Re: Apple IIgs hardware questions (long, detailed, but worth it - I'm a convert!)

[mikew50@aol.com (MikeW50)]

>- I understand that ROM 01 is much more compatible with many games than
>ROM
>03.  Fair.  This leaves me with two choices - buy a ROM 01 machine, or buy
>a
>ROM 03 machine and find/beg/borrow a ROM 01 chip and replace it (is this
>possible?).  

No.

>- Can both the ROM 01 and ROM 03 machines be expanded to the full 8MB of
>possible RAM?

Yes.

>  If so, can it be added directly to the logic board, or does
>it require some sort of memory card?

It must be added via a card. On both machines, the RAM on the motherboard is
soldered, and the motherboard is fully populated.

>  If a memory card is needed, can the
>same one be used in either machine, and were there multiple models?
>(Particularly, did Apple make one, or was this strictly a 3rd-party thing?)
>Are memory expander cards expensive as hell?

You can use the same card in either machine.

Apple made a 1M model that could be filled in 256K increments. They made a 4M
model, too, but I don't know if they actually sold it. Most memory cards came
from other sources, though.

FWIW, 4M is enough for virtually anything on an Apple IIGS. The only exceptions
I can think of offhand are HyperStudio, HyperCard, and a few sound
applications--and all of them work in 4M for many projects.

You can get new memory cards from Alltech Electronics, among others. The last
time I looked, a 4M card was selling for about $130, but it's been a long time
since I looked. Try www.allelec.com.

>- Many systems I've seen come with one 3.5" and two 5.25" drives - would
>there be benefit to having a second 3.5" drive as well?

For games, probably not. For anything else, yes. You'll want either a second
3.5" drive or, preferably, a hard drive.

>- Did the Apple monitor "intended" for the GS only come in 12" varieties?

Yes.

>- What are my options as far as a hard drive?  Is it possible to get one
>mounted internally (ie a "hardcard")?  If not, do most external HDs for
>the
>GS come in a case?  What is required?  (I might prefer a Chinook CT100
>SmartPort drive just for "originality", but if they are woefully
>expensive/hard to find/slow, I'm open to SCSI...so what SCSI cards are
>available?  Is the Apple High Speed SCSI controller readily available? 
>Are
>these controllers SCSI-1 or SCSI-2?)

You can get internal hard drives. There are several varieties, but Alltech
Electronics os one of the few still available cmmercially. Check their site for
prices.

SCSI is an option, too. Apple made the most popular SCSI card. It works with
SCSI-1 (the original) drives. Keep in mind, though, that you'll end up
partitioning the drive into multiple 32M partitions, plus one big HFS
partition. You probably want the smallest drive you can find! :)

>- Accelerators - I want one.  If I've read correctly, there are basically
>only two to choose from, the TransWarp and the Zip, both of which seem about
>the same performance-wise.  Anyone have details on this, and what is their
>street value today?  Are they readily available?

I used the TransWarp, but both had followers. They are hard to come by, and
command whatever price people will pay.

>- If I don't have a Mac, what are my options as far as getting PC-side disk
>images to the GS?

Expensive and hard to find Macintosh drives for the PC, even more expensive and
hard to find PC drives and support hardware/software for the Apple IIGS, or
some form of wire--either modems, with upload/download or direct connection,
with fragile and finicky software.

The best solution is to invest $30-$70 in an old Macintosh Classic, or some
similar machine. It's a lot cheaper and more reliable than the alternatives!

>- Are third-party video cards like SecondSight really that big a deal? 

No.

>- Ditto with third-party sound cards like Doctor Design - why would you
>want
>one with an Ensoniq under the hood?  Would they not also require special
>software?

Most Apple IIGS sound cards concentrated on getting sound into the machine, not
out. The Ensoniq is quite good at producing sound, but the GS is not very adept
at recording sound. It's mono, low quality, and there is noise from the
motherboard.

>- If I wanted to plunk my ROM 03-logic-board-based system into a Woz Limited
>Edition case, would it work?  

Yes.

>Does anyone ever sell bare Woz cases?

Not that I've seen.

>Ideally, my IIgs system would be configured as follows (pardon my ignorance
>or mistakes, please):
>
>Apple IIgs CPU (Woz LE case and ROM 03 logic board with ROM 01 ROMs
>installed)

The ROM determines the motherboard.

>2 Apple 3.5" floppy drives (styled for GS)
>2 Apple 5.25" floppy drives (styled for GS)
>Apple color RGB monitor (styled for GS?)
>Apple ADB keyboard/mouse (came with the GS)
>Apple ImageWriter II printer (styled for GS?)
>Apple (?) fully-populated memory card (to give the system full 8MB RAM)

4M is probably enough. Apple did not make an 8M card, but you can find them if
you really want one.

>Hard drive, see above
>Accelerator, see above

Mike Westerfield