Re: IIe to IIgs? {was Re: What Apple II to buy if not a GS?}

[shack@pro-ict.cts.com (Randy Shackelford)]

binder@caliph.zk3.dec.com (Cum dignitate otium) writes:

>If you mean "How can a //e be upgraded to a IIGS, it's done by buying a IIGS
>upgrade kit and installing it in the //e cabinet.  I haven't done this myself,
>but I've seen postings from people who have.  I'd assume that the upgrade kit
>includes connectors for the IIGS ports and the ADB and so on.  I've seen the
>kit advertised by places like Shreve Systems, but I don't know if there are
>any more to be had.

You get a new bottom part for the //e case which is set up to give access to
all the ports just like the back of a IIgs case. 

>I'm not sure whether it's a good idea.  It seems to me that you would end up
>with a bastard configuration.  With IIGSes being sold so cheaply by so many
>people, why not go straight to the real thing?  But, I repeat, I have not done
>it, so my thoughts should not be taken for gospel.

There's nothing wrong with such a machine. It can run the same software and
use the same peripherals etc. that a normal IIgs can. I built a //e upgrade
from some parts I had lying around. I got myself a //e case with the upgrade
bottom part from Shreve and used a IIgs logic board and power supply and a
//e keyboard from my spare hardware pile and put it all together. The only
complication was finding a memory card to fit the case. Most newer cards
aren't designed to fit so I turned up a used Chinook memory card.

I use it as a semi-portable machine since it has the keyboard built in. It's
fun to take it places and connect an ADB mouse to it and watch people's faces
when they see it booting system 6.0.1!

As far as recommending this type of machine goes, I recommend first time
buyers to get a ROM 3 instead of doing anything like I did. I built the
upgrade because I had most of the parts already.
--
Randy Shackelford                              "That's right, keep dancing
shack@pro-ict.cts.com                           on the minefield"
                                                                 -Al Bundy