Re: Need advice

[guenter@student.uni-kl.de (Marvin)]

Tim in Town (timf@rmi.net) wrote:
: I've just unpacked my GS after several years and am now wanting to use it
: to browse the Internet and research/write papers for college.  I've been
: reading the various FAQs and posts for a few weeks, but I'm overwhelmed by
: the "technicalease."  Can anyone give me straightforward suggestions on how
: to upgrade my GS and where to get the upgrades.

First: Hard disk & extra RAM
--> RAM + SCSI cards as well as some HD's are available from Sequential
    Systems (http://www.sequential.com) You may also buy a Zip accelerator.

Next: CD-ROM, fast modem
--> Check Alltech (http://www.allelec.com) for spare parts. CD-Roms are
available from Digisoft (http://hypermall.com/cgi-bin/ssis/digisoft/digisoft/),
SSII (http://www.crl.com/~joko/ssii.html) and other places.

Then: Software
--> Check Seven Hills Software (http://www.nettally.com/shss) for
Graphicwriter and Spectrum/SIS

: I'm also curious about the GNO/ME platform and what pluses/minuses it has
: over the native GS/OS environment.

Plus: Unix compatibility, Multitasking
Minus: Text shell, the SwitchIt addon lets you switch between desktop programs
       but has no multitasking.

If you want to buy a copy from EGO systems (http://www.hypermall.com/ego),
hurry on as they are closing their doors. Or ask Jawaid Bazyar at
(http://www.hypermall.com/companies/procyon)

: I've been using a PC (Pentium 166 w/33.6 modem, Win95) to browse, and am
: wondering how a "super-GS" would compare.  Also, I've read about Spectrum's
: browser and understand that there is another browser available under
: GNO/ME.  Has anyone compared these two?  Is the GNO/ME browser similar to
: Internet Explorer?

TCP/IP software for the gs is still under construction, so you will have to
choose between the Lynx text-only browser and SIS which supports sounds
and a lot of Netscare goodies, but no graphics yet.

: Basically, what I'm asking is this:
:   Can the readers of this group give me some advice as to whether I should
: upgrade the GS or just buy a new system?  (I really enjoyed my GS when I
: used it 8 years ago in college.  Now that I'm addicted to "net surfing" I'd
: like to use the GS rather than spend money on a new system.  But I don't
: think its feasible to let sentimentality limit my choices.)

Depends on what you expect from your machine. Of course, the gs won't be able
to play real-time MPEG movies or perform other tasks which forces a state-
of-the-art puntium machine on its knees. But it is still a fine machine for
music, DTP, electronics and various other things.

One alternative may be to buy a Macintrash or a Windoze machine and hook them
together with your gs using AppleTalk (Easier with a Mac). Why not have the
best of two worlds and share your precious hardware? More info about networking
can be found in the SSII magazine from Joe Kohn (joko@crl.com)

Hope this helps. :)

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