Re: Need help with setting up Apple2+ and Apple2e

[mfumu@alphalink.com.au (Bill Robbins)]

In article <19981220141219.12788.00001781@ng02.aol.com>,
supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer) wrote:

> "Compumad" <compumad@leesholme.freeserve.co.uk> wrote:
> 
> >I've just been given 4 Apple 2+ and 4 Apple2e base units.
> >I have no idea how to set them up as they come with no monitors.
> >They have no manuals or instructions either. If anyone can tell me how to
> >set these systems up I would be grateful.
> 
> http://www.allelec.com/ Alltech Electronics for floppy drives,
> hard drives, memory cards, and monitors.
> 
> By far the easiest thing to do is to get the $59 Focus drive,
> which has the System Software plus freewares and sharewares
> installed.
> 
> The II+ and IIe output composite video, so it is possible to
> use a VCR as a video output.  However, a genuine IIe
> monitor has greater resolution.  A VCR/TV will display
> fuzzy text.

BE CAREFUL not to get a lot of stuff you can't use.  My memory is very
hazy but I think the II+ has many limitations on what hardware and OS
software you can use with it.  It was DESIGNED to be used with Apple DOS
3.3 (or 3.2) and 5.25 inch disk drives only.  Furthermore it doesn't have
the same port connectors that the later drives came with.  That doesn't
mean that you can't use some more recent stuff with it.  I believe the
earlier versions of ProDOS 8 would work, but later ones would not at least
without some patching of the code.  Even AppleWorks 1.0 would not work, it
requires use of the Open Apple key which the II+ does not have.  There was
a patch program which allowed one to replace the Open Apple with the ESC
key, but who knows where to get a copy of it anymore.  I don't even
remember what it is called.  The lack of the Open and Solid Apple keys
would also be a problem for any other software taking advantange of those
features, although in some cases it might work to use the joystick buttons
if it wasn't too awkward.

As for the IIe, there were three major versions of this computer, and
again, not everything made for 8 bit Apple IIs will run on the earliest
version including, I believe the later versions of ProDOS 8.

Of course GS/OS (for the Apple IIGS) and all related software will not
work on any of your machines, this is probably the operating system which
comes on the Focus drive unless you are able to specifically request
otherwise.  True ProDOS 8 will be there as well but not in a configuration
which will boot.

Sorry I can't be more specific, and I certainly don't intend to discourage
you from putting those wonderful machines to use.  But I think it might be
a lot more discouraging to spend a lot of money only to discover that what
you get for it cannot be used with your computers.

Another reader might direct this person to the appropriate FAQ sites for
these computers.

Happy holidays.

Bill Robbins
mfumu@alphalink.com.au