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Re: IIgs -to- MAC?
In article <4p7se0$osc@nntp1.best.com>,
INTERNET ROCKHOUSE <hquinn@nntp.best.com> wrote:
>
> I have just purchased an Apple IIgs. [snip]
>
> What sort of computer is it though?
The IIgs has two personalities: it is able to run 8-bit Apple II
software (using DOS 3.3, ProDOS, Apple II Pascal, or custom/no
operating system), and is also able to run its own 16-bit software
(using any of the above operating systems, ProDOS-16, or GS/OS).
> My IIgs has an odd shaped but very full looking expansion card in the
> expansion slot for RAM.
You can find out how much memory is installed by getting into the
Control Panel and looking at the RAM Disk page. (To enter the Control
Panel, press Control-Apple-Escape, then select "Control Panel" from
the menu.)
> My questions are:-
>
> 1. Where can I get software for the IIgs?
You will need enough software to get yourself started. At the very
least, this means a ProDOS-8 system disk, including the System
Utilities software (which allows you to format disks, copy files, etc.)
Ideally, you should get the IIgs System Software, which is much more
powerful, and allows you to run native IIgs applications as well as
8-bit ProDOS applications.
To find out whether you can run the current IIgs system software
(System 6.0.1), we need to know a little more about the machine. In
paritcular:
- How much RAM is actually installed? System 6.0.1 requires at least
1MB of RAM, more if you want to use optional features or run large
applications.
- Which ROM version does the machine have? When you turn it on, you
will get a text screen that says "Apple IIgs" at the top. If you have
the original ROM, it won't display anything else. If you have a later
ROM version, it displays a copyright message and the ROM version number
at the bottom of the screen.
To run System 4.0 or later, you need ROM version 01 or 3. The original
ROM is only supported by System 3.2 or earlier, and most current IIgs
software requires at least System 5.0.4.
If you do have the original ROM, you will only be able to run old IIgs
software, but all 8-bit software will still work.
It is possible to upgrade the original ROM to version 01, but it might
be hard to get hold of a replacement ROM.
The System Software (8-bit or IIgs-specific) is available from various
sources. Byte Works should be able to sell you both of them.
Byte Works, Inc.
8000 Wagon Mound Drive N.W.
Albuquerque, NM 87120
U.S.A.
Phone (505)898-8183
E-Mail MikeW50@aol.com
In addition to the system software, you will need a simple set of
communications utilities, if you want to be able to download files
from Internet FTP sites, via E-Mail or from the comp.binaries.apple2
newsgroup.
You will need a simple comms program (such as Z-Link), the
ASCII-to-Binary decoding utilities (BINSCII or equivalent), and the
decompressor (one of the versions of ShrinkIt). Someone sells a disk
which contains all of this for a low fee, but I forget who it is.
> 2. Can the IIgs be upgraded to, say, MAC OS?
No.
> 3. Will the IIgs take an internal HD?
Yes. There are two main variations:
(a) IDE hard drives together with a replacement power supply. The
hard drive is mounted in the power supply enclosure. A controller
card is also required.
None of this type are sold any more, but you may be able to get a
"Vulcan" or "InnerDrive" (I think) second hand.
(b) Small IDE hard drives mounted on a controller card.
One company is still selling drives of this type. Alltech Electronics
has the "Focus" range, which are available in sizes from 20 MB to
200 MB. (A IIgs rarely needs more than this - I have an 850MB drive,
and I don't expect I will ever fill it up.)
Most people use an external SCSI hard drive, together with a SCSI card.
The most common SCSI cards are:
- Original Apple SCSI card, with Revision C ROM. This is the cheapest
card, if you can find one second-hand. It is also the slowest, and has
the most limited selection of devices supported.
- Apple High-Speed SCSI card. This is considerably faster than the original
card, because it uses DMA (direct memory access) to transfer data.
It also supports more device types.
- RamFast SCSI card. This is the fastest card, supports the widest
range of devices, and is still sold and supported by Sequential Systems.
If you are getting one second-hand, it is the most expensive option.
> 4. The CPU and keyboard are separate. Is this the norm?
Yes.
In the early days of the IIgs, Apple offered an upgrade option for IIe
owners, which involved replacing the motherboard and bottom panel of
the case. The internal keyboard was then used, but you could also
connect an external ADB keyboard (this is needed for programs which
require the numeric keypad).
> 5. What sort of application software do people norrmally run
> on the IIgs? Is the computer still in serous use anywhere?
It is mostly used by hobbyists now. In total, about a million IIgs
machines were sold, but the vast majority were sold to schools, and
most of them were never used as more than a fast Apple IIe.
It is certainly still used by those of us who have no need for a more
powerful computer. My main uses of the IIgs are:
- communications (Spectrum)
- word processing/database/spreadsheet/page layout (AppleWorks,
AppleWorks GS, GraphicWriter III, Quick Click Calc)
- programming (ORCA/C, ORCA/Pascal, ORCA/Modula-2, ORCA/M, Merlin 16+,
HyperCard IIgs, Aztec C, Apple II Pascal, Applesoft BASIC).
> 6. Why does the RGB monitor (sept '86) not run when connected to a
> macintosh IIcx ('91)?
The IIgs monitor runs at television frequencies (15 kHz horizontal
scan rate or thereabouts). Most Mac video cards or built-in video
requires a monitor that can handle at least 30 kHz.
The IIgs monitor is able to be used on a small number of Mac video
cards, which run it in interlaced mode, giving a resolution of about
640x400.
Similarly, the IIgs is not able to use most Mac monitors, because they
cannot accept a video signal as slow as 15 kHz.
> 7. What would be the top spec for one of the machines?
Maximum RAM is 8 MB, but most people have 4 MB or less (plus the
built-in RAM, which is 1.125 MB for the 1989 model, 256 KB for the
1986 model). The IIgs is not fully compatible with DMA with a memory
card larger than 8 MB (some cards are able to get around this, such as
the RamFast).
Most high-end users have an accelerator. Speeds range from 7 MHz up
to 16 MHz. There are two accelerators available: the TransWarp GS
(not sold any more) and the ZIP GS (still sold commercially). The ZIP
is more common, I think, and is regarded by some as being a better
design. It uses less power, for starters.
A reasonable high-end IIgs system would consist of:
- ROM 1 IIgs with at least 4.25MB of RAM (or a ROM 3 with 5.125MB).
- Accelerator running at 8 MHz or faster.
- Hard drive of at least 100 MB.
Most people would also want a decent printer, and lots of application
software. There are many other hardware items that could be added,
depending on your needs. These include a VGA card and better monitor
(software support is rather limited), hand scanner, extended keyboard,
CD-ROM drive (not much software is available on CD-ROM), high-density
3.5" drive, PC Transporter (PC/XT clone on a card), 14k4 or faster
modem, and a stereo sound card.
--
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand