Re: IIgs Inquiry...Can any Apple Guru's help me out?

["william strutts" <wrstrutts1@home.com>]

"Just Me" <justme@here.com> wrote in message
news:AB837.679568$166.14007386@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com...
> Hey All.....
>
> I started on the original Apple II in Kindergarden in 1978...and just
> recently when feeling a bout of nostalgia, I drove 6hrs and picked up a
nice
> IIgs system.
>
> Around the time the IIgs was introduced my best friend got an XT and I
moved
> to the PC.  Now I am back to having fun with this little apple.  I have a
> very technical background, but it is primarily PC.  This is a tad ironic
> since my first name is "Mac".  *8)
>
> It is pretty kicking from what limited knowledge I possess of the IIgs.
> Runs at 10MHz and has 8MB of RAM and a 60MB HDD...dual 3.5" and a 5.25"
> floppy.  My problem now...how do I get software to it.  Any PC-->Apple
> software utils or cable designs I can find are all based towards any Apple
> II EXCEPT the IIgs...

It had a TransWarp GS card installed.  Geesh. Nice.

> I have toyed with the idea of picking up an old Mac IIvx setup the local
> apple shop has laying in the back.  They assure me it will read/write the
> old 800K floppies and the standard disks I use on the PC.  The major
> drawback is they tell me I cannot use my keyb/mouse/monitor from the
> IIgs...now the monitor I expected, but I could have sworn the keyb/mouse
> being ADB would work...no matter.  Its $100 I don't really want to spend.

You would need to use Mac OS System 7.5 which comes with the ability
to mount foreign file systems.  I just upgraded my Mac Classic II to System
7.5.3 tonight and it opened up Prodos and MS-DOS volumes just like it
was a standard Mac volume.  Cool.  I am using a stock Mac Keyboard
and Mouse from a Mac II on my IIgs.  Yes of course they will work.
The monitor is another story though.  The Mac's used a higher refresh
rate on the monitor.

> I have tried fighting with various translation programs that claim to
allow
> me access to Mac volumes.  However, since this HDD is setup under ProDOS,
> they all fail.  Any idea how I can mount a ProDOS volume via a Windows PC?

Try TransMac or WinImage on the PC. They work great that is how I
transfered files from the PC to the Mac.  Then using the Mac you can then
move it to a standard Prodos volume.

> ***IF YOU ARE SKIMMING, THIS IS THE PART TO READ***  Thanks  *8D
>
> I still think I should be able to connect directly via the modem or
printer
> port on the IIgs to a serial or parallel port on my PC.  My biggest
problem
> here is being unable to find a source for 8pin DIN connectors...I have
> purchased a "Mac to Imagewriter I" serial printer cable which is 8pin DIN
to
> DB25M...does anyone know if I can use this to connect an external modem to
> my IIgs modem port - or better yet, throw a null modem adapter and a 25-9
> reducer on it and hook up to my PC's serial port...which will then allow
me
> to use traditional comm software to move information to/from the IIgs.

You might need a Null Modem adapter for the PC but it should work to
allow you to connect via terminal software on both ends.  I use this method
with my IIgs on a regular basis.  You would need to get Shrinkit GS which
will allow you to create disk from emulator disk images.  That is pretty
cool too.  I have downloaded lots of stuff for the IIgs using that method.
The IIgs uses standard Mac cables so you have the right one.  I have a
pile of those cables myself that I found in the garbage.

--
--
William R. Strutts - wrstrutts1@home.com - Whatever!

C'est moi!  http://www.facelink.com/wrstrutts

Just hacking away...