Re: Whats wrong with ROM 0 anyway?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Martin Wilson writes ...
> 
> The Apple 2 GS I have has ROM 0, no ROM is mentioned at
> powerup. I also suspect it has the early faulty video chip
> as I ran Elite on it and there was colour fringes on the
> black and white action screen. The monitor I'm using is a
> 0.28mm multiscan and isn't the cause.
> 
> What disadvantages are there to having ROM 0?
>

     Evidently, one of them isn't running Elite. I've never been able to
get the game to run correctly on our ROM-01 GS-- it fails to wipe the
debris during battles. As for the fringing, Elite's display is going to
have some fringing just due to the way hires works. It's more noticeable
on an RGB monitor because the GS does a poor job of translating hires to
RGB. 

     One disadvantage of ROM-00 is that it is not compatible with System
software upgrades. That pretty well kills it.

 
> The computer seems fully usable but what problems should I
> expect?

     Mainly, you will be stuck with truly crummy versions of GS/OS and
will not be able to run lots of good software which requires some later
version.



Rubywand