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The Search for the Ideal IIGS Writer's System Continues
Howdy,
Continuing with my weekly installments of my trials and tribulations in
getting my perfect IIGS system set up:
To recap, briefly: I tried out every WP product I could find for the
IIGS, finally settling on AW5.1 because it is 1) easy to use, 2) has a
nice display, and 3) exports and imports formats that are easily
exchangeable between Windows and IIGS platforms. I still had some
concerns about getting my work printed out in a satisfactory manner, as
the ImageWriter II was pretty slow, and the DeskWriter 600 wasn't usable
under AW5.1.
Last week, I ordered the MegaBuff option card for the ImageWriter II. As
I'm sure most of you know, it's a card that adds a 1 MB buffer, in
addition to bumping the speed up to 19.2KBaud (under 8-bit ProDOS
programs) or 57.6KBaud (under GS/OS desktop programs) from the original
9600 baud port speed, using special drivers included in the package.
I received MegaBuff on Friday, May 9. I installed it on Saturday the
10th, and I'm quite pleased with its performance under AW5.1. The
information flows to the printer much faster, and I don't have to wait
for the document to print out before I can go back to using the
computer. That is ideal for the way I like to work with the computer.
I also ordered an ImageWriter II Sheet Feeder from my friendly local
Apple dealer. It came in on Friday, and I eagerly brought it home,
hoping to never use the pinfeed paper again. Sadly, it didn't work
properly. It feeds the sheets in crooked most of the time. Even when it
feeds them in straight, it doesn't feed them far enough that the platen
can catch the page. It came sealed in the box from Apple, but it is
quite obviously a reconditioned unit. It's not reconditioned very well,
at that. Not only does it not function properly, it was quite dirty, and
the back of the unit is discolored (presumably from sitting in direct
sunlight too long). So, it will go back to the store on Monday, and I'll
stick with pinfeed (I'm not going to go through the trouble of ordering
a replacement; it's not worth my time at this point).
I'm still awaiting the 7 MHz Zip GS from Alltech (which I've been told is
easily modifiable to 8, perhaps 9 MHz, and only moderately more difficult
to modify to 13.5 or so MHz). I think I'll receive it this coming week.
Scott G. apparently knows how to get the DeskWriter 600 to work with
AW5.1, using the MegaBuff drivers, but I haven't been able to discern
how. I'm hoping he'll reply this coming week, so I can get that ironed
out.
I managed to write circa 10,000 words this week on the latest project,
using my IIGS. All of this expense will pay for itself in time. :)
-Joe
______________________________________________________________________________
Joseph E. Walsh | Game Designer for Marc Miller's Traveller
_________________| Atari 1200XL and Apple IIGS User and Programmer