Was the Spartan by Mimic Systems a real product?












5















I was flipping through an old copy of RUN magazine and came across an advertisement for a product called "The Spartan" produced by Mimic Systems. I had forgotten about this product completely, but I remember lusting after one when I was in high school.



Here is a copy of the advert:



enter image description here



All these years later, I have to wonder if this product really ever existed or if it was just vaporware? I have never seen an actual Spartan in real life. I have never seen one on any auction site I track. Frankly, if it really exists, I want one for my collection!



Does anyone have any first hand experience with this device? Did it actually exist, and if so, did it live up to it's claims?






commodore-64 apple-ii







share|improve this question



























    5















    I was flipping through an old copy of RUN magazine and came across an advertisement for a product called "The Spartan" produced by Mimic Systems. I had forgotten about this product completely, but I remember lusting after one when I was in high school.



    Here is a copy of the advert:



    enter image description here



    All these years later, I have to wonder if this product really ever existed or if it was just vaporware? I have never seen an actual Spartan in real life. I have never seen one on any auction site I track. Frankly, if it really exists, I want one for my collection!



    Does anyone have any first hand experience with this device? Did it actually exist, and if so, did it live up to it's claims?






    commodore-64 apple-ii







    share|improve this question

























      5












      5








      5








      I was flipping through an old copy of RUN magazine and came across an advertisement for a product called "The Spartan" produced by Mimic Systems. I had forgotten about this product completely, but I remember lusting after one when I was in high school.



      Here is a copy of the advert:



      enter image description here



      All these years later, I have to wonder if this product really ever existed or if it was just vaporware? I have never seen an actual Spartan in real life. I have never seen one on any auction site I track. Frankly, if it really exists, I want one for my collection!



      Does anyone have any first hand experience with this device? Did it actually exist, and if so, did it live up to it's claims?






      commodore-64 apple-ii







      share|improve this question














      I was flipping through an old copy of RUN magazine and came across an advertisement for a product called "The Spartan" produced by Mimic Systems. I had forgotten about this product completely, but I remember lusting after one when I was in high school.



      Here is a copy of the advert:



      enter image description here



      All these years later, I have to wonder if this product really ever existed or if it was just vaporware? I have never seen an actual Spartan in real life. I have never seen one on any auction site I track. Frankly, if it really exists, I want one for my collection!



      Does anyone have any first hand experience with this device? Did it actually exist, and if so, did it live up to it's claims?






      commodore-64 apple-ii




      commodore-64 apple-ii






      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question











      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question










      asked 5 hours ago









      Geo...Geo...

      2,352523




      2,352523






















          1 Answer
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          7














          It appears to have really existed. Here's a page with a manual PDF and EPROM images, and another with pictures and an account by the head of software development for the product.



          From those pages, it seems to have sort of worked, since there was an Apple II clone in the box, but it was easy to mess up the disk drives, and it was never popular.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

            – Ross Ridge
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

            – Geo...
            4 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

            – Raffzahn
            2 hours ago











          Your Answer








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          1 Answer
          1






          active

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          active

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          active

          oldest

          votes









          7














          It appears to have really existed. Here's a page with a manual PDF and EPROM images, and another with pictures and an account by the head of software development for the product.



          From those pages, it seems to have sort of worked, since there was an Apple II clone in the box, but it was easy to mess up the disk drives, and it was never popular.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

            – Ross Ridge
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

            – Geo...
            4 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

            – Raffzahn
            2 hours ago
















          7














          It appears to have really existed. Here's a page with a manual PDF and EPROM images, and another with pictures and an account by the head of software development for the product.



          From those pages, it seems to have sort of worked, since there was an Apple II clone in the box, but it was easy to mess up the disk drives, and it was never popular.






          share|improve this answer



















          • 2





            I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

            – Ross Ridge
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

            – Geo...
            4 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

            – Raffzahn
            2 hours ago














          7












          7








          7







          It appears to have really existed. Here's a page with a manual PDF and EPROM images, and another with pictures and an account by the head of software development for the product.



          From those pages, it seems to have sort of worked, since there was an Apple II clone in the box, but it was easy to mess up the disk drives, and it was never popular.






          share|improve this answer













          It appears to have really existed. Here's a page with a manual PDF and EPROM images, and another with pictures and an account by the head of software development for the product.



          From those pages, it seems to have sort of worked, since there was an Apple II clone in the box, but it was easy to mess up the disk drives, and it was never popular.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 5 hours ago









          John DallmanJohn Dallman

          3,036715




          3,036715








          • 2





            I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

            – Ross Ridge
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

            – Geo...
            4 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

            – Raffzahn
            2 hours ago














          • 2





            I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

            – Ross Ridge
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

            – Geo...
            4 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

            – Raffzahn
            2 hours ago








          2




          2





          I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

          – Ross Ridge
          5 hours ago





          I can confirm actually seeing them in person, stacked up in a bin at a surplus store. I was tempted to get one, but I already had an Apple II clone I could use.

          – Ross Ridge
          5 hours ago




          1




          1





          Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

          – Geo...
          4 hours ago





          Wow, it's a shame you didn't buy the whole stack. After snooping around on ebay, these things are ridiculously priced - if you can find one at all.

          – Geo...
          4 hours ago




          1




          1





          Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

          – Raffzahn
          2 hours ago





          Yes, a friend owns one. He always teases me that his C64 can do everything my Apple II can do and has better graphics :))

          – Raffzahn
          2 hours ago


















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