Re: Best System for Apple II Software Compatibility

[steve@dosius.zzn.com (Dosius)]

great_hierophant@hotmail.com (Great Hierophant) wrote in message news:<9745d197.0309100935.4ea4f5b6@posting.google.com>...
> I'm not sure the group got this post, so I am posting it again.
> 
> With Apple IIs, there are four major subfamilies of the machine, the Apple
> II/II+, the Apple IIe/Enhanced IIe/Platinum IIe, the Apple IIc/IIc+, and the
> Apple IIgs.  The Apple IIgs is required for all 16-bit Apple II software.  But
> for 8-bit Apple II software, which Apple II model will offer the best
> compatibility with the least headaches?

As you suggest later the enhanced //e. (Note: ProDOS 1.x up to 1.9 run
fine on the ][+.  With a 'C02 even 2.x will run.)

> Software that uses firmware routines in the 8-bit Apple II's may not work 
> because the routines no longer exist or do not function the same.  Can the 
> Apple IIgs's video hardware drive a composite monitor in the same way as 
> earlier Apples?  Do design differences in the IIgs's 65816 break programs that
> use 6502 instructions?
65816 is fully 'C02 compatible.

Also there are firmware differences which are known to break some //e
programs.
(I learned the hard way.)

-uso.