Re: Upgrading the ROM on a IIGS

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>Tail Kinker writes ...
>> 
>> I have a ROM version 1, and from what I've heard, that's
>> worthless...
>
>     ??? If required to use just one IIgs and given a choice of a ROM-01 or
ROM
>3, my choice would be the ROM-01-- there would not even be any hesitation.
>
>     The main reason for choosing the ROM-01 is compatibility with pre-System
5
>software (which includes most commercial IIgs software). If you want to play
>some "ProDOS 16" game, you just pop in the diskette and play it-- no hunting
>around for a 'fixed' version. The same goes for all sorts of early utlities
and
>other kinds of software.

I think this is a false assumption.  Yes, a FEW titles crashed
on ROM 3 because they were programmed "on the metal."
But any ProDOS 16 program that followed the rules works
on a ROM 3.  I still play Apple IIGS Tetris, a ProDOS 16
program.  It works!

>     Is the ROM 3 a better machine? Yes, it is. On the other hand, once you
add
>the motherboard Slot jumpers to improve +5V and +12V power distribution, the
>ROM 3's quieter bus advantage disappears. (In fact, ROM 3 users who pile in
>Slot cards should probably add the jumpers, too.)
>
>     8MB Expansion Memory cards have pretty well equalized things on the
memory
>front; and, the base system speed advantage is so small as to be barely
>noticable.

You left out the best advantage of the ROM 3.  You can
plug in a card in slot 4, set to "Your Card" and still
retain ADB mouse function.  AppleTalk can be slot 1,
2, or 7 so does not eat up as many slots.  Basically,
the ROM 3 increases usable slots without deactivating
built in features.