Apple II Csa2 FAQs: 1Main-Start, Part 1/25 (2/2)

[nospam@rainbowsendgs.no-ip.com (rubywand@swbell.net)]

[continued from previous message]

     The Apple IIe Emulation Card is actually more like a //c because 
the card
is not an expandable machine like a //e. There is a place on the back 
of the
card to plug in a Y-cable to which you can attach a Unidisk 3.5" disk 
drive
(white, A2M2053) and/
or an Apple 5.25" disk drive (platinum, A9M0107) and a joystick.

     Because the graphics are handled by the Mac, animation may be slow 
if you
don't have a decent Mac. For more information, see FAQs resource file
R028LCA2CARD.TXT. --Dan DeMaggio, David Empson, Owen Aaland, Edward 
Floden,
Liam Busey, Phil Beesley, 
Joan Sander

____________________________



Related FAQs Resources: R022TRKSTAR.TXT (text file)

015- What is an Apple II: The Trackstar Apple II Emulation Card

     A TrackStar is a single board Apple 2 computer that plugs into a 
PC Clone
with at least one ISA slot or into an IBM PS/2 computer. The most 
advanced
models, Trackstar E and Trackstar Plus, work like an enhanced 128k //e.

     Trackstar can run Apple II software from virtual "trackstore" disk 
images,
virtual hard disk, and, with Apple II disk drive plugged, Apple II 
diskettes.
(With the correct cables, it can use some Apple II diskettes in 
compatible PC
5.25" drives.)

     For more about Trackstar boards, software, and setup, see FAQs 
Resource
file R022TRKSTAR.TXT.) --Bill Whitson, Michael Kelsey, Mike "Moose" 
O'Malley,
Rubywand, Wayne Stewart

____________________________



016- What is an Apple II: Emulators

     An Apple II emulator-- also called an "emu"-- is a program which 
lets a
PC, Mac, etc. work like an Apple II and run Apple II software. Usually, 
the
Apple II software is in the form of a "disk image" file-- a kind of 
virtual
diskette. For more about 
Apple II emulators and where to get them see Q&A 003 in Csa2APPLICS. 
--Rubywand

____________________________



017- Apple "][", "Apple II", "Apple //"-- which is correct?

    "][", "II", and "//" tend to be used pretty much interchangably for 
any
model of Apple II computer, although, practically speaking, there are a 
few
usages which may provoke a correction.

    "][" is the original Apple II symbol. It appears on all early II's 
and
II+'s as well as on the Disk ][ drive. It is, easily, the most 
attractive and
distinctive II symbol; but, it is also associated with _old_ Apple II 
's. The
"//" usage is 
associated with the c and newer e models.

    "II" is widely accepted as  'okay' for all Apple II models. (And 
"II" and
"A2" are commonly used for referring to series-wide products, etc. as 
in "II
software", "A2 programmers", ... .)


     The generally preferred machine designations are ...

Apple ][   or  Apple II for pre-II+ models
Apple ][+  or  Apple II+
Apple IIe  for non-enhanced IIe computers
Apple //e  for 128k enhanced //e computers
Apple //c
Apple IIc+
Apple IIgs or  GS  or best (if you have the fonts for a small "GS")  
IIGS

--Rubywand

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018- What is "8 bit" and "16 bit"?

     Number of bits usually indicates how big a chunk of data a 
computer's main
microprocessor can manipulate. The Apple IIgs is based on the 65C816
microprocessor and is considered to be a 16-bit machine. Previous Apple 
]['s
are based upon pure 8-bit 
microprocessors such as the 6502 and 65C02. These are considered to be 
8-bit
machines. Sometimes II+ or IIe or IIc software is called "8-bit 
software".

     The 65C816 is a member of the 6502 family which includes expanded
registers and adds many new commands while retaining the ability to go 
into 8-
bit mode. So; the GS can run most 8-bit wares designed for older Apple 
II
machines as well as newer 16-
bit wares. Meanwhile, 8-bit machines are pretty well limited to 8-bit 
wares.
--Rubywand

____________________________



019- How can I tell what version my computer is?

Apple II

     Upon Reset, the original Apple II starts you in the system monitor 
looking
at the "*" prompt. It allows step execution of machine code and has 
Integer
BASIC in ROM. The major division between kinds of Apple II is Revision 
0 and
Revision 1. The 
Revision 1 motherboard adds a number of features including a few which 
are
easily observed:

Power-On Reset: The computer automatically does a Reset when turned On.

More hires colors: To the Black, White, Violet, and Green available on 
a Rev0
machine, Rev1 adds Blue and Orange.

Color Killer added: Full-text displays are black&white without the 
color
fringing and tinting you see on Rev0 machines.


Apple II+

     All Apple II+ machines have the Revision 1 or higher motherboard 
and the
Autostart ROM. On power-up the Apple II+ does a Reset and displays 
"APPLE ]["
at the top of the screen. If a disk drive is connected, the II+ will 
try to
boot a diskette. The 
Apple II+ loses some monitor features (like instruction stepping) and 
in-ROM
Integer BASIC found in the earlier Apple II; but, it gains the more 
powerful
Applesoft BASIC in ROM. A II+ Reset normally leaves you in BASIC 
looking at the
"]" Applesoft BASIC 
prom
pt.


Apple IIe

     You can usually tell a IIe from a II or II+ by the nameplate. On 
models
with the classic Apple II case but no nameplate, you can check the 
keyboard.
IIe models include a key embossed with the outline of an apple called 
the
"OpenApple" key located 
near the bottom left corner of the keyboard. (All later Apple II's have 
this
key, too; but, they do not look anything like a II, II+, or IIe).  A 
few IIe
models produced for third parties may have some other special-logo key 
in place
of OpenApple.

     Within the IIe series, the major division is between Enhanced and
unenhanced IIe models. Look at your computer while booting.  If it says 
"Apple
][", it is not enhanced. The enhanced computers will say "Apple //e".

     Today, "Enhanced IIe", "//e", and "128k Apple IIe" are used 
interchangably
because nearly every Enhanced IIe has an Extended 80-Column Card 
plugged into
the 60-pin Aux Slot (which adds 64kB of RAM).  Technically, an Enhanced 
IIe is
defined by the 
presence of three or four IC's: the 65C02 microprocessor (replaces the 
6502),
new Character (or "Video") ROM which includes MouseText characters, and 
new
monitor firmware in ROM.

     If a IIe has the 65C02 microprocessor, it is probably an Enhanced 
IIe. If
your IIe is not enhanced, you can do the enhancement yourself with an
"enhancement kit" consisting of the four chips you need to swap in.

     The last significant upgrade to the IIe series came in 1987 with 
the
release of the Extended Keyboard //e. This model is a 128k Enhanced 
IIe-- it
comes with an Extended 80-Column Card plugged into the Aux Slot-- which 
adds an
18-key 'numeric keypad'.
 It also replaces the eight on-motherboard RAM chips with two 64kx4 
IC's; and,
it replaces the two BASIC/monitor ROMs with a single large ROM.

     Quite a lot of later 80's 8-bit software, including all 
double-hires
software, requires a 128k Enhanced IIe. (If you have a //c, IIc+, IIgs, 
Laser
128, or Franklin Ace 2000-2200, you have good to at least decent 
Enhanced IIe
compatibility.)  
Unfortunately, a small number of early-release IIe's can not be 
upgraded to
handle double-hires. Check the serial number on the motherboard (in the 
back,
by the power-on led). If it is 820-0064-A, you must change the 
motherboard to
upgrade (unless you 
have the PAL
 video output version).

     The IIe was produced in very large numbers and sold around the 
world in
countries with different power systems using different video standards. 
So, it
is not all that unlikely that you may need to check a bargain IIe to 
make sure
it will work in 
your home using your monitor. The two major video output formats you 
may run
into are NTSC (used in the US, Canada, Japan, and most countries with 
60Hz
power, except Brazil) and PAL (used in Australia, most of Europe, and 
most
countries with 50Hz power). 
One w
ay to tell which video standard a IIe uses is the location of the Aux 
Slot. If
it is on the side of the motherboard near the power supply, you have an 
NTSC
model. If it is in line with Slot 3, you have a PAL model.


Apple //c and Apple IIc+

     Go into Basic and type "PRINT PEEK (64447)" and press return.  If 
it says
255, you have a very old //c. This model is known to have problems 
producing
accurate baud rates for serial communications. It's been many years 
since the
//c was released; 
but, some long-time Apple dealers may still perform the upgrade for a 
nominal
fee. (Tell the dealer that the Apple authorization number is ODL660.)

     If PRINT PEEK (64447) displays 0, you can use 3.5" drives, but you 
don't
have the memory expansion connector. If it says 3, you have the memory
expansion connector and can plug in extra memory. If it says 4, you 
have the
latest model of the //c with 
the memory expansion connector and other upgrades.

     If PRINT PEEK (64447) displays 5, you have an Apple IIc+. The IIc+ 
also
has "IIc Plus" silkscreened in dark gray onto the upper right corner of 
the
case.


Apple IIgs

     There are 3 major versions of the GS: Check the initial power-up 
screen.
It will probably say ROM-01 or ROM 3. If it does not say either, you 
have a
ROM-00 model. You must upgrade a ROM-00 machine in order to run current 
system
software. The ROM-01 
has 256K on the motherboard, while the ROM 3 has 1 MB on the 
motherboard. Most
of the enhancements of the ROM 3 are added to the ROM-01 simply by 
booting up
with current system software. --Dan DeMaggio, CreatSltn, Steve Leahy, 
Nathan
Mates, Bevis King, 
Davi
d Empson, Jeff Blakeney, David Wilson, Rubywand

____________________________



020- Suppose I just want to start using my Apple II Now!?

     Okay; suppose you have zilch info, do not feel like looking 
through the
FAQs, and want to start Now. The following _may_ be all you need to get 
going
with some game or utility from diskette:

o The Disk Controller Card for Apple ][, ][+, and IIe goes into Slot 6 
(next to
last Slot on the right when viewed from the front). Drive 1 plugs into 
the top
connector with the ribbon side of the cable plug facing out. Plug in 
the
cable(s) before 
plugging in the card so that you are sure the connector and plug line 
up
correctly.

o On the IIgs, the 3.5" drive(s) plug in first, then, the 5.25" 
drive(s).

o Unless a hard disk is installed, most Apple II's try to boot a 
diskette and
start DOS 3.3, ProDOS, or GS/OS when turned ON. (On the old Apple ][ 
you can
type in 6 Control-P RETURN to boot from the Monitor, assuming your 
Controller
Card is in Slot 6. To 
press Control-P, press and hold Control, then P, then release both 
keys.)

o Most, but not all, diskettes are bootable. If one diskette doesn't 
boot, try
another. If no diskettes boot, use a Radio Shack Head Cleaner diskette 
to clean
the drive head(s).

o If the prompt you see is ], you are in Applesoft BASIC; > indicates 
Integer
BASIC; and * indicates the Monitor. If both Integer BASIC and Applesoft 
are in
memory, you can enter FP to switch from Integer to Applesoft and INT to 
switch
from Applesoft to 
Integer. To go from either BASIC to the Monitor, enter CALL- 151. To 
start the
current BASIC from the Monitor, enter Control-B. To go back to BASIC 
with
program and variables in tact from the Monitor, enter Control-C.

o Except for the ][ and most ][+'s, you must press Control-RESET to do 
a Reset.

o To boot a diskette when viewing a BASIC prompt, you can enter PR#6 to 
boot a
drive associated with Slot 6-- usually a 5.25" drive-- and PR#5 to boot 
a drive
associated with Slot 5-- usually a 3.5" drive. --Rubywand, David Empson

____________________________



021- Where do I find out about Apple II Users' Groups?

     See Csa2USERGRP.txt or
     http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs9USERGROUPS.html .

____________________________



022- How can I find out more about using and programming my Apple II?

     You can peruse the newsgroup FAQs Q&A. You can also check out the 
Apple II
Major Sites page. Here are two good 'getting starting' places:

Apple II Beginner's Guide
  http://www.GabrielMorales.net/Apple2/

Home of the Apple II
  http://www.callapple.org/apple2/


     All Apple II's come with some version of BASIC installed in-ROM on 
the
motherboard. The original Apple II's have Integer BASIC. Starting with 
the II+
model, all Apple II's have floating-point Applesoft BASIC in ROM. 
Owners of
early Apple II's can 
load in Applesoft or plug in a card with Applesoft ROMs.

     There are several good places to find out about Apple II BASIC
programming:


Apple II Textfiles
  http://www.textfiles.com/apple/

Byte Works (new IIgs GSoft BASIC)
  http://www.byteworks.org

Ground
  ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/MiscInfo/Applesoft/
  ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/MiscInfo/Programming/
  ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/apple8/Beagle.Oldies/

Tarnover
  http://tarnover.dyndns.org/

The comp.sys.apple2.programmer newsgroup and Csa2P FAQs
  for programming Q&A plus more links
  http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/csa2pfaq.html


     Besides BASIC, you can load and use many languages including 
Fortran,
Pascal, Modula, C, Logo, Forth, Assembly, and others. The Apple II 
"Monitor"
included in-ROM lets you enter 6502 and (on a IIgs) 65816 machine 
language
programs. IIgs owners can 
also create Hyperstudio and HyperCard stacks. For more information and 
links go
to the comp.sys.apple2.programmer FAQs (see URL above).


     There is really no substitute for having the technical manual for 
your
particular Apple II or clone. The manual for the ][ and ][+ is the 
Apple ][
Reference Manual. For the IIe and IIc you want Apple's Technical 
Reference
Manual for your machine. 
For the IIgs you will want, at least, the IIgs Hardware Reference and 
IIgs
Firmware Reference.

     Naturally, you will want to get manuals and materials covering 
DOS,
ProDOS, BASIC, and many other areas relating to your Apple II. Below is 
a
decent 'getting started' sampling:


General Apple II

Apple II Reference Manual  from Apple
Apple II User's Guide by Poole, Martin, and Cook
  Note: Third Edition, 1985 (Apple II User's Guide for APPLE II Plus
  and APPLE IIe) is completely revised to include ProDOS coverage
Beagle Bros "Peeks, Pokes, and Pointers" (poster)  by Beagle Bros
The Apple II Circuit Description  by Winston D. Gayler
Understanding the Apple ][  by Jim Sather
What's Where in the Apple II?  by William F. Luebbert


Applesoft BASIC and Assembly Language

Assembly Lines: The Book  by Roger Wagner
BASIC Programming Reference Manual  from Apple
Programming the 65816 Including the 6502, 65C02, and 65802
  by David Eyes and Ron Lichty
65816/65802 Assembly Language Programming by Michael Fischer


DOS, ProDOS, and GS/OS

Apple IIgs GS/OS Technical Reference (Apple/ Addison-Wesley)
Beneath Apple DOS  by Worth & Lechner
Beneath Apple ProDOS  by Worth & Lechner
Exploring Apple GS/OS and ProDOS 8  by Little
ProDOS Inside and Out  by Doms and Weishaar
ProDOS Technical Reference Manual (Apple/ Addison-Wesley)
The DOS Manual  from Apple



     Some technical manuals and other materials can be obtained in 
original or
reprint form from Byte Works and Kula Soft. Major book sellers, such as 
Amazon
list many Apple II books. For current Kula Soft, Byte Works, and other 
seller
links, see Vendors 
Q&A in Csa21MAIN2.txt or go to ...

http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/A2FAQs3VENDORS.html#020 .

Though most Apple II books are out of print, many sellers will search 
for and,
with luck, locate the book you want.

     Apple II manuals and other books also turn up for sale on Csa2 
newsgroups
like comp.sys.apple2.marketplace, at used book shops, and at local 
Users Group
swap meets. Some manuals and other items, such as Reference Cards and 
posters
(usually in Text 
or HTML form) are available for downloading at the major Apple II 
archives and
other support sites. (See Q&A 005 above.)

     You may be able to find a local Apple II users' group or a group 
on-line
that you like. Besides knowledgeable users, you will often find a 
software
library stocked with useful software. (See Csa2USERGRP.txt.)

     Another good resource is a subscription to an Apple II newsletter 
or
magazine; and, don't overlook collections of major Apple II magazines 
publish--- Fruity Dog 6.2