school needs info on IIGS!!!!

[mmoric@s.psych.uiuc.edu (Mario Moric)]

I'm using a friend's e-mail to get some information.  I am a new teacher in a 
small school, and I have a small (3) IIGS computer lab bought with federal 
money for a reading program.  Each computer was bought with nothing on it - no 
HD, extended memory, nothing.  Just diskdrives and color monitors, and each 
was around $1,200.  Well, whoever bought these machines never bought decent 
software, and the word processing program is 10 years old.  I am at a point 
where I'm not sure if I should upgrade in terms of HD, extended memory, and 
possibly a CD drive, OR if I should try to buy 1 good Mac and network them.  
I've talked to Alltech and Quality Computers, and am concerned that I may not 
be getting the best possible answers.  Computer companies love to rip off 
schools because they figure no one knows better, and I want to do what would 
be best economically as well as logically.  I need advice from USERS, not 
SELLERS.

1. Is it worth it to buy a CD drive for a IIGS in a school?  Is there enough 
software out there?  I know about Diskquest (at $265 from Alltech), but was 
told it would be slow and I could only run text CDs.  Alltech said go ahead 
and get one, and get DiskQuest.  Quality said not to.  (Alltech sells DQ, 
Quality does not).  One option is also to just buy 1 CD rom, and only have it 
on one computer...however, I'm not sure it's worth it for just reading 
instruction, no science, social studies, etc.

2. How much can be run on IIGS computers through a networked Mac?  Is that 
even logical to try with only 3 computers?

3. What is Microsoft Works like?  Is it very similiar to Microsoft Word?  Does 
it have the WP functions standard on MSWord ?  Is that the only WP for the 
IIGS?

4. Would 4 mg extended memory ($119), 80 mg HD w/SCSI ($295) , Zip Chip ($159) 
be enough to run a good WP and basic games to be loaded on the HD?  Those were 
the cheapest prices I've been quoted so far, but I don't know if they are 
'good' or not.

5. If I got a CD Rom, what kind is best?  Alltech sells one for $199 (don't 
know much about it) and Quality for $499 (double spin w/5yr war.).  And again, 
is there enough stuff to warrant one w/out DiskQuest?


That's all I can think of for now...but I'm sure as answers come in I'll think 
of more.  I'm just concerned that I'll get ripped if I don't look into this 
more carefully.  I'm not too familiar with Apple/Mac, so this is all new to 
me.  Please respond via e-mail if possible.  Thank you very much in advance 
for any and all replies.  I need all the help I can get, and you are the 
people I need the answers from (how was that for buttering up?)

Thanks again,
Linda Chu
via: mm28693@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu
University of Illinois @ Champaign/Urbana