Re: IIGS Monitor with a Mac?

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

In article frankelm@cfoi.demon.co.uk (Maurice Frankel) writes...

>Does anyone know if I can use an Apple IIGS monitor with a Mac? 

    Nope. The AppleColor RGB uses an NTSC scanning frequency, the
same used by television sets (15.75 kHz), and the Mac cannot slow
down to synchronize. It cannot be used on a PC for this reason as
well, Macs and PCs require higher frequency monitors.

>The connecting leads are different. But if got a lead made up with the
>appropriate connectors, would the monitor work on the 6200?

    There is one way to use it on your Macintosh, but it requires 
you have the 'High Resolution Display Video Card' and a NuBus slot 
to install it in (I think it was only the Macintosh II line that
mostly had NuBus slots, PowerMac's would have PCI expansion slots).
The is the only video card for the Macintosh that will synchronize
down to a low scanning frequency and supports the AppleColor RGB.

    Even then I doubt you would be interested. It works in 640x400
interlaced (that is very flickerly) and the 0.37 dotpitch makes it
look rather blurry and grainy on a high resolution display. The GS
monitor is also set to work at 60 Hz refresh, which causes yet more
flicker (you might be able to push the refresh slightly higher, but 
I somehow doubt an old card from a decade ago supports that). Really
is it only good as an emergency monitor or something to do some  
diagnostic testing on a Mac, like to see if it is working. It does
however make an *EXCELLENT* display for the SuperNintendo though, 
which is kind of ironic as it is the only other 65C816 based 
computer. ;-)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca