Re: So, what do you think? real IIgs or emulated IIgs?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Blake Patterson <blake@blakespot.com> wrote:

>	I just wanted some feedback from the crowd.  I was in a chat on
>Delphi's A2 section when the subject of emulation came up (perhaps not
>too rare a thing over there).  There were those that much preferred the
>emulated IIgs--being able to run @ 15MHz or so right off on a PC or Mac.
> And emulation is much more solid today than it has been in the not so
>distant past--I must say the DOC emulation, for instance, is rather
>solid.  And I don't even have the latest Bernie, I believe.  One person
>made the statement "the Apple GS's future is emulation," or something to
>that effect.

This is true, but no emulator is perfect yet.  There is none
capable of 3200 color mode, for instance.  But emulation is
not the same as the feel of real hardware.  If it were all
about running software, then yes, emulation would suffice.
I mean, that's the beauty of owning a PowerMac these
days.  The PC emulation is so good that even if you hate
the PC, you can use the software of the PC.  Kind of like
poetic justice.

But those of us who really love the IIGS will want at least
one genuine IIGS unit and eventually, we'd fall to the siren
call that compels us to upgrade it to the max.

It is like the car enthusiast.  If you wanted to relive your
days in a Pontiac, would you really do that by getting the
hood ornament of a Pontiac and attaching it to your
Toyota?  Emulating is like pretending.  It serves its
purpose, but as long as there are working IIGS units,
there will be those who would want the real thing.

>	While it's clear that we'll not likely see more IIgs' rolling off the
>assembly line, and that the only increase in the number of "IIgs
>machines" would have to occurr people taking hold of IIgs emulator and
>diving into the scene, I must say that I am not a fan of the emulator. 
>For me, personally, I really enjoyed the Apple II as emulated by
>"ApplePC," an emulator that was MS-DOS based, and REALLY does and
>EXCELLENT job of emulating the machine (an 8-bit IIe/IIc/II+).  But that
>is becuase (and this will make people angry!) I did not expect anything
>out of that IIe expereience buy being able to play some old games
(>Conan, Rescue Raiers, Airheart, etc.)--and that worked out fine.  With
>the GS, however (I'm assembling a rather full-featured GS presently (not
>emulated!)), I am expecting more.

Me too.  There are so many things you can add to a
real IIGS because its hardware expansion capabilities
and support for hardware is so much broader.  When
I plug in newly reconfigured 200 watt PC power supply
to my IIGS and it powers up, it is so fun and rewarding.
You can't get that with an emulator.

>	Given that I am expecting more--not just looking to play a game or two,
>but looking to get into the whole experience of using the IIgs--the feel
>all the way around, I must say that the thought of doing it with an
>emulator, even tho it is lots faster and costs way less, just has no
>appeal at all.  Something about the real machine, even if it is going to
>run way slower, places it worlds above an emulated experience.  And it's
>more than just the feel of a GS keyboard and mouse--it's just the whole
>"I'm sitting in front of this fine machine" thing.  Actually adding
>boards into it.  Maybe, say, the TransWarp I found will only run at 7MHz
>- but I am holding it in my hand and will place it in the machine and
>fire it up, etc.  Zen and the Art of Apple IIgs Maintenance, etc.

Yes.  And even the add-on products can get tweaked.  It
becomes both a hobby and an art.  A 7Mhz TWGS, for
example, will eventually stare you in the eye and MAKE
you upgrade it to higher speeds.  Mine MADE me upgrade
it to 12.5Mhz, for example.  ;-)

Half the experience of using a IIGS is the hardware.  It is
like cars.  There are those who HAVE to do their own
maintenance because it is rewarding and fun.  Then
there are those who would rather not think of it and let
others do the maintenance.  I'm definitely in the former
category and so are most true IIGS enthusiasts, IMO.