RE: IIgs Newbie Question

[bpvh@shell1.msn.fullfeed.com (Bradley VonHaden)]

ross@nova.umuc.edu (Ross McKenzie) wrote:

>I've got some basic questionas about a IIgs I recently purchased.
>This is an Apple IIe to IIgs conversion. Here are the questions:

>1. Where might I find an operating system? The Machine has 2 3.5"
>drives and a dual 5.25" drive system (although I think only one of
>the latter will read)

The latest system software is available free (except your internet
provider's charges) by FTP from ftp.apple.com.  Its in the directory
dts/aii (or something like like).  It should also be available your
local users group, assuming one exists.

It is also available commercially from Alltech (619-724-2404; $8
disks, $35 disk and manuals, plus s/h) and Quality (800-777-3642) and
others.  GS+ 

>2. Is it possible to add a HD from a Mac (such as a Quantum) to
>this puppy and load the OS and programs?

It is possible at add either a SCSI or an IDE hard drive to a IIgs. 
Needed items: hard drive, external enclosure for the drive, hard
drive interface card, and the proper cabling and termination.

The 2 best IIgs SCSI cards are the RamFAST Rev D and the Apple High
Speed.  Do not be fooled by the names; the RF is faster and is the
c.s.a2 consensus best card.  The RF is still being support by
Sequential Systems, it provides termination power to the SCSI chain,
it allows the user to map partitions to slots, and supports more
types of SCSI devices without commercial drivers.  The AHS is being
supported by third parties including Sequential and Tulin and its
main advantage is that it can have more than 12 partitions online at
one time.  For an IDE drive, the TurboIDE card from ///SHH Systeme in
Germany is the way to go.

A hard drive connected to a IIgs will run IIgs software but of course
will not run MAC software.

>3. How much memory should I add to make this productive for really
>basic SW such as Print Shop, AppleWorks, and some MECC stuff? Also
>where do I get a card and chips?

My guess is 2 megs would be fine for small applications.  Four megs
is sufficient for most user applications.  I would suggest four.

>4. Is there a good magazine(s) and/or book(s) to read to get
>familiar with the IIgs.

The current magazines for the IIgs include Shareware Solutions II,
GS+ and ][ Alive.  Used issues of inCider/A+ might be a better
source.

SSII is misnamed; it includes much more than shareware.  In fact, in
the 20 pages, usually only a couple are about shareware.  The rest
includes good info on how get more out of your IIgs.

Of course reading c.s.a2 is good place from info as is the A2
RoundTable on GEnie (a commercial online service).

****bpvh   Internet: bpvh@msn.fullfeed.com    GEnie: B.VONHADEN****
****Posted by an Apple IIgs using my own Proterm 3.1 File Macro****