Re: My favorite Apple II

["PZ" <skierpaul@yahoo.com>]

The IIGS is actually much more advanced than the Apple IIe.  The IIe is
a 8-bit  barebones computer.  Meaning, you'll have to add expansion
cards like floppy disk drive controllers, serial cards and printer
cards for peripherals to work.  It doesn't even have a built in clock.
You even need to add a card to use a mouse.  The Apple IIe runs at 1mhz
and should come with a card that expands the RAM to 128k and give you
80 column text mode.  On the otherhand, there are thousands of software
titles available.

An Apple IIGS has pretty much everything listed above, built in, AND it
still has 7 expansion slots to add other STUFF.   And you'll want to
eventually add that other stuff (memory, hard drive, accelaratro) to
get full functionality out of the machine.  The GS runs at a stock
2.8mhz and has a 16bit microprocessor that is backwards compatible with
all of the preceeding Apple II computers.  Meaning that virtually all
of the software that will run on an Apple IIe, will run on the Apple
IIGS.  The IIGS also has an advanced graphical operating system that is
very similar (and sometimes more advanced) to Macintosh System 7.x.

It also depends on your purpose and intent.  If you're looking at doing
a lot of hardware projects, then the simplicity of the IIe is the way
to go.  This is also a good option if you're interested in learing
6502/65c02 assembly language, Basic, Pascal, or Forth programming
languages.  (There is also a decent C compiler becoming available)
However, keep in mind that you probably will not be working in a
graphical GUI environment on any of the 8-bit Apples.

The IIGS gives you an opportunity to do desktop development with a
broad array of high level languages available.

If retro gaming is your cup of tea, then you'll have many more 8-bit
titles than IIgs titles, however the IIgs games are pretty darn cool
with snazzier graphics and sound, and remember virtually all of the
8-bit titles will run on the IIGS.

If you're looking to buy a IIGS.  You'll want a IIGS RGB Monitor, and
make sure that the CPU comes with a keyboard or mouse.  (theres a lot
for sale without them)  You'll also want to start out with atleast 1.25
megs of ram however its easy to upgrade to 4megs economically.

If you get a IIe, you'll want the Apple Composite Monitor.  It has a
B/W - Color switch on it that will make text applications MUCH more
readable without having to get an RGB setup.  (RGB cards for the //e
are hard to come by)

With the IIGS you'll also want a 3.5" 800k drive (or two)  and a 140k
5.25" floppy disk.  On the IIe you'll just want 2 140k 5.25" floppy
disks to start out with. (3.5" controller cards for the IIe are
likewise hard to come by.)

On ebay paste the following seach string into the category "Vintage
Apple/Macintosh" to get rid of MOST of the garbage:
apple -mac -stickers -newton -shirt -imac -ibook -macintosh -printer
-ipod -powermac -performa -powerbook -poster

Eventually, if you get serious enough, you'll want to add a Hard Drive
and an accelerator, but the setups above will get you started.

Personally I use both.  I love the simplicity of the IIe (besides thats
what I grew up using) but I also love the functionality and beauty of
the IIGS.

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Also checkout:
- www.wikipedia.org (search for Apple II and Apple IIGS for more info)
- www.apple2history.org
- read the FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) that are posted here
every month (or google "comp.sys.apple2 FAQ")
- www.a2central.com - great online community & resource but you have to
pay for a yearly subcription so newbies kinda get screwed out of a lot
of good information and they don't even know it.

- Paul