Re: Newbie at Apple IIgs

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

g3man@macol.net (Roland of Gilead) wrote:

>Hey There!
>
>I have a friend who's mom has decided she wants to go online with her
>IIgs.

Excellent, I'm sending you the specs of the IIGS and some info
at the end of this post.

>All she really wants to do is email. Yea, right <g>.

Well, it can do a lot more than email.  ;-)  See below.

>I have the computer to set it up except for the modem. I haven't seen the
>disks she has. I figure I can download any system sofware needed on to my
>G3. Downloading via ftp.apple.com.

You can download System 6.0.1 for the IIGS and HyperCard
for the IIGS this way, but no telecommunication software.
For what your mom wants to do requires at least a terminal
emulator (VT100) and transfer protocol (like Zmodem) and
preferably TCP/IP.  The Apple IIGS supports all of these with
the right software.

A company called Seven Hills sells a program that supports
VT100, Zmodem, TCP/IP, a web browser of sorts, and lots
of other IIGS software.  I don't have the URL of their web
page handy at the moment.  Maybe another csa2 reader can
provide it to you.

>The modem, an Apple IIe Data Modem
>(2400), is going to be purchased from shrevesystems ($5).

That's a bad deal.  The Apple IIGS uses the same types of
EXTERNAL modems as the Macintosh.  It works well with,
for example, a 14.4k or 28.8k modem and a Mac Quadra to
Hayes compatible modem cable.  These modems connect
to the IIGS modem port using a Mac modem cable.  You
can probably find junk 14.4k modems for $5.  Surfing the
web and even reading email is much easier on the IIGS
with at least a 14.4k modem.

>My question(s) are:
>
>Is there a better or faster modem?

Almost any external Mac or Windows PC modem.  Some
funky Mac ones that work only in special Macs (GeoPort)
won't work, but ones that use the regular serial port will.
The IIGS serial ports can go up to 57.6k (software ignores
the artificial limits set by the control panel) and up to 230k
for AppleTalk.

>Do I need special cables?

A Macintosh to Hayes compatible modem cable.

>How do I check if there is enough memory to run the disks from ftp.apple?

Look it up in the RAM control panel of the IIGS.  System
6.0.1 for the IIGS from Apple has a Finder, so you know
how to work it.  ;-)

>How do I convert from the images on my G3 to a readable disk for the IIgs?