Re: apple IIGS

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) wrote:

>>2.  Another question what kind of modems can the GS handle.  (i.e. what
>>is the fastest)
>
>    The built-in serial port handles up to 57600, which is perfect
>for 14.4K modems. It is possible to use 28.8K modems and faster,
>but you can't take full advantage of their data compression (you'd
>want to set your port speed to 115200 to get optimal performance
>out of a 28.8K or 33.6K modem for example, and the GS cannot).

The problem with looking at it this way is that only text
files are going to get those sorts of mega compressions.
For compressed files, 33.6k is hardly a waste and you
hardly need a 115200 port.  No and in fact your transfer
speed will go around the 33.6k.  Compression does not
help compressed files.

This is why a 33.6k modem is useful for an older Mac,
which use the same serial chip as the IIGS.  They also
have 57600 ports but no one claims they are good for
nothing but 14.4 modems!

When I was fooling around with 14.4 modems, the
average compression was about 19200.  Yup, in
the usual mix of text and compressed file transfers,
the vaunted compressions don't do much at all.

>    Also note, if you use a modem above 14.4K, your going to want
>an accelerator card to keep from dropping characters on screen.

That's absolutely wrong.  Shift boot Mitch and test
again with ProTERM 3.1.  You get NO dropping
characters.  In fact, even a stock IIe can easily handle
14.4 without dropping characters (but you need to
change the 6551 serial chip on the Super Serial Card
with a non-buggy version).  Yes, I tested this when I
still used a IIe.  Only interrupt eating GS/OS additions
cause problems.  That's why shift boot for ProTERM.

>>4. Does anyone know how to get a hold of Stephen Buggie(i think that is
>>his name)  He sent me some disks and I lost his address....six months
>>ago....Sorry for being so late
>
>    He just posted some information about contacting him (phone #,
>e-mail address, postal address) to this group yesterday.

But it is worth pointing out that his email is currently
down and the UNIX tech at his university won't be back
until January.

>>6. What is the latest version of Appleworks GS?  I have Appleworks GS
>>1v2.
>>    Has anyone looked into the almight y2k prob with this program?
>
>    Version 1.1 (circa 1989) is the latest. I'm not aware of any
>year 2000 bugs in the program, but if there are any, I wouldn't
>hold by breath about seeing them fixed. As it stands now, the

No Y2K bugs I'm happy to report.  I ran the clock forward
to see.

>program has been discontinued and support dropped (not that it
>makes a difference since no one was able to properly get the
>source code to compile).

Burger Bill got it to compile.  The story about "shit source
code" was an out and out lie by Quality to cover their butts!
However, Apple still remembers the program and they
might be willing to reclassify it as System Software, like
HyperCard.

Don't believe they still remember it?  Call Apple and ask
about how you would transfer AWGS files to a Windows
readable program.  They'll try to see you AppleWorks 5
for Windows (formerly ClarisWorks) and tell you exactly
how to transfer the files.  AWGS has a chance to live
again as System Software if only more Apple II users
cared and bugged Apple about it.

>>7.  What difference does 8meg  RAM have over a 4meg RAM.  Do programs
>>run faster??
>
>    Nope. You just have more free memory available to programs.
>From my experience, the vast majority of native IIgs software
>run very comfortably with 4 MB installed.

That's true.  But note that productivity software like AWGS
when combined with ink jet or laser printer drivers are
NOT comfortable with 2MB installed.  4MB is really the
minimum to get most programs comfortable.

>>Do any programs require 8 versus 4?
>
>    Hmm, I can think of perhaps one, and it's some obscure Unix
>program that was ported to run under GNO (in a text enviroment).
>In other cases some people have converted non-GS video formats
>into rather large PaintWorks animations, which themselves require
>8 MB to load into memory.
>
>    It is safe to say 99.9% of software for the IIgs will run
>with a 4 MB card installed (in fact, with 1.25 MB present you
>should be able to at least boot 99% of all existing software).
>There is about 1% of software that refuses to boot unless it
>finds 2-4 MB present.

You know, that's true but MANY productivity programs
have trouble with 2MB.  They boot, but then they go
kind of wacko when they run out of memory.  I've had
this happen to HyperCard for the Apple IIGS and AWGS
when trying to print via Harmonie to an ink jet printer.
This is with System 6.0.  It may not be the case with
System 5.0.4, but really if you are going 2MB, why not
make it at least 4MB?  It will save headaches and
a IIGS user really NEEDS System 6.0.1 to appreciate
the IIGS.