Re: Aggrevation = Local Apple Dealer

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

In article <CI8t0G.29K@zeno.fit.edu> haga@zach.fit.edu (The Pyrotechnic) writes:
> when i found out that apple was giving free upgrades of the //GS, i was 
> thrilled!!

What free upgrades?  The only free upgrade I know about is for ROM 00
to ROM 01 (and the Video Graphics Controller chip at the same time, if
you have one of the faulty batch - identified by pink appearing in
places in monochrome double hi-res mode, instead of grey).

> "the only FREE upgrade is if you have the one meg motherboard"

They don't know what they're talking about, or you may have misheard
them.  There is no upgrade for the one meg motherboard - it is a ROM
03, and there is no later ROM version.

The upgrade applies to the original 256k motherboard, and only if you
have the original ROM 00 installed.

It sounds like your dealer is confused.

> i said, well gee, considering i bought my GS when they FIRST came out, i feel
> that i deserve a free upgrade... he then told me there was no way that he
> could help me in this situation... well, that just aggrivated the living 
> #@$@# outa me... i then asked... "how much to upgrade" dealer said "$800"..

It sounds like he thinks you want a ROM 03 motherboard.

> Well, needless to say, im still stuck with a GS rom 01 with 512k 
> on the motherboard and a 1 meg ram board installed...(oh joy!)

So what?  If you want to get a ROM 03, you have to replace the
motherboard.  There is no such thing as an "upgrade" from a ROM 01 to
a ROM 03 short of buying the ROM 03 motherboard and installing it in
place of your existing one.

The main advantage of the ROM 03 is the extra megabyte of RAM, and more
of the toolbox in ROM (hence it is a little faster).  There are a few
other minor differences.

There are very few (if any) programs that work on a ROM 03 and not
on a ROM 01.

You'll be better off getting a 4 MB memory expansion card for your
existing IIgs.


One thing to check: do you have a ROM 00 or ROM 01?  If in doubt, look
at the bottom of the screen after pressing Ctrl-Apple-Reset (at the
same time as the "Apple IIgs" message appears in the top line).

The ROM 00 has no text at the bottom of the screen.

The ROM 01 has a copyright message and tells you it is ROM version 01.

(The ROM 3 says "ROM Version 3" instead.)


You can (and should) upgrade ROM 00 to ROM 01.  This is a free
upgrade, and is required to run IIgs System 4 or later (GS/OS).

You cannot "upgrade" ROM 01 to ROM 3 without replacing the motherboard.
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand