Re: Apple II gs

["Roger Johnstone" <bhmhome@es.co.nz>]

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In article <WHjo3.42841$jl.30127556@newscontent-01.sprint.ca>, "Visnja
Protic" <protic@sprint.ca> wrote:


>    hello,
>
>It's the first time I'm writing here and I have one question. I just got one
>of those Apple IIgs Woz Limited Edition computers at the local flea market
>(paid $20 Canadian). However, I didn't get the monitor with it and I was
>wondering if this computer is compatibile with mac monitors since I think
>that the jack in the back is different. Thank you for reading.
>
>
>            Vlad
>
>
>P.S. If responding by e-mail, please send to vprotic@yahoo.com
>

Apple used a 15 pin D connector for the videout on the Apple III (digital
RGB), Apple IIc (various video signals, no RGB), Apple IIgs (analogue RGB)
and Macintosh (slightly different analogue RGB). Unfortunately none of these
are directly compatible. The big difference between the IIgs and Mac is the
line frequency. The IIgs runs at 15 kilohertz (the same as a TV) but the
original colour Macs ran at 35kHz (I think). Standard VGA monitors on PCs
run at 31.5kHz. However most modern monitors are autosynchronising and will
run anywhere from 30kHz on up to cope with the higher resolutions of modern
computers. If you are lucky you might find an older monitor built for Mac or
VGA which will sync down to 15kHz, but these were pretty rare and expensive
in their day and as far as I know no one makes them anymore.

Your best option for a cheap RGB monitor is to pick up a used Commodore
monitor. Some of these had RGB and composite inputs, as well as sound input.
Because they were built for the Amiga (which also ran at 15kHz) they work
fine on a IIgs.

The IIgs also has composite video output. You can connect this into most
modern TVs. On older TVs a video recorder can be used as the RF modulator.
Unfortunately the results are normally not wonderful, especially for 80
column text. If you have a TV with a SCART connector you can use this as an
RGB input, but you will have to make your own cable, I don't think anyone
ever sold these for the IIgs. I have had very good results with this method.
IIgs games look great on a 20 inch TV!

Roger Johnstone