Re: IIgs / Duo Disk / Monitor 100 compatibility question

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

Greg Cifu <gcifuREMOVETHISSTUFF@hughesANDTHISSTUFF.net> wrote:

> I just picked up a IIe with the Apple GS upgrade kit. I was stunned to
> learn that the upgrade was not just a bottom panel and motherboard
> replacement (as I was led to believe) but also included a new lid with a
> purpose designed IIGS logo to replace the IIe and a more modern Apple logo
> as well.

The lid and upper part of the case (all the plastic bits) are from the
original IIe.  The IIgs upgrade kit consisted of a replacement base/back
panel, motherboard, and the new IIgs sticker to replace the IIe one.

> What I want to do with it is a complete "beige" retro GS. In keeping with
> that theme I'd like to use a DuoDisk and my motorized tilt monitor...which
> leads me to the questions:
> 
> Will the GS motherboard control the DuoDisk right from the motherboard or
> must I install the card (seems like a waste of a port)? If it will, can I
> cascade a 3.5 either before or after it?

In theory, the IIgs will control a DuoDisk quite happily.  However,
there is a minor hardware incompatibility between some DuoDisks and the
IIgs motherboard.  I'm sure Nathan's FAQs will have information on this
(I've never used a DuoDisk and rarely seen one, so I haven't made any
notes on this).  You might also need an adaptor cable, since I believe
the DuoDisk has a larger connector than the UniDisk (not for any useful
reason).

As far as a 3.5" drive goes: no problem, just make sure the 3.5" drive
goes first (there is no daisy-chain port on the DuoDisk anyway, so you
have no choice).  If you want to connect both an Apple 3.5 Drive and a
UniDisk 3.5, the Apple 3.5 Drive must go first.  In all cases, the 5.25"
drives go last.

> Same question on the monitor. If memory serves me it's the Color Monitor
> 100 and features the motorized tilt. It uses a dedicated RGB card and a
> similar cable to the GS. Will the GS directly drive that monitor or must I
> also install the card?

If this is a digital RGB monitor that works with Apple's RGB extended
80-column card, then it cannot be used at all on the IIgs, to my
knowledge.

You cannot plug IIe auxiliary slot cards into the IIgs (there is no
auxiliary slot), and the built-in RGB port only supports analog RGB
monitors with TV horizontal scan frequency (something like 15.75 kHz).

The most common monitors that worked with this were the IIgs version of
the AppleColor RGB monitor, plus the Amiga 1080 and I think also the
Atari ST monitor of the same generation.  You cannot use a
VGA-compatible monitor, unless it is an old multisync model that can
cope with such a low horizontal scan frequency (VGA is 30 kHz or
higher).  No Macintosh monitor works either.

> I'm pretty sure there wasn't an appropriate beige ADB mouse or 3.5" drive
> but hey, I can always use the yellowed ones in my collection, right? ;-)

No 3.5" drive comes to mind (apart from the early Macintosh ones, and
they don't work on the IIgs without a third-party card, and even then
are a nuisance because they have no eject button).

As for the mouse: you can plug a IIe mouse card into the IIgs, and use
that (instead of an ADB mouse).  Just put the mouse card into slot 4,
and set slot 4 in the Control Panel to "Your Card" instead of "Mouse
Port".  (It will probably work in any slot, but some software might be
expecting slot 4.)  The firmware and toolbox in the original IIgs
motherboard (ROM 0 or ROM 1) supports a IIe mouse even in native
software.

(The 1MB IIgs, also known as ROM 3, only supports an ADB mouse in native
software.  8-bit software will use the ADB mouse if slot 4 is set to
"Mouse Port", or will use a IIe mouse card if present and enabled; if
slot 4 is set to "Your Card" and there is no mouse card installed, then
you have no mouse in 8-bit software.  This motherboard isn't very useful
in a IIe case, because it has no connectors for the keyboard or numeric
keypad.)

> Heck, I have a Profile and controller card. I might just go to the trouble
> of installing that instead of SCSI just to complete the beige-hardware /
> new-meets-old ensemble. What do you think?

You might need a ROM upgrade for the ProFile card to get it to work in
the IIgs, but otherwise no problem (5 MB isn't really enough to run much
in the way of useful software on the IIgs).

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