Re: What to do with a IIgs...

[ek361@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Auri Rahimzadeh)]

: 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?
 
Buy a ROM 03.  But you can buy one for $599 from Alltech or Quality Computers
with Monitor and Apple II High Density drive.
 
: 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?)
 
I would get a 4 meg ram board.  That will give you plenty of room, and it
will also give you 5.125 megs of memory -- which is plenty! (The ROM 03 GS
comes with 1.125 meg on board.)
 
: 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 :)
 
Buy a RAMFast SCSI from Sequential Systems.  1-800-999-1717.
Buy a hard drive from any Mac vendor, since they are usually the cheapest.
 
: 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?
 
Get a Zip 10MHz with 64k cache.  You'll love it :)
 
: 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?
 
There are many places to get software for the II, and many shareware/freeware
items come out almost every day!  Quality Computers, Seven Hills Software,
Procyon, PowerGS, Softdisk GS, Vitesse, Big Red Computer Club -- they all
have lots of both Commercial and Public Domain/Shareware programs. (ooops,
I forgot Resource Central, they are also very good, and they will supply
you with all system software updates, etc.)
 
: 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?
 
Call Resource Central to get that stuff.  Your GS will come with the latest
system software disks already, and you can just install them onto your
hard drive with ease.
 
: 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, no problem :)
 
Hope that helps!
 
-Auri
 
: Editor of PowerGS Diskazine and Founder of the new Power-GS Group :
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