Re: New IIgs owner.

[Stephen Shaw <xstephenx@apple2.org.za>]

On 16 Dec 2001 08:16:22 GMT, Supertimer wrote:

> Alex Eisenhut <eisenhut@technologist.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi everyone,
>>    I just got a IIgs off eBay with a 3.5 and 5.25 drive, keyboard,
>>mouse, no monitor. I'm new to this system and I have never worked with
>>Apple products before.
>>I need some resources to get this thing working!
>>I seem to be missing system disks. I understand I need something called
>>GS/OS System 6.0, I downloaded it but I have NO tools on the PC to work
>>with sit files, even less an idea how to get the files on to floppy. I
>>am looking on the Web, but there seems to be a lot less info on the GS
>>than on say the C64.
>>The IIgs does work, all I get is the Apple logo flying back and forth.
>>CTRL-big rectangular button throws me into some sort of monitor. I'd
>>like info on this as well!
>>Also where to get ROM images, I have v1.0.
>>Apple's site has less info than I'd like... Oh well. Do they still
>>copyright the IIgs stuff?
>>Thanks!
>
> Visit http://www.allelec.com/
>
> Give the IIGS a Focus hard disk drive from this place and a Sirius
> RAM card (at least 4MB and up to 8MB) and you got it made.
>
> Also, you'll want the AppleColor RGB monitor for the IIGS from
> the same place eventually.  You will never experience the IIGS
> the way it was intended without these items or equivalent.
>
> Lastly, plug a good set of amplified speakers into the headphone
> port on the back of the IIGS.  The IIGS has an Ensoniq sound
> chip.  A later version of this chip is used in the Creative AudioPCI
> card for PCs (Creative bought Ensoniq).

Only one problem with this the Apple socket is 3.6mm stereo jack whereas
most PC amplified speakers are 3.5mm (Japanese standard) plugs. Consequently,
you get weird problems like sound only from one speaker or no sound at all,
yes that 0.1mm makes a difference. The only solution I've found has been to
take a pair of needle nose pliers and, very gently, tweak the bulb at the end
of the plug so that it enters the socket at a bit of an angle thereby making
the connection.
I have never seen a 3.6mm stereo jack plug on sale - although having said that 
someone will find it on Google :)
 
>
> Lastly, if you have an old 14.4 or 28.8 external modem, you can
> get a modem cable from this same place for the IIGS and use it.
> Any old PC *external* modem will do.
>
> Um...the Focus drive comes with software.  I assume that's what
> you mean by "ROMs."  In the Apple world, ROM means the
> same thing as BIOS in the PC world so don't use ROM to talk
> about software here.  ;-)

-- 
... Back when I was a boy, we carved our own ICs out of wood.