Re: novice GS/ROM00 question

[dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <2hdvniE88e@uni-erlangen.de> eckert@delos.informatik.uni-erlangen.de (Toerless Eckert) writes:
> Hi
> 
> I have obtained an old apple2gs for free and now i am wondering what
> i can do with it. [snip]
> 
> I've read the apple2 FAQ, and the first thing i am wondering about is,
> what kind of apple2gs i have. After booting, it only says "Apple2gs" -
> similar to the older models of the apple2. I am thus fearing that this
> machine has got ROM00 version, which - if i correctly read the FAQ - 
> can not be used with current software.

It certainly is a ROM 00 machine.  If it was a ROM 01, it would show a
copyright message at the bottom of the startup screen, the last line of
which says "ROM Version 01".

> Can someone tell me, if my indication of havin a ROM00 version is correct ?
> If it's a ROM00 version, what is actually the difference between ROM00 and
> ROM01 or ROM03 ?

"ROM 01" is a ROM upgrade for the original IIgs motherboard (with 128k
of ROM and 256k of RAM).  Its main purpose is to fix a large number of
bugs in the original ROM.  It didn't add much in the way of new
features (some toolbox calls were loaded from disk with a ROM 00, but
are ROM-based in the ROM 01).  There are a couple of minor commands
added to the monitor.

"ROM 03" is actually a different motherboard, with 1 MB of RAM and
twice as much ROM as the original IIgs.  There are a few additional
capabilities, such as "Easy Access" (sticky keys and keyboard mouse;
System 6.0 also provides this for a ROM 01), several improvements to
the monitor (including step & trace commands, and a smarter
disassembler), and a few others.  The majority of the extra ROM space
is taken up by parts of the toolbox, which are loaded from disk
instead on a ROM 01.  This makes the ROM 03 somewhat faster when
starting up desktop programs, and it is noticeably faster at drawing
graphics.

You cannot "upgrade" from a ROM 01 to a ROM 03, except by replacing
the motherboard.

Most software will work on either a ROM 01 or ROM 03 without any
changes.  Notable exceptions are older games and some self-booting
demonstration programs.

> What apple2gs software can i use with the ROM00, which
> software can i not use ?

You should be able to use nearly all 8-bit software (ProDOS-8
operating system, as well as DOS 3.3 and Pascal), and any software
which uses ProDOS-16 up to version 1.6 (System Disk 3.2).

Later system disks (4.0 or higher) include the new IIgs operating
system, called GS/OS, which requires a ROM 01 or ROM 03.  Pretty much
every IIgs-specific desktop program released since 1989 will require
GS/OS and hence a ROM 01.

> Is it possible to swap the parts on the motherboard that have to be
> upgraded myself ? Will apple do it ? What would be the price ? 

You should be able to get a FREE upgrade to ROM 01 by taking the IIgs
into your Apple dealer.  The upgrade consists of one ROM chip, and
you may also need to replace the "Video Graphics Controller" chip.
The original batch of these chips had a design fault which caused a
pink fringing or flickering effect in monochrome double hi-res
graphics mode, and also in 80-column text mode on some machine
(including mine).  This is only a cosmetic problem - it doesn't affect
the operation of any software.

The dealer should not charge anything for these chips, but may charge
you for time.  If you cannot find an Apple dealer who can do this, try
contacting Apple Computer directly for advice.

I am not aware of any other source for the ROM, but the Video Graphics
Controller is available from Alltech Electronics for US$29.  There is
a catch: it is a "PLCC" chip, and requires a special tool to remove
the existing chip.

> What's the neweset OS that i can still run with ROM00 ?

IIgs System Disk 3.2, including ProDOS-16 1.6.

Any version of ProDOS-8 should work with the ROM 00 (though I haven't
used anything later than about ProDOS-8 1.4 with the ROM 00).
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand