the same Trackstar Plus version (because the model-specific video cable is only included with that product); I think the compiler wasn't familiar and grouped all PS/2s as being microchannel. We have seen that time and again.

No known ADF - and more official information in computer magazines say that the Trackstar products can't be used in "Micro Channel PS/2s".

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 08-07-2023 01:55, IBMMuseum wrote:

I've waded through pages on the various 8-bit versions - but haven't found either an ADF or image of the microchannel version. Pictures, or it didn't happen. It was a thing to convert your PC, XT, Tandy 1000 ('uxwbill' video), or PS/2 Model 25 and 30

to act like an Apple II - but would businesses do that with a microchannel system? The lack of a known ADF is incriminating; All references to microchannel seem to come from a single source.

'Vintage Geek' also did a video a year ago of installing an adapter on an 80886-based Model 30 (just like Clint did for a portion of the video released today)...

On the page Louis mentioned:

https://web.archive.org/web/20021209112019/https://www.macgeek.org/museum/trackstarplus/

the author says (Errata #2 at the bottom):

"11/19/2002 - Major confusion! The machine I'm actually using is an IBM PS/2 Model 30/286. Earlier, I assumed the machine was a Model 55SX, based on reading the front of the case. A reader from comp.sys.apple2 mentioned that the 55SX is actually a micro
channel (MCA) model, and not an ISA. That concerned me big-time! So after cross-referencing several of the parts in the machine via its FRU numbers, it ends up that the machine is indeed a Model 30/286, but in an Model 55SX case. How this occurred is
beyond me! I received the machine from a local hospital after their Y2K clean-up, so anything could have happened to it during its 11-year lifespan."

That would explain the MCA-confusion...

--
Jelte,
Admirer of the letter of IBM with blue Ishiki

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Bless your eyes, nice to know somebody READS the stuff I encounter and evaluates it for relevance...

Chet Heath wills it!

JWR wrote:

On 08-07-2023 01:55, IBMMuseum wrote:

I've waded through pages on the various 8-bit versions - but haven't
found either an ADF or image of the microchannel version. Pictures, or
it didn't happen. It was a thing to convert your PC, XT, Tandy 1000
('uxwbill' video), or PS/2 Model 25 and 30 to act like an Apple II -
but would businesses do that with a microchannel system? The lack of a
known ADF is incriminating; All references to microchannel seem to
come from a single source.

'Vintage Geek' also did a video a year ago of installing an adapter on
an 80886-based Model 30 (just like Clint did for a portion of the
video released today)...

On the page Louis mentioned:

https://web.archive.org/web/20021209112019/https://www.macgeek.org/museum/trackstarplus/

the author says (Errata #2 at the bottom):

"11/19/2002 - Major confusion! The machine I'm actually using is an IBM
PS/2 Model 30/286. Earlier, I assumed the machine was a Model 55SX,
based on reading the front of the case. A reader from comp.sys.apple2 mentioned that the 55SX is actually a micro channel (MCA) model, and not
an ISA. That concerned me big-time! So after cross-referencing several
of the parts in the machine via its FRU numbers, it ends up that the
machine is indeed a Model 30/286, but in an Model 55SX case. How this occurred is beyond me! I received the machine from a local hospital
after their Y2K clean-up, so anything could have happened to it during
its 11-year lifespan."

That would explain the MCA-confusion...

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)