Re: Please Help w/purchase.

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

Geoff wrote:
> 1..Has anyone had good dealings with a specific company that sells
> outdated supplies/computers?

Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/) is very reputable
and will steer you in the right direction.  Sun Remarketing is
also good (http://www.sunrem.com/), but is a bit on the expensive
side.  Both sell warranteed reconditioned systems.  Sun
Remarketing even has a separate returns warehouse where they
will promptly ship you a working unit if the one you bought from
them was defective, but Alltech seems to be more knowledgable
with the Apple II series and make their own hardware (a hardcard
and 8MB SIMM card) for the GS.

Note: these places sell hardware at "bluebook" value, not the
dirt cheap prices found at thrift shops or the marketplace
newsgroup, but you are almost guaranteed to be satisfied with
the results.  Many people including myself have been burned in
trade with less scrupulous sources (ie. the marketplace).

> 
> 2..It's my understanding that I want a IIGS with a ROM 03 in it, and yet I
> mostly see people selling IIGSs with ROM 01.  Is there a big difference
> between the 2? More preciseley, can anyone tell me the major differences
> between the two.  I understand the board w/ROM 03 comes w/1 meg of ram
> soldered on.  Other than that i didn't see anything in the FAQ regarding
> the differences.  I could of overlooked it, afterall it's like 90 pages :)
> Cool FAQ btw, for this newsgroup..

I've used both.  Personally, I prefer the ROM 3.  It has better
AppleTalk connectivity (don't have to give up two slots), built in
EasyAccess tools that are not as buggy as the on-disk ones for
the ROM 01, more memory built in and more total memory DMA-able
with an Apple HS SCSI card, and a slightly faster QuickDraw.

Some say that very, very old hardcoded GS software won't run
on a ROM 03, but I've found that the best FTA stuff have ROM 03
versions and NinjaForce has an install that will let their
MegaDemo run on a ROM 03.  Overall, the ROM 03 is a better
machine.  It is rarer because there are less of them around.

> 
> 3..Does anyone sell the motherboards(That's what i understand
> is necessary to change from ROM 01 to ROM 03)?

Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/) sells them.
Fully tested, warranteed, and shipped in protective packaging,
unlike the swines in the marketplace newsgroup!

> 
> 4..Can anyone recommend a good start(hardware wise) for this computer?
> [i.e. 80 column card, 20 meg scsi drive w/xxxxxx scsi card, xxxxxxx ram
> card, xxxxxxxxx accelerator card,] In other words,.. i want to get a good
> IIGS system going,.. what is the basic hardware setup for something like
> this and how much could i expect to spend?

At the very least, since you seem to be a power user, 4MB of
RAM, a 300MB hard disk drive, and an accelerator card.  That
will give you a very usable GS (much more functional that a
Mac Plus, the GS's contemporary of 1986).  Eventually, you
may want to upgrade further.

My system is a 13.75MHz Zip accelerated GS (faster than my
25Mhz '486 PC in most tasks...you can't compare MHz accross
processor lines), more than 1GB of storage online, and 8MB
of RAM, along with a 33.6 modem (shared using a rotary dial
switchbox with a PC).  With all that storage, I've found
myself transferring my collection of music alblums to
sound files for playing through the GS.  :)

Did I mention the GS produces near flawless sound and music?

Unlike Mitchell, I've outgrown 300MB of storage.  Originally,
I had 170MB primary and a 170MB backup unit.  Soon, I used
the backup unit for storage.  Then I gave up and went to
larger storage.

> 
> 5..Does anyone have a IIGS system up and running in the Tucson area(w/i 1
> 1/2 hours drive would be fine..)  I just want to get a quick look at what
> the system actually looks like.  I'm guessing a IIGS system fully
> configured would run me around $200.  Before i spend that i want to make
> sure it's at least as cool as i remember it.  I'll treat whoever lets me
> look at their running system to a crisp clean $5 bill.  :)  5-10 minutes
> of demonstration is all that's required..

Can't help you there....

You could probably get a decent souped up system for $200
complete with monitor, drive, hard drive, 4MB of memory,
and a 14.4 modem with ImageWriter.  You could then upgrade
from there and you would have started with much software.

Buyer beware, though, if you want to brave the marketplace.

> 
> 6..Anyone selling a Apple IIGS with ROM 03 & 4/8 megs of ram?  :)
> 
> Much thanks in advance.. friends of mine are already ribbing me for my
> choice in pursuing this..  Funny,..  I feel as if i can't help myself.

Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/).  Get a GS
system from them, then grab a 40MB Focus drive.  Replace
the 40MB drive yourself with an 800MB IDE 2.5" mechanism
from Computer Shopper sources.  Then get a bare bones
Sirius RAM card for $40 and populate it with 8MB worth of
SIMMs from PC sources for $1 per MB.  You'll have fun
doing it, save a money, and end up with a kick-butt GS!

-Scott G.