Re: Apple IIGS Questions

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

In article nerb@uoft02.utoledo.edu writes...
>
>I've been trying to run some software, but it says I need System Version 5.0.4 
>at least for my GS.  I only have 5.0.2.  How can I upgrade?

        The latest System Software available is System 6.0.1. If you have FTP
access, it can be obtained from ftp.apple.com//dts/aii/sys.soft/gs.system.6.0.1
or /gs.system.5.0.4 if you prefer. It's also available at ftp.support.apple.com
//pub/apple_sw_updates/US/Apple II/Apple IIGS System 6.0.1 in both Apple II and
Macintosh formats. The latter is useful if you have access to a Macintosh, as 
you can create the disk images directly without the need of your IIgs. There 
are other sources, such as GS+, Shareware Solutions II, Quality Computers,
Alltech Electronics and various other licensed persons or companies if you 
want to pay a small fee for disk copies (w/ manuals are a few dollars extra).

	System 5.0.4 comes on two 800k diskettes, while System 6.0.1 (or 6.0)
comes on six 800k diskettes. I highly recommend System 6.0.1 though, there are
many useful features and improvements you simply will not find in 5.0.4. Bare
in mind that you will need 1.25MB RAM minimum (more is recommended) to run
either 5.0.4 or 6.0.1. A hardrive and additional RAM will make using System 6
much more pleasant and useful.

>Is there a way to record sound off an Apple IIGS using a tape recorder with a 
>simple input port?

	If you know what your doing, you can connect a microphone directly
to the Ensoniq's molex input-pins on the motherboard (an old issue of InCider
gave step-by-step instructions using an intercom & wires) but if you do it
wrong you can blow something. The best solution is to find either a slotless
digitizer (Roger Wagner's HyperStudio program included one) or a slot based
digitizer/stereo card (ie, SuperSonic, FutureSound, ACE, SonicBlaster,
Audio Animator, SoundMeister). The only ones still in production today
are the slotless digitizer and the SoundMeister.

	The Ensoniq 5503 DOC has a built in ADC (Analog to Digital Convertor)
that allows you to record real world sounds, such as your voice or music. You
just need one of the above solutions to "tap" the input into the chip since
Apple never provided any. The same applies to stereo sound, the chip supplies
that too, but no direct means of using it without card. The molex pins provide
a means for grabbing the signals thankfully...

>Is there a way to connect a Nintendo and/or Super NES to an Apple IIGS monitor 
>while still keeping the computer connected?

	The old 8-bit Nintendo only provided NTSC output, so your only option
is to connect it to a composite (color or monochrome) computer screen or to your
TV set (RF modulator, direct coxial connection or RCA connector). The 16-bit
SuperNintendo provides _both_ an NTSC and analog RGB output signal, therefore
compatible with the AppleColor RGB (IIgs's monitor). You need to order a 
special cable though, Redmond Cables carries it. The results are beautiful,
however I've heard you'll have to let the GS monitor warm up a bit first to
get a stable picture. The "Ultra64" (3rd generation Nintendo) should work
with the GS monitor as well... :)

>Thanks.

Mitchell Spector
m_spect@vega.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca