Re: Production Apple IIgs in IIe case - Does anyone have info on this?

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article "Suz" <redwood@super.zippo.comNOSPAM> writes...

>I was wondering if anyone knew anything about an Apple IIgs that was
>released in an Apple IIe style case.  I know that an upgrade was available,
>but the unit I'm talking about is original as it has IIgs written on the
>case.  I've looked all over the net and found nothing mentioned about it.

    The Apple IIgs was never released or sold in that form. What Apple
did offer, however, was an upgrade kit to transform your Apple IIe into
a functional IIgs. The kit consisted of the following items:

- Apple IIgs motherboard (identical to regular boards) *
- Metal base pan (with GS port cuts-outs in back)
- Sticker plates with "Apple" and "IIGS" (Garamond font; small Apple logo)
- Suppliment manual (differences between IIe and IIGS)

* Some GS boards had the IIe keyboard, numeric keypad and powersupply
  connectors soldered in place. They were used for the IIe upgrade
  kits, but many were found in regular GSes (even if they didn't have
  the connectors, they'd have solder pads instead). The ROM 3 had
  neither connectors or solder pads.

    It worked by you bringing in your Apple IIe to an Apple dealer
and paying US$500. The dealer would extract the existing base pan
with IIe motherboard attached, then swap the powersupply and the
internal speaker from there and place them on the new metal base.
The new base pan with GS board (and now your old powersupply and
speaker) were placed inside the plastic IIe case. (Note: Part of
the deal was you gave up your IIe board to the dealer).

    Next they'd pop out the old metal sticker plates and replace
them with the IIgs ones (raised and similiar to the originals,
except the Apple logo was smaller and it had the font in Garamond).
It was a short lived deal and not that popular though. Mostly
because it didn't make much sense--you'd still have to go out
and buy an ADB mouse (and keyboard, considering the IIe keyboard
was not ADB compatible). Also many GS specific slot cards would
not fit inside the IIe's slanted case. It might have been nice
for those simply wanting a fancy IIe compatible motherboard.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca