Re: Why I like my IIe better (Was Re: Is GS/OS ...)

[johnt@meaddata.com (John Townsend)]

In article <1993Aug24.091123.29849@actrix.gen.nz>, dempson@swell.actrix.gen.nz (David Empson) writes:
|> In article <1993Aug24.001141.9491@msuvx1> connolly@msuvx1.memst.edu writes:
|> > to boAnd speaking of g of booting: how come the IIgs (and, for that
|> > matter, the IIc+) is so reluctant to reboot when I press Ctl-OApple-Reset?
|> 
|> What do you mean by "reluctant"?  Do you mean that it seems to behave
|> as if you had pressed Control-Reset (without the Apple)?
|> 
|> If so, it is a simple case of not holding the Apple key down for long
|> enough.  The IIgs and IIc+ do a lot more than the IIe during their
|> reset code, and it takes longer to reach the code which checks for the
|> Apple and Option keys (I'd say it is about half a second on an
|> unaccelerated IIgs).
|> 
|> You can avoid the problem by getting into the habit of resetting by
|> using the following sequence:
|> 
|> Press and hold down Control and Apple (and/or Option, if appropriate).
|> Press then release Reset.
|> Wait for the beep and "Apple II" message.
|> Release the other keys.
|> 
|> You eventually get the feel for the time you have to wait - you dont'
|> need to hold the keys down as long as I suggest here, but it
|> guarantees that the Apple key won't be missed.

Having used a ][ Plus and IIe for years before I got a IIgs, I think I know
what he's talking about.  The IIe (and ][, and ][ Plus, and //c, and //c+...)
has its reset key hardwired to the CPU's reset line, which makes resetting
foolproof and instantaneous.  The IIgs (especially the ROM 01), on the other
hand, simply treats the reset key as any other key on the ADB keyboard, which
means that the computer needs to be in at least a semi-sane state for it to
interpret the keypress correctly and reset itself.  That extra half-second or
so that you have to hold down the apple key for a warmstart can be pretty
annoying too if you're used to the instantaneous response of a IIe, especially
when you're not 100% sure that it's going to work.  Even so, I think resetting
is a heckuva lot more dependable on a IIgs than ctrl-alt-del on a PC...

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