Re: Uploading System 6 via a PC?

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

(Richard Nurse) wrote:
>I've just become the proud owner of a IIGS (they're pretty hard to come by
>here in the UK), but unfortunately it only came with a Prodos 8 boot disk
>(also containing UnShrinkit 2.0) , and a disk containing Proterm 2.1
>Naturally, I'd like to get System 5 or 6, but what are my best options?

Richard, considering that you don't have a high density drive, lack
a hard disk drive, and have only a small amount of memory on your GS,
your best bet is to replace your GS's 1MB RAM card with a Sirius RAM
card from Alltech and populate it with 4MB or 8MB worth of 1MB SIMM
modules.  If you have any PC parts lying around, you may be able to
get these.

System 6.0.1, the newest software, is available on disk from Alltech
Electronics for several American dollars.  They ship overseas.  Their
web address is http://www.allelec.com/.  Believe me, it is much easier
to get the software on disks rather than try to null modem it or
unpack it to a bare GS system.

>Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac (though I can get occasional access to
>one), but I can XModem stuff between my PC and the IIGS. Is there a binscii
>decoder for the PC ( I've got Nulib, so I can unshrink .SHK files). I
>realise that I could send the binscii files to the IIGS and then un-binscii
>+ unshrink them there, but I wouldn't have enough disk space for both the
>binscii'd file and the extracted files (I've only one 800k drive and not
>enough memory for a large RAM disk).

And this is why I suggest you try Alltech (http://www.allelec.com/)
to get System 6.0.1 on disk.  While you are there, you can investigate
a Sirius card (which can be populated with 4MB to 8MB of memory) to
up the memory and maybe a 500MB Focus drive.  With a hard drive, the
GS becomes a much more useful tool for word processing, page layout,
and even web browsing.

>I can use ADT to copy disk images from the PC via cable to the Apple's
>5.25" drive - is there anything similar that copies prodos images from the
>PC to 800k 3.5" disks?

No.  Remember that a disk image of an 800K disk is always a bit
larger than 800K.  Shrunk disks are a different story, but then
you would need a separate drive to unshrink the files to.  Visit
Alltech and get System 6.0.1 on disks.


>What are S16 file types - presumably System 5 / 6 system files? (they
>don't seem to run under prodos).

S16 files are GS specific programs.  They will run under System 6.0.1.
Again, you will probably need at least 2MB of memory to boot the
System and then some to boot the software.  If you have a printer
driver that eats up chunks of memory, you may get funky behavior
(as I had in the past).  This is why 4MB of memory is the real minimum
requirement for many GS software when faced with the reality of
running in a dynamic, modular system like the GS.  If you are getting
a Focus drive, 8MB is also a good configuration and gives much room
to breath.


>Finally, on the subject of memory, my RAM card contains 512K (just the top
>half filled). What are my options for expansion?  I assume that filling the
>bottom half with 41256's will make 1 Meg? If so, what should the J1/J2
>jumpers be set to? Does the RAM all need to be the same speed (the top half
>is 150ns).

Honestly, it will probably be cheaper and more painless to just get
a bare bones (0K installed) Sirius memory card from Alltech
Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/) and look around the used PC
or Mac places to scavange used 1MB SIMMs.  After verifying that those
SIMM modules are in working order, the Sirius card can be populated
with 4 to 8 of these for 4MB to 8MB.

On the other hand, 41256 _chips_ are not much cheaper new than 1MB
SIMMs are used.  The things are so rare now.  Also, with just 1MB,
your GS is not going to be able to run many of the newer software.
(for example, HyperCard IIGS won't work without 1.5MB to 2MB and
running a large stack pretty much mandates 4MB or more).  My advice
is to get 4MB to 8MB and enjoy the GS.

Where does one get GS software and hardware these days?


To get started:

You need to get the System 6.0.1 six disk set from Alltech Electronics
(http://www.allelec.com).  Shareware Solutions II carries various
and many other softwares for the price of postage and handling and
he publishes a newsletter about the computer (http://www.crl.com/~joko).
Better yet, connect a modem and hard disk to it to make it into an easy
to use, web capable education and productivity platform for your nephew.
When clocked at 13.75MHz with an addon board, a GS word processes faster
than the 25MHz '486 PC that I also use.  :)  See below for sources.


Where do you get information and products for the GS?

Short answer:
Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/)
Sequential Systems (http://www.sequential.com/)
Seven Hills (http://www.sevenhills.com/applesoftware/iigs/)

Long Answer:
Friend, you are in for a treat.  GS software has come a long way
since the time when the "desktop" was an optional program.  The
GS's native OS is GS/OS, a modular OS that can accept drivers and
foreign filesystems with ease and has an integrated GUI that is
almost identical to MacOS.  It is not a precursor to MacOS, but
an independent creation of Apple.  The latest version can read
and write Macintosh disks and read MS-DOS disks (with the right
drive).

Even more good news, if you are a linux fan, you may like to
investigate the version of UNIX called GNO/ME for the GS.  Sold
by EGO Systems, GNO/ME will give you a UNIX style shell and
command line that you are familiar with.  And yes, it implements
pre-emtive multitasking of processes.

All this progress comes at a cost.  Modern GS software requires
4MB (8MB of memory is even better).  The good news is that if you
have any 1MB SIMM modules lying around, you can use these with
the Sirius memory board for the GS.  You should also get a hard
drive for the computer (it can use both SCSI and IDE/EIDE hard
drives with the right controller card).

Hop over to Alltech Electronics (http://www.allelec.com/) and
Sequential Systems (http://www.sequential.com/) to find the
needed upgrade peripherals.  I recommend you get a Sirius memory
board from Alltech Electronics and fill it with your spare 1MB
SIMM modules to boost your GS computer's memory to 8 megabytes.
You might also want to pick up a 500 megabyte Focus hard disk
drive from Alltech.  Alltech sells the Focus drive preformatted
with GS/OS with System 6.0.1, so you get the OS preinstalled.

For software, I recommend AppleWorks GS v1.1, also from Alltech.
They carry it for $15 and it includes a nice graphical GUI
word processor, a draw/paint program, spreadsheet, a nice DB
module that supports graphics, and a page layout module that
resembles an early version of PageMaker.  With the right addon,
you can use TrueType fonts on the GS.

If you have an spare SCSI CD-ROM drive lying around, there are
CD-ROMs for the GS!  Look at them at http://www.crl.com/~joko
(Joe Kohn's SSII organization) and http://www.sequential.com/
(Sequential Systems).

There is also a Netscape-like graphical web browser for it, but
it requires a 4MB-8MB GS and for all practical purposes a hard
drive and a 14.4 or faster modem (the GS can handle 33.6 ones
just fine, but 14.4 will do).  It functions like a cross
between Lynx and Netscape with autoload graphics turned off.
See Seven Hills (http://www.sevenhills.com/applesoftware/iigs/)
for more information on the SIS browser for the Spectrum program.

For ftp freeware and shareware, investigate ground with your
web browser (http://ground.isca.uiowa.edu/)

As you well know with your PCs, more memory and hard drive space
is better.  The same thing applies on the GS.  Have fun!

-Scott G.