Apple TechStep Replacement ROMs, cartridges, software, and more!

Elemenoh

Active Tinkerer
Oct 18, 2021
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BTW as a practical example of TechStep coming in handy, I used mine with one of the repro carts to test a mountain of 30-pin RAM SIMMs that had been sitting in a box. I was able to organize them all into sets of working and non-working by size within an hour or so.
 

retr01

Senior Tinkerer
Jun 6, 2022
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BTW as a practical example of TechStep coming in handy, I used mine with one of the repro carts to test a mountain of 30-pin RAM SIMMs that had been sitting in a box. I was able to organize them all into sets of working and non-working by size within an hour or so.

Can you please post pictures @Elemenoh? I am not sure if I follow you? :oops:
 

splorp

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Oct 31, 2021
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In other news, I just realized why I never got very far tinkering with my TechSteps … they all came with 240v adapters and I didn’t get around to digging a compatible 120v version out of my bins.

For completeness sake, does anybody have a spare 120v TechStep adapter to trade for a 240v?
 
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retr01

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Jun 6, 2022
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Hey @jajan547 or anyone else, do you have problems posting resource documents here on TD? I am struggling because after I uploaded the PDF file of the concept TechStep print ad I created for 1991, the server kept saying that I did not upload anything that I needed to upload or provide an external link???

I have tried contacting several admins and mods. No one is answering me. Am I doing something wrong when I try to upload the PDF file or is there a system problem with TD?

1658170794572.png
 

jajan547

Active Tinkerer
Mar 25, 2022
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Hey @jajan547 or anyone else, do you have problems posting resource documents here on TD? I am struggling because after I uploaded the PDF file of the concept TechStep print ad I created for 1991, the server kept saying that I did not upload anything that I needed to upload or provide an external link???

I have tried contacting several admins and mods. No one is answering me. Am I doing something wrong when I try to upload the PDF file or is there a system problem with TD?

Everything looks okay on my end @retr01. Also @splorp I know there’s one for $70 on eBay in box otherwise download the files on page one and there’s a resource showing what power supplies are compatible.
 

Elemenoh

Active Tinkerer
Oct 18, 2021
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You can test for bad ram in a machine so say you put a board and power supply on a work bench you can swap modules and the TechStep will identify good or bad even if they seem good.
Exactly. It's like turning the opened Mac+TechStep into a dedicated RAM module tester. I used a IIsi to test 30-pin SIMMs and a LCIII to test 72-pin SIMMs since it's so easy to remove and install modules on those models.
 

retr01

Senior Tinkerer
Jun 6, 2022
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The touchscreen is cheaper than a keypad and a screen nowadays. Why not touch screen?

I was thinking half the size length-wise due to smaller ICs unless PCB needs to accommodate circuitry that requires more spread out PCB?

I am about to create several concept print ads for the modern TechStep, so I wonder about the sizes.
 

pocketscience

Tinkerer
Apr 29, 2022
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Sydney, Australia
Very nice, although I don't think emoji's were "a thing" in 1991.. :)
In other news, I just realized why I never got very far tinkering with my TechSteps … they all came with 240v adapters and I didn’t get around to digging a compatible 120v version out of my bins.

For completeness sake, does anybody have a spare 120v TechStep adapter to trade for a 240v?
OMG - want to swap? I have 110 and need 240..!
 

jajan547

Active Tinkerer
Mar 25, 2022
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North Carolina, USA
The touchscreen is cheaper than a keypad and a screen nowadays. Why not touch screen?

I was thinking half the size length-wise due to smaller ICs unless PCB needs to accommodate circuitry that requires more spread out PCB?

I am about to create several concept print ads for the modern TechStep, so I wonder about the sizes.
We are still looking at screen the original tech step uses a membrane keypad now we want the roms on board so we will need switches or something of the sort like jumpers to choose a ROM. As far as screens go maybe touchscreen could work I'll see what's what.
 

JDW

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Pretty neat, @retr01!

Here are a few random thoughts (not trying in any way whatsoever to be critical, mind you)...
  • When it comes to the early 1990's, emoji's did not yet exist. Twitter and its character limit didn't exist then either, and people were not offended by a lot of text. As such, Apple ads back then contained quite a lot of text, wrapped around main product photos and screen grabs like this...

    AppleAd.jpg IIfx-Ad.jpg

  • Another possible title: "Take your first step toward Faster Service with TechStep."

  • "TechStep" makes me think of a digitized footprint. I doubt Apple would have used such a graphic back in the day, but that is simply one that comes to mind when I ponder the product name.
 
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jajan547

Active Tinkerer
Mar 25, 2022
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North Carolina, USA
Pretty neat, @retr01!

Here are a few random thoughts (not trying in any way whatsoever to be critical, mind you)...
  • When it comes to the early 1990's, emoji's did not yet exist. Twitter and its character limit didn't exist then either, and people were not offended by a lot of text. As such, Apple ads back then contained quite a lot of text, wrapped around main product photos and screen grabs like this...

    View attachment 6689 View attachment 6690

  • Another possible title: "Take your first step toward Faster Service with TechStep."

  • "TechStep" makes me think of a digitized footprint. I doubt Apple would have used such a graphic back in the day, but that is simply one that comes to mind when I ponder the product name.
The TechStep was originally called the TechTool and was later changed before entering market to the TechStep
 
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retr01

Senior Tinkerer
Jun 6, 2022
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Pretty neat, @retr01!

Here are a few random thoughts (not trying in any way whatsoever to be critical, mind you)...
  • When it comes to the early 1990's, emoji's did not yet exist. Twitter and its character limit didn't exist then either, and people were not offended by a lot of text. As such, Apple ads back then contained quite a lot of text, wrapped around main product photos and screen grabs like this...

    View attachment 6689 View attachment 6690

True. Yet, the TechStep concept print ad was created today more than 30 years later. I thought it would be a nice twist to add emojis. :)

I will create a few other concepts without the emojis and more graphics with text running around them.

  • Another possible title: "Take your first step toward Faster Service with TechStep."

  • "TechStep" makes me think of a digitized footprint. I doubt Apple would have used such a graphic back in the day, but that is simply one that comes to mind when I ponder the product name.

Thank you for your constructive feedback, @JDW. Very much appreciated! The footprints and tech. I think I can make that work. :D
 
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