Re: Apple Computer, What Are You Up To?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Randy Shackelford <shack@onyx.southwind.net> wrote:

>Forrest <bctimes@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>:>It's accurate as is. A //c plus can't run any software that won't run on a
>:>//c, and isn't any more expandable. And the same for a ROM 3 IIgs as opposed
>:>to a ROM 01. And in each case, Apple didn't offer an upgrade since it 
wasn't
>:>cost effective in their estimation.
>
>: Price of upgrading ROM 1 to ROM 3 capabilities: $0.00 (cost of system
software)
>: Price of upgrading IIc to IIc+ capabilities: ~$300.00 (cost of zip chip +
unidisk)

Actually, you can't duplicate the IIc+ at any price.  It can use a regular
Apple 3.5" drive, not just UniDisks.  BIG difference.

>
>: Pretty big difference between IIc and IIc+.
>
>The //c and //c plus have less of a gap in capability than that between a
>ROM 01 and a ROM 3 IIgs. There is nothing a //c plus can do that a //c 
>cannot. But there are several features on a ROM 3 which can't be duplicated
>on a ROM 01. The ability to put Appletalk in slots other than 7 is worth
>the trouble of upgrading alone. Then there's the boot from Appletalk option,
>the ability to put a VOC in any slot, resizing the RAM disk without power
>cycling, full support for extended keyboards, easy access built in, more
>DMA friendly memory, slightly faster floppy controller, and more toolsets
>in ROM.
>
>Apple attempted to downplay the differences between each in order to justify
>not giving an upgrade path. I could more easily make do with a //c instead
>of a //c plus than going back to a ROM 01.

So when it all boils down, what are the two biggest differences FROM
THE USER'S POINT OF VIEW between ROM 01 and ROM 3 IIGS?
I think this has got to be the AppleTalk Slot 1/7 thing and more memory.

Meanwhile, the IIc Plus can use hardware that the IIc can't and I mean
can't as in can't no matter how you upgrade it.  You can upgrade the
ROM 01 IIGS to be almost entirely like the ROM 3 by running the
current GS/OS and adding more memory, but you can't do that with the
IIc and get it to accept a regular Apple 3.5" drive.  You can transplant
a ROM 3 motherboard into a ROM 01 case and upgrade.  You can't
do that by transplanting a IIc Plus motherboard into a IIc case because
the motherboard won't fit.

By completely upgrading the disk controller, speed, and ports on the
back of the IIc Plus, Apple made a computer that is a BIG paradigm
shift from the IIc.  For sure, they made life a lot easier for the user
looking for drives and cables for the unit.