Re: Help needed concerning IIGS

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <351EA19C.89775DA8@on-line.de>, Ole Voss  <joker@on-line.de> wrote:
>most of my time I've been playing around with the //e - and the IIGS was
>a little out of reach - now I can finally extend my hobby, but I
>desperately need some infos concerning the IIGS hardware.

   I invite you to read the comp.sys.apple2 Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ) at http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/csa2.html It answers this
question in section 2.6 on the Apple IIGS; the many other sections
will probably answer future questions.

>What is the difference between the ROMS 01 - 03, which is the latest,
>and is it basically possible to take any board and put newer ROMs in it?

   The ROM 00 is the oldest, and is quite incompatible with System
Software written since about 89 or so. Go to http://www.allelec.com/
and purchase an upgrade from an 00 to 01 if you have one of
those. Further, that system software makes the ROM 01 and 3 appear
virtually indistinguishable to pretty much all apps except for a few
oddball demos. [The ROM 01 is the most compatible setup for all apps.]

   Despite the name, it is *NOT* merely a chipswap from a ROM 00/01 to
the ROM 3. It is an entire motherboard swapout. As many people are
getting confused by this thing due to Apple's poor terminology, lemme
repeat it: There is no ROM 3 chip to plug into a ROM 00/01
motherboard.  The ROM 3 motherboard has more RAM onboard (1.125MB vs
256K), but as you really need to put 2 (minimum) to 4MB (recommended) in
a GS to take full advantage of it, that RAM upgrade is barely worth it.

   My recommendation is to get a ROM 01, and instead of spending extra
for a ROM 3 with dubious extra features, spend the $ instead on adding
RAM and a HD. That's far more bang for the buck in the long run.

Nathan Mates
--
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.visi.com/~nathan/      <*>
# What are the facts? Again and again and again-- what are the _facts_?
# Shun wishful thinking, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors
# think-- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? -R.A. Heinlein