Re: Apple IIgs Upgrade

[Justin Scott <jhs@jiro.impakt.net>]

Nick <peradis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Just to inform the ignorant.
> What are you talking about?
> What do they upgrade ? Cpu/DiskController/Video...etc..

Nick,

The Apple IIgs Upgrade was offered for a short time so that Apple IIe users
could upgrade to a IIgs for $599.

The upgrade was a dealer installed option, and replaced the metal "pan" base
on the IIe case, which had holes in the back to accommodate the IIgs board's
serials, composite, adb, disk, rgb, audio, etc.  It also included a IIgs ROM 
01 (I beleive) motherboard.  In addition, new metal badges to replace the
old-style Apple logo and //e logo with the new-style Apple logo and IIgs 
logo.

(by old-style/new-style I am referring to when the Apple logo changed from
"apple" with the old script, all lowercase and "Apple" capitalized in the 
font we're used to seeing these days)

This upgrade was unpopular primarily because at the time it was cheaper to 
sell a full blown IIe and add $400 or so to it and buy a IIgs and 3.5" drive 
and RGB monitor.  If one upgraded their IIe to a IIgs, they still had to 
incur the cost of RGB monitor and 3.5" drive to fully utilize the 
capabilities of the upgrade. 

The September 1987 (I think) A+ magazine has an article regarding the 
upgrade with a sidebar describing several alternatives that were more 
economical.

Personally, I think the Beige IIe case and keyboard has alot more character 
and typing-friendliness than the IIgs and any ADB keyboard.

The upgrade could also be installed in a Platinum IIe, but since the "Apple
IIe" was stenciled onto the lid, it would continue to say Apple IIe on the
outside, as a Platinum replacement lid was never offered (AFAIK).

I am slowly building a page about my IIgs Upgrade system, and will be 
scanning the article from A+ and putting it online.  I'll post a message 
about the site when I'm done.

cheers,
j