IIgs Inquiry...Can any Apple Guru's help me out?

["Just Me" <justme@here.com>]

Hey All.....

I started on the original Apple II in Kindergarden in 1978...and just
recently when feeling a bout of nostalgia, I drove 6hrs and picked up a nice
IIgs system.

Around the time the IIgs was introduced my best friend got an XT and I moved
to the PC.  Now I am back to having fun with this little apple.  I have a
very technical background, but it is primarily PC.  This is a tad ironic
since my first name is "Mac".  *8)

It is pretty kicking from what limited knowledge I possess of the IIgs.
Runs at 10MHz and has 8MB of RAM and a 60MB HDD...dual 3.5" and a 5.25"
floppy.  My problem now...how do I get software to it.  Any PC-->Apple
software utils or cable designs I can find are all based towards any Apple
II EXCEPT the IIgs...

I have toyed with the idea of picking up an old Mac IIvx setup the local
apple shop has laying in the back.  They assure me it will read/write the
old 800K floppies and the standard disks I use on the PC.  The major
drawback is they tell me I cannot use my keyb/mouse/monitor from the
IIgs...now the monitor I expected, but I could have sworn the keyb/mouse
being ADB would work...no matter.  Its $100 I don't really want to spend.

I have tried fighting with various translation programs that claim to allow
me access to Mac volumes.  However, since this HDD is setup under ProDOS,
they all fail.  Any idea how I can mount a ProDOS volume via a Windows PC?

***IF YOU ARE SKIMMING, THIS IS THE PART TO READ***  Thanks  *8D

I still think I should be able to connect directly via the modem or printer
port on the IIgs to a serial or parallel port on my PC.  My biggest problem
here is being unable to find a source for 8pin DIN connectors...I have
purchased a "Mac to Imagewriter I" serial printer cable which is 8pin DIN to
DB25M...does anyone know if I can use this to connect an external modem to
my IIgs modem port - or better yet, throw a null modem adapter and a 25-9
reducer on it and hook up to my PC's serial port...which will then allow me
to use traditional comm software to move information to/from the IIgs.

Thanks in Advance...
Mac

mac@solarwinds.com