Re: Newbie : PC-IIGS-II compatibility

["Paul Grammens" <grammens@svn.net>]

Pierre Baldensperger <balden@extreme.ece.uiuc.edu> wrote in message
Pine.SGI.4.21.0003091015570.14315-100000@extreme.ece.uiuc.edu">news:Pine.SGI.4.21.0003091015570.14315-100000@extreme.ece.uiuc.edu...
>
> Hi,
>
> I'm an ex-Apple II user and just have the opportunity to
> buy an Apple II GS. I have some very stupid questions
> about it :
>

These are good questions.

> - Is an Apple II GS compatible with the older Apple II
>   (II+, IIe, IIc) ? To what extent ?

The IIgs can run their software, as well as the more advanced IIgs software.

> - I know there is some kind of incompatibility between
>   5.25" Apple II disks and 'current' 5.25" drives for PC.

They are totally incompatible.

>   The Apple II GS has both a 3.5" and a 5.25" drives. Can
>   the 3.5" II GS disks be read in a PC 3.5" drive ?

Probably not. The 3.5" drive is almost certainly an 800K drive. Look on the
bottom. If it says 800K, it is compatible with Mac 800K/1.44 Superdrives but
not PC drives.

 Can
>   the II GS 5.25" drive read Apple II 5.25" disks ?

Yes, that is basicly what they are for. IIgs disks would normally be 3.5".

> - Are there PC utilities to create 3.5" II GS disks from
>   disk images ?
>

No, but Macs can format 3.5" disks for the IIgs and transfer disk images to
floppy. I usually download files onto my PC, put them on floppy, take them
to one of my Macs and transfer to hard disk, then transfer to 800K ProDos
(IIgs) disks. Once you have a Comm program  (I use Agate, which I downloaded
from the archives) you can use a null modem cable to transfer files via
serial port from your PC to the IIgs.
The faq has a lot of info on doing these things, check it out at Rubywand's
outstanding web site:

<http://home.swbell.net/rubywand/Csa2T1TCOM.html>

Be sure to read up on the essential utilities, like Shrinkit.
Have fun!
-Paul