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

[Dain Neater <dneater@inebraska.com>]

Blake,
  I pretty much did the same thing as you.  I used to own a //e years ago
and a rich friend of mine had a Rom 00 IIgs(eventually upgraded to run
AppleWorks GS and DungeonMaster).   But after I left for school we mostly
used a 286 PC to connect to the School's network, mainly because at the time
I didn't even have a term program on my //e, and I didn't know that the
online community even existed.  I tried various emulators out there,  but
nothing really worked for me.  It wasn't enough so I bought a IIgs used, and
gradually started adding parts to it.  It was a lot of fun, and then I
started to remember how much fun I had on my best friends GS and my //e.

 One thing though, is that many people all have differing opinions on the
matter.  I know people who are against the emulation thing, and I know many
who do accept it,though, as it gives people another tool, like developers
who can compile a program in a fraction of the time. Minutes instead of
hours.  Many of these individuals  have been with their //gs's since the
beginning and that they still have their machine and they have been through
all the upgrading and the "fun" that we are having maxing out our machines.
(Of course they paid a lot more for it.  For instance a 3.5" drive cost
nearly $500.00 back in '86.)  I for one have a Powerbook G3(which can run an
emulated GS upwards in the 30-40mhz range), therefore I have about the
closest thing to a Portable GS that there is.  It isn't perfect, by any
means, and I would rather use my real GS, but it does open up doors that
were previously closed. For instance, I can browse the web and switch over
and type on AppleWorks.
 
Apple killed the II, and with it, any hopes that the machine we enjoy will
be upgraded, therefore the only viable option(IMHO) for upgrading and
extending the abilities of my favorite computer left is through software. I
guess it just depends on what you like to do.  I personally like to  tinker
with the hardware and the software, and I like the ability to take my GS to
work, so I will use both Bernie, and my real GS.

As long as I can still find hardware for it, I will continue to upgrade my
IIgs.   In the meantime, I can trust that if my hard disk dies, or my ram
card fails, or my transwarp GS fries and motherboard dies, I can turn to
Bernie, and use it.

So in response, I support use of both.  I think emulation is good

Dain Neater

Support those, who support the ][.  Money talks.


> From: Blake Patterson <blake@blakespot.com>
> Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
> Date: Fri, 07 Jan 2000 13:01:29 GMT
> Subject: So, what do you think?  real IIgs or emulated IIgs?
> 
> 
> 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.
> 
> 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.
> 
> 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.
> 
> I guess this explains why I spent ~$100 on a full IIgs system, and in
> less than two tweeks had gotten so carried away with the expansion thing
> that I've spent another $500 in adding everything to this machine.  But
> it's great fun, etc.  I just don't think I'd be spending most of my free
> time (these past few weeks, my wife could angrily vouch for this...)
> getting deep down into an emulated IIgs.
> 
> So...I was hoping for some discussion here.  Opinions?  Great.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> bp
> -- 
> "Heisenberg may have slept here."