When do you really know you are successful? When tour competition copies your products! Just ask IBM about the PC. Recently, I presented few co-processor add-on cards for the Apple // and described the Z-80 SoftCard as a cash cow for Microsoft. Guess what. The SoftCard has been copied many times, sometimes down to the electronic component and the board layout. The SPAOE (an SPAO also existed) is a good example of such forgery. The manufacturer even shaved off few cents here and there, but without touching up the PCB or silkscreen. 37 years later, it gives us some very collectible Apple // paraphernalia!
