Just bursting to share

[CUTjefbla@bconnex.net (Jeff Blakeney)]

Well, I just have to let everyone know about my new Apple IIgs
configuration.  I finally received the second half of a shipment of
Apple II stuff and finally have a nice system.  :-)

My old configuration first just so you know how big a leap I've taken:

     Apple IIgs ROM 01
     5.25 MB of RAM  (CVTech w/4 MB and Apple 1 MB)
     Stock speed (no accelerator)
     Slot 1:  Printer Port connected to ImageWriter II
           : Grappler+ connected to a Panasonic KX-P2123 (when I'm not
             using it on my 486)
     Slot 2: Modem Port connected to either a 14.4kbps or a 33.6kbps
             modem (depending on whether I feel like swapping cables)
           : Empty
     Slot 3: Built-in Text Display
           : Video Overlay Card
     Slot 4: Mouse Port
           : Empty
     Slot 5: Smart Port with one Apple 3.5 Drive attached
           : Empty
     Slot 6: Disk Port
           : Apple Disk ][ controller with one Disk ][ drive attached
     Slot 7: Your Card
           : AMR SCSI controller with an AMR 60 MB hard drive attached

Note that the AMR hard drive isn't a whole lot faster than a 3.5"
floppy drive.  Also, the reason I was using a Disk ][ controller card
was so that I could turn 5.25" drives on an off using the Control
Panel.  When I set slot 6 to Disk Port I didn't have access to the
5.25" drive and when I set it to Your Card I did.

I am now running:

     Apple IIgs ROM 01
     8.25 MB of RAM  (CVTech w/4 MB and a Sequential RAM=GS 4 MB)
     ZipGSX v1.02 running at 8 Mhz with 16 kb cache
     Slot 1:  Printer Port connected to ImageWriter II
           : Grappler+ connected to a Panasonic KX-P2123 (when I'm not
             using it on my 486)
     Slot 2: Modem Port connected to a 33.6kbps modem (I put away the
             14.4kbps modem and share the 33.6 kbps with my 486)
           : Empty
     Slot 3: Built-in Text Display
           : ZipGS accelerator (I plan to move this to slot 4 so I can
             put my Video Overlay Card in this slot but I need to make
             or slightly longer cable first)
     Slot 4: Mouse Port
           : Empty
     Slot 5: Smart Port with two Apple 3.5 Drives attached
           : Empty
     Slot 6: Disk Port with an Apple 5.25 Drive and a second 5.25" of
             one kind or another (I have several) daisy chained to it
           : Empty
     Slot 7: Your Card
           : RamFAST rev D SCSI card (I don't know how much cache)
             with a Quantum ProDrive 1225S 1 GB hard drive and a TMS
             Pro T155 155 MB tape backup attached

The 5.25" drive setup has now been reversed.  When slot 6 is set to
Disk Port I have access to the 5.25" drives but when it is set to Your
Card, I don't.

I've also been lent (with option to buy) an Epson Stylus Color 400
printer but it doesn't work with the Epson printer but I'll talk about
that in another post.

Now my machine is just SO MUCH FASTER!  It now takes about 30 seconds
from power on to being able to use the Finder even with all my add-ons
(Finder 444k, System 527k, Desk accessories 247k and Setup files 352k
according to the "About This Apple IIgs" window).

I was never very fond of Heirarchical menus on my unaccelerated
machine but now the menus get drawn so quickly and the heirarchical
sub-menus pop open and close so quickly that I don't even notice that
they are different from standard menus.

Wolfenstein 3D runs much better and I finally got to see MegaDemo.
GShisen is much nicer to play as it will automatically tell me when
there are no more moves instead of me having to manually ask it to
check for remaining moves.  I was really impressed with how fast
ShrinkItGS unpacks files now and makes me wonder just how fast it
would be if I have a math coprocessor.

Having 9 32 MB ProDOS and 1 880 MB HFS partition is wonderful.  I
finally have enough room to sort through the 200-300 archive disks
that I have accumulated over the years.

Anyways, as you can probably tell I'm ecstatic and am enjoying myself
to no end.  I'll have to look at upgrading the ZipGS to even faster
speeds come the new year.

=== To ensure I see a reply please also e-mail me but remember to:
    CUT the obvious from my e-mail address to e-mail me
    Jeff Blakeney - Dean of the Apple II University on Delphi
*** HyperCard IIgs course now in session in the A2Pro forum on Delphi