Re: Woz Signature GS ??

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article joker@peak.org (Eric Ballweber) writes...

>Today I aquired what I believe to be a sinature GS.  Or, at least what
>would seem like one.  It has Woz signature on the front with the words
>'Limited Edition' just below it.  Does anyone know the significance of
>this particular model?

    It is just a commemorative marking (silk screened on, not an actual
hand signature) found on the lid of the first 50,000 or so Apple IIgs's
manufactured. What exactly does it commemorate? Probably the 10 years
that Apple Computer had been in existence, or the Apple II line--which
started the company's fame--that was just approaching its 10 year mark.
The signature is Steve Wozinak's -- co-founder of Apple, creator of the
Apple II and one of the key people behind the Apple IIGS.

>Does this mean anything, or is it just another GS in a fancy case?

    It means you have a very old Apple IIgs, containing the original
firmware revision ROM (unless its previous owner upgraded it) and
quite possibly the faulty VGC chip. Both chips can easily be swapped
though, assuming they haven't already under free upgrades that were
offered for a number of years.

    In terms of special monetary value, there is none; just perhaps
some nostiligic value among Apple II owners and collectors. If you
hang on to it for a couple of decades that might change. :) At the
moment they're fairly common, I've seen plently of GSes with those
lid covers in schools and homes over the years.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca