Re: Apple II Celebration (was: Re: FS: APPLE IIGS)

[nathan@visi.com (Nathan Mates)]

In article <Pine.BSD/.3.91.970417065207.20423A-100000@connect.iconnect.net>,
Joseph E. Walsh <ransom@connect.iconnect.net> wrote:
>> You have a rom 3 there, 5 megs is great.  A nice sound card such as an
>> Audio Animator would be a spiffy enhancement.  

>Is that the best sound card?  I see an advertisement for the Sound 
>Meister.  What's the difference?

   Apparenlt the 'FutureSound' board is the best, but it's also quite
rare. The AE Audio Animator is a pretty good one, and includes MIDI
ports. The SoundMeister is a solid, if unspectacular, board; it's
still being sold new, which is a plus. The Apple II Sound & Music FAQ
has a section on GS sound cards with commentary; drop by
http://www.visi.com/~nathan/a2/faq/snd.mus.html

>> Kensington System Saver GS also.  
>What the heck is that, anyway? :)  I keep hearing about 'em, but I don't 
>know what it is.  Is it akin to the standard under-monitor power 
>outlet/surge suppression strips that are commonly available?

   Better. Fits between computer and monitor, provides a fan and 4
switched (2 switches, each controlling 2 outlets) outlets. No surge
protection, if I remember correctly.

>It shocked me that the //gs can be hooked up to a CD-ROM and a scanner, 
>when I read that in the FAQ.  I just wish it was easy to use any standard 
>printer.

   Printers are not quite standardized in totally system-abstract
forms. [Well, there is PostScript, but that's not really an option,
and Apple didn't quite get it 100% right in the GS Laserwriter
drivers]. CD-ROMs and scanners are somewhat standardized.

>> setup.  I can give you some software advice- Proterm, Photonix, 
>> Superconvert, Synthlab, SonicTracker etc.

>I've heard of Proterm, but what are the others?

   Scan the csa2 FAQ; I know that I reference some of those. Photonix
is a fast 800K disk copier- useful if you're doing that, but once you
have a HD, it's pretty pointless. Superconvert converts graphics files
from a number of other system formats to the GS. Synthlab is on the
System 6.* disks, provides some MIDI stuff. SonicTracker plays Amiga
.MOD files, but is kinda buggy and unstable-- ModZAP is much better.

Nathan Mates

--
<*> Nathan Mates http://www.visi.com/~nathan/      <*>
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# think-- what are the facts, and to how many decimal places?  -R.A. Heinlein