Re: IIgs RAM card Question

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

"John King" <joki@eskimo.com> wrote:

>Thanks Wayne.
>
>What is the difference between this card and an Apple card for the //e?

Mainly the fact that the IIe treats the memory as an 8-bit
computer would and the IIGS treats its memory as a
16-bit computer with a 24-bit address would.  The IIe can
only see 64k of memory at once, so larger memory cards
divide the memory into banks and the IIe switches
between these to access memory beyond the first 64k
bank.  This limits the things it can do with the memory
somewhat although for skillfully programmed applications
like AppleWorks, the technique is pretty transparent from
the user's point of view.

The IIGS is different.  Its CPU can see 16MB of memory
at once.  Not surprisingly, the IIGS is much more flexible
from a programmer's point of view and this is one reason
why you see more interesting software for the IIGS than
for the other Apple IIs.

1MB on a IIe is really 16 banks of 64k.  1MB on a IIGS
is 1MB.