Re: GS, //e, and mystery cards

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <5nlnj4$7df@news.Hawaii.Edu>,
Galen Tatsuo Komatsu <gkomatsu@Hawaii.Edu> wrote:

   Welcome to comp.sys.apple2. I encourage you to read the
comp.sys.apple2 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) at
http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/csa2.html The FAQ has a number of
sections; I'll refer to certain sections later in this response.

>Opening the GS case, the only thing in there is the memory board, is
>this all that's "necessary" to run it? (considering the
>disk/printer/etc connectors on the back eliminate the need for
>interface cards)

   As there is either 256K or 1MB on the motherboard (depending on the
ROM version-- FAQ section 2.6), you don't even "need" addon RAM to
powerup a GS.  Apple didn't quite grasp the concept of selling a fully
usable Apple II when the GS first came out, and all the schools that
bought GSs with no budget later to expand them used them as fast color
//es. What a waste.

   Once you put 2-4MB RAM on, a HD and an accelerator, you'll find
the GS is really useful for doing all sorts of fun stuff.

>One of the cables with a 15 pin connector, has only 8 pins in it, I
>assume this is the monitor cable? (it fits, but I just wanted to be
>sure...)

   Yes, there are a number of unused connectors in the standard
monitor cable. If you're curious, pinouts, etc are referred to from
FAQ section 4.19

>Is there any compatability between the monitor (Applecolor RGB
>Display) and "Macintosh" monitors?  (I'm not holding my breath but
>like before, just want to be sure.) I have NEC Multisync which for
>the past year has been on extended loan to a friend since the PC I
>used it for died and I'm too lazy to fix it.)

   Extended discussion of this in FAQ section 4.7. Basically, the GS's
analog RGB video uses a 15Khz horizontal sync signal, while almost all
modern Mac/[S]VGA monitors want 30Khz at a minimum. Certain older NEC
Multisyncs (1 & 2, maybe others) plus some from other manufacturers
can handle that. Your best bet is to read the tech specs on the
monitor in question and see if it can handle 15Khz hsyncs. 

>Is there any compatability between the GS and Macintosh ADB
>keyboard? (saw a Mac keyboard in a thrift the other day for $10)

   A fair number of ADB keyboards can be used on the GS; a list is in
the FAQ section 4.8. I believe that all of the 1-piece Apple ADB
keyboards can be used directly.

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