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

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

In article <1993Dec15.135758.3277@decvax.dec.com> binder@zk3.dec.com writes:
> 
> In article <CHw4IG.3nL@ecf.toronto.edu>, scriven@ecf.toronto.edu (SCRIVEN  ADAM) writes:
> 
> > >upgraded to a IIGS...a IIc or IIc Plus can't.
> > 
> > What?
> > I was unaware of this?
> > HOw can it be done, and is it a good idea?
> 
> 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.

I don't know if the kit is available any longer.  In its original form
(from Apple) it included the following:

- IIgs motherboard (256k RAM, i.e. ROM 01) with IIe keyboard connector
installed.
- New base-plate (including back panel, with cut-outs for IIgs
connectors).
- A label to stick over the "Apple IIe" logo on the lid; the label says
"Apple IIgs".  It might have just been the "IIgs" bit, since it was
designed to go with the original IIe (no numeric keypad) - the
original IIe has its "Apple" and "//e" logos separated.

The IIe keyboard is connected to the IIgs motherboard, and can be used
by IIgs software, but it is not treated as an Apple Desktop Bus
device, which means that some of the capabilities of the IIgs keyboard
are missing (in particular, Easy Access won't work with it).

You can, of course, connect a IIgs or Macintosh Apple Desktop Bus
keyboard, and use either keyboard.  If you use software which treats
the numeric keypad specially, you have to get an ADB keyboard to take
advantage of this.

The IIe's numeric keypad is not recognised as a different set of keys
by the IIgs upgrade, e.g. the numeric keypad "0" is treated just like
the "0" key on the main keyboard.  Some software distinguishes between
the two.  [This applies to the IIe with built-in numeric keypad as
well as to an original IIe with an external numeric keypad.]

Regarding the mouse: you can either use an ADB mouse or the IIe mouse
with its mouse card.

> I'm not sure whether it's a good idea.  It seems to me that you would end up
> with a bastard configuration.

Not really.  The only problems I can think of:

- The power supply has different current ratings for its 5V and 12V
rails.  This may cause problems if you have power-hungry cards (or a
lot of cards).

- The IIe case slopes off at the front, which gets in the way of some
IIgs cards (especially memory expansion cards which are not tapered at
the keyboard end).

- To get up to reasonable IIgs capability, you would have to buy an
ADB keyboard, mouse and a 3.5" drive, as well as a memory expansion
card.  A second-hand IIgs should include all of these.

- It doesn't look as good as a real IIgs.  :-)
-- 
David Empson                                                               
dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz                                                
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand