Re: What apple ][ is the best?

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

In article "mflynch" <mflynch@msn.com> writes...

>What is the best kind of Apple II? (//, //+,//c, ect...)
>E-mail me at prodos3@geocities.com
>
>Tell me what you think

    Simple. Without a doubt, the Apple IIGS. If you look at it from
one perspective, it is almost completely backwards compatible with
older Apple II models in both software and hardware support. It has
8 internal expansion slots like the Apple IIe _and_ 8 plug-in ports
in back like the Apple IIc (well one extra, since the IIc does not
have an ADB port). It runs over 2.5 times faster than any Apple II
made before it, has a built-in clock and battery operated Control
Panel, built-in RGB support, detachable keyboard, a mouse, 256K or
1 MB of memory built-in and AppleTalk networking. That is the just
looking at it as a pure Apple II (i.e. IIe or IIc compatible).

    The other perspective to look at it from is the other computer
personality inside, or the "GS" part (using the machine in native
mode). This side of the machine features things well beyond what
any other Apple II was ever capable of. Picture, if you will, what
a hybrid cross made up of the Apple II, Macintosh and Amiga would
be like -- that is the Apple IIGS. Some of its native features
include: 16-bit processing, memory expandable up to 8 MB (directly
addressable, no bank-switching), a built-in ROM toolbox which most
software takes advantage of for a Mac-like GUI, graphics which
support a 12-bit color palette with up to 256 or 3,200 colors per
screen (with none of the quirks of older Apple II graphics), serial
ports that support up to 57.6K and, finally, a built-in Ensoniq 5503
wavetable music synthesizer chip that supports 15 or more voices.

    Out of the box it is mostly a fancy Apple IIe compatible, due
to the fact Apple Computer negelected to equip it properly (anyone
who disagrees and feels it shipped "ok" from the factory loses all
creditability in my book). In order to take advantage of its native
mode you need to add extra memory, a hardrive and if at all possible,
an accelerator board. My own system is pushed to up 15 MHz, has a
330 MB SCSI hardrive and 5 megabytes of memory. I've also added
extras like a 1.44 MB SuperDrive to exchange floppies with other
machines and a stereo output/sound input board. *Phew* I went on
a bit there, but I just wanted to get the point across that it
makes so much more sense to find an Apple IIgs over any 8-bit
Apple II system. :-)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca