Re: Using a PC to write IIGs-readable files

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Michael Wicklund writes ...
> 
> Correction, I do have someone who has a Mac and the ShrinkIt Expander
> (it's just that he doesn't have the extracter installed on his hard
> drive).
 ....


     The only computer which needs to have ShrinkIt (and, eventually,
GS-ShrinkIt) ready to run is your IIgs (since that is where you want to
unshrink stuff). Your PC takes care of the downloading. A friend's Mac could be
useful if it can read PC diskettes and you want to try putting stuff on HFS or
ProDOS diskettes your IIgs can read.

     Still, unless you have SCSI Zip drives connected to both your PC and your
GS or you have the extra GS hardware to handle PC diskettes, routinely moving
the files you download via some disk can be fairly cumbersome.

     The lowest hassle route to getting A2 software is downloading it from the
net to PC and using a NULL modem connection to send it to the GS. Some places
you can get a IIgs 'high speed' modem cable and/or a NULL modem connector are
listed below. (Radio Shack may still sell a NULL modem connector, too; or, you
can make one.)


InTrec Software (888-PROTERM; http://www.intrec.com ) sells ProTerm A2 and
high-speed GS modem cable; the "InTrec Store" sells used II/IIgs computers,
peripheral hardware, and software at good prices

MC Price Breakers (360-837-3042; http://www.mcpb.com ) sells memory boards,
high-speed GS modem cables, and other Apple II hardware

MPJA/ Marlin P. Jones (800-652-6733; http://www.mpja.com/ ) many power
supplies, NULL modem, Parallax BASIC stamp, misc kits, LED displays, LCD
panels, ...

ThinkStuff ( http://www.thinkstuff.com/main.htm ) sells Mac/IIgs hi-speed modem
and NULL modem cables.



     Once you have a setup like the one shown here ...


  [Modem to net]
       |
   modem cable
      COM1
  ____ |______                                        ____________
 |  PC or Mac |                                      |  Apple II  |
 |  running a |    COM2                              |  running a |
 |  telecom   | <--modem--> [NULL modem] <--modem--> |  telecom   |
 |  program   |    cable    [connector ]    cable    |  program   |
 |____________|                                      |____________|



and a telecom program running on each computer, you can easily transfer files
back and forth. If you do not have a telecom program for you IIgs, you can
start with ADT-GS (still using the above connection) and use it to transfer
disk images of utils, including a telecom program.




Rubywand