Re: What to do with a IIgs...

[bazyar@netcom.com (Jawaid Bazyar)]

bill@booster.u.washington.edu (Bill Whitson) writes:

>I am going to buy a IIgs soon.  I promised myself four years ago when I sold
>my II+ that I eventually would and now have the $$ to do it.  I have a few
>questions about what to look for when buying, what I can do to upgrade once
>I have it, and availability of parts and software.  I've read the FAQ's and
>they didn't quite answer everything I wanted.  So...

>I've read that there are different ROM versions on different models of IIgs.
>What is the "best" ROM set.  How can I tell what ROM version a IIgs has?

  Get a new ROM 03 machine from Alltech Electronics (800-995-7773)
  For $599 you get:
  AppleColor RGB Monitor (standard IIGS quality monitor)
  Apple 3.5" external disk drive
  Keyboard
  Mouse
  1MB RAM on the motherboard
  System 6.0.1

>How much memory should the system have?  (I plan to add a memory card if it
>doesn't have one but is there a specific amount it should have on board?)

  Get a Sequential Systems 4MB extended memory board ($119 from Alltech).

>Is there anything to watch out for when buying a IIgs?  I want a system that
>I can upgrade to the "peak" of IIgs performace.  I'll want to add a hard drive,
>more RAM, whatever (this is going to be my fun system - my PC is for work and
>just want another Apple to tinker with :)

  The ROM 03 is noticeably faster in GUI operations than the older ROM 01
at the same clock rate.

>What is the Zip chip that people talk about?  Is this just an accelerator?  Is
>it reliable?  Most importantly, is it still available?  What sort of speeds can
>be gotten out of it?

  Yep. Zip Technologies, $150 for a 8MHz/16K board (pretty quick).
You can get 10MHz/64K boards which truly fly. I don't have Zip's number
handy, but talk to Quality Computers (see below).

>Are there still places that sell a decent variety of hardware and software for
>the IIgs or am I going to be scrounging for a bunch of used stuff?

  Sequential Systems (800-759-4549) has a number of Apple II peripheral
products (including the RamFAST cached SCSI controller and CD-ROM
software and hardware). Call for a catalog.

>If I buy a system with old system software, without manuals, etc. does Apple still
>supply ProDOS, manuals, GS info or have they completely killed the whole thing?

  You can still get the system software w/manuals. You can get GS 
technical manuals from Resource Central (913-469-6502). You can get
the IIGS HyperCard 1.1 for free from most online services (but not Internet
yet).

>Thanks for any answers you can give me.  I'm sure I'll be relying on a lot of
>information from this group to get my little project going.  I'm glad there are
>still people who like the Apple II out there.

  Hey, it's a great computer with a great personality :-) Also, subscribe
to either GS+ Magazine (800-662-3634) or II Alive magazine (800-777-3642)
to keep up on the latest doodads, software, hardware, tips, and
advertisers. II Alive is published by Quality Computers, who sells
inexpensive hard drive/SCSI card combos.. 40MB for $180 or so (that's
WITH the RamFAST cached SCSI controller).

-- 
 Jawaid Bazyar              |   Like UNIX? Like your Apple IIGS? Then ask
 Procyon, Inc.              |   me about GNO/ME for the Apple IIgs!   
 bazyar@netcom.com          |   P.O Box 620334
 --Apple II Forever!--      |   Littleton, CO 80162-0334   (303) 781-3273