Re: Old Apple2. where to start?

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector) wrote,
in response to my reply:
>>All this progress comes at a cost.  Modern GS software requires
>>4MB to 8MB of memory.
>
>    What software (modern or old) requires 8 MB of RAM on the IIgs?

Mitchell, I said 4MB _to_ 8MB of RAM, and the reason I said it is
simply because for many software, 4MB really is the amount you
need.  It is the amount that AppleWorks GS tends to stabilize at,
for example.  What does 8MB gain you?  A little room to breath
and maybe set up a RAM disk.  The point is moot because the Sirius
memory card and the RAM GS Plus both don't cost much more (and
are as cheap, in most cases) as older 4MB only memory cards in
the 4MB configuration, but they can be expanded to 8MB at a later
date.

Other benefits of 8MB include the ability to manipulate large
graphics and digitize large sounds, set up a RAM disk for your
spool files and temp files, room to add more DAs, Control Panels,
and Finder extensions, etc.


>>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.
>
>    I would faster recommend adding just a 4 MB board, that is often
>more than enough for most IIgs software to run in (even with several
>extensions and frills loaded in System Software, though in the rare
>case it is not, just shift-boot). Also, with only 4 MB present in
>the expansion slot, both the ROM 01 and 3 remain DMA compatible.
>
>    If in future highly advanced software is written that requires
>that amount of memory,  it is nice to have the option to expand.
>However, in the meantime, adding that much is wasting money IMHO.

Yes, but notice I said _fill it with your spare 1MB SIMM modules_.
:)  The thing about 4MB memory boards is that they are going to
cost as much as a Sirius or RAM GS Plus in their 4MB configurations.
On the otherhand, if the user already has some spare SIMMs lying
around, wouldn't you agree that the Sirius would be a good idea?
If you had 8 of them lying around, wouldn't you want to bump the
memory up to 8 megs?

I would.  The loss of DMA is not that big of a deal.  In real world,
random read/write situations, it is not very noticeable (except when
doing sequential operations like verifying a volume).


>>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.
>
>    200 to 300 MB on an Apple IIgs is a more comfortable size, I had
>a 700 MB SCSI drive connected for 2 years, yet only managed to fill
>roughly 200 megabytes. It failed (sent back under warranty) and I'm
>currently looking to replace it with a drive of smaller size, no need
>for overkill. Larger drives are nice, but unfortunately you have to
>deal with HFS and that is very unstable and flaky (re: the HFS.FST)
>
>    My advise to anyone looking to upgrade a IIgs, get a hardrive
>no smaller than 120 MB (using a DMA controller) and if you need or
>want something larger, 300 MB will generally be the limit to what
>you'll need. Programs on the IIgs are not bloated as they are on
>the PC or Mac, so you don't need the space, unless you want to
>store huge amounts of generic data files (e.g. GIF, JPEG, MOD,
>WAV, MID, etc).

The Focus is fast without DMA.  It takes DMA out of the equation, so
when the user wants to bump the GS up to 8MB, they don't have to
change anything.  As for overkill, 500MB will give you room to grow.

I used to think 170MB was enough too, but soon my hard disk filled
up.  As for the HFS partitions, if you keep them at 96MB or below,
they work well.  I've not had any trouble with them.  5 HFS 95MB
partitions and a few ProDOS partitions don't seem too much.

I'm pretty sure that, like the Apple II High Speed SCSI, the Focus
supports many more partitions than the RamFAST does.


>>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).
>
>    A CD-ROM is a nice bit to add, but new users should keep in
>mind there are only a small handful of Apple II specific discs
>available. Most are merely archived data for storage purposes,
>like library archives, not software that takes advantage of all
>the storage each disc holds (like games). To date there is a
>total of *1* Apple II program that ran off and required a CD-ROM.

I agree.  That's why I said "If you have a _spare_ SCSI CD-ROM
lying around..."


>>As you well know with your PCs, more memory and hard drive space
>>is better.  The same thing applies on the GS.  Have fun!
>
>    Sure, but it's relative of course. There is no need to spend
>money on things just to go, "Hey, look my GS system has 8 MB of
>RAM and a 2 GB hardrive" when chances are you'll never need all
>those resources (okay, I'm guilty of that somewhat ;). It's better
>to buy conservatively, then use what you save towards other upgrades.
>For example, I rather buy a smaller hardrive if it means I could
>purchase an accelerator card with the savings.
>
>Mitchell Spector
>spec@vax2.concordia.ca

You are right Mitchell, but there is a win-win situation.  You
can get a Sirius with 0-4MB and pop whatever number of 1MB SIMMs
you have on hand.  A 0MB Sirius is _cheaper_ than an overpriced
4MB only memory board like the Q-RAM, for example.  The Sirius
also gives you the option of upgrading all the way to 8MB when
and if you need to.  This is why I would never recommend a new
user to go for a 4MB only card and be locked in forever.

As for the hard disk, the Focus is good for the new user because
it really is plug and play.  Upgrading will be harder, though,
because the drive is mounted on the card (but it is possible).
Thus, 500MB is a safe bet because it gives room to grow.  On the
otherhand, because the drive does not use DMA, it is a good match
for future 8MB RAM expansion.

Now of course I was only pointing out the ideal situation with
my dream GS.  My own system is way short of a 500MB hard disk
these days.  The point is, when I'm archiving files left and right,
I wouldn't mind having a much larger hard drive.  :)

-Scott G.