Re: Apple II Csa2 FAQs Applications

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

> Supertimer writes ...
> > 
> > Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
> > 
> > >GS/OS- Originally called "ProDOS 16", today's installed GS/OS will
> > >usually be System 5.04 or System 6.0.1. System 5.04 is appropriate for
>  ....
> > 
> > According to Apple and A+ magazine, ProDOS 16 was a completely
> > separate operating system from GS/OS.  ProDOS 16 was a 16-bit
> > shell on top of the same old ProDOS 8 core.  It was 8-bit at heart.
> > GS/OS was a clean slate and pure 16-bit OS.  Perhaps Mike
> > Westerfield can shed more light on the distinction, but I'm almost
> > sure ProDOS 16 and GS/OS should be classified as two separate
> > and distinct operating systems.
>  ....
> 
>      Well, yes, there are many differences. On the other hand, the names
> and, generally, the function of major components (e.g. desk accessories,
> tools, ...) are similar as is the 'look' to the user when running a
> Finder.

See my other article.  The desk accessories and Mac-like desktop are
presented by the IIgs Toolbox, not by "ProDOS-16" or "GS/OS".  It is
just that most of the toolbox and new desk accessories are only
available under either of these operating systems.

>      The reason "ProDOS 16" is in quotes is that, from the start in
> 1986, that is what everyone called the OS. Later on, GS/OS arrived and
> we suddenly began to speak of ProDOS 16 as part of GS/OS. Apple
> eventually went back and renamed the old "ProDOS 16" and GS/OS versions
> as "System" this or that. All in all, kind of a mess.

Nope.  The only IIgs system software that wasn't called that on the disk
label was the original "MouseDesk 2.0" disk, which was officially Apple
IIgs System 1.0.  Every subsequent release was labelled "Apple IIgs
System x.x(.x)", and included whatever version of ProDOS-16 (later
GS/OS) and ProDOS-8 that were current at the time.

There was added confusion because the operating system splash screen
didn't indicate the System version until 6.0.

The public system releases that I know about are:

1.0, 1.1, 2.0, 3.1, 3.2 (all ProDOS-16, up to version 1.6)
4.0 (GS/OS 2.0)
5.0, 5.0.2, 5.0.3, 5.0.4 (GS/OS 3.0x)
6.0, 6.0.1 (GS/OS 4.0x)

System 5.0.1 was released, but didn't last long and wasn't widely
distributed.

I have official system disks for most of these (I don't have a full copy
of 3.1), which I bought from APDA at the time they were released.  I
wasn't a member of the developer program at the time, or I might have
got even more intermediate versions.

I created an AppleWorks spreadsheet a few years ago that lists all the
system releases, including the version numbers of each of the major
components.  It was posted on comp.binaries.apple2 at the time, and I
believe it made its way onto at least one of the FTP sites.

-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand