ZIP-GS ACCELERATOR: Questions

[sebugg@presby.edu (Stephen Buggie)]

                       QUESTIONS ON ZIP-GS
                       ===================

After much consideration, I am thinking of buying a ZIP-GS accelerator board
new.  I bought a used Transwarp-GS last year, and it arrived dead-on-arrival.
The ZIP-GS seems to hold its value in the ads and I have always been outbid
on the used ones.  (Used seem to sell for about half the new price of $189,
which must make this the champion A2 product for holding its value.)

If I buy this item new, it will be the most expensive computer item I've
_ever_ bought new (previous high item: a Unidisk 3.5 new from Alltech @
$159).  Thus, I want to shop carefully to get the correct model and the
best available price.

If you are familiar with ZIP-GS, please send me comments!  E-mail appreciated
but other readers may be interested in a public reply.

QUESTIONS:


1.   Is ZIP still in business?  I heard rumors that they quit.
     Is the ZIP-GS still in production?   Will a factory warranty be
     available on ZIP-GS?

2.  What is the difference between the 16K cache and the 32K cache?
    Do you just add RAM chips to increase the cache?  How do they
    perform differently?

3.  Is the 8MZ version highly reliable?
        (I bought a used Transwarp GS that was dead on arrival).

4.  How COMPATIBLE is it with other IIGS items?
        Here is my system:
        ROM 01 CPU
        Apple Rev. C scsi card with 40 meg SCSI external HD
        Two 5.25" drives plus two 3.5" grey drives
        Sonic Blaster AE card
        AE Heavy Duty IIGS power supply
        parallel printer card
        AE Datalink 2400 modem
        RAM 4000 4 meg memory card

5.
Is it compatible with the RAMFAST scsi card (am considering getting one.)


I have installed 8 but 8 MHZ ZIP chips in two of my apples
so I am experienced with chip insertion.

6.  What sellers have ZIP-GS?   (I have a quote from one seller of
$189 for the 8 MHz/16K cache model)


6.  CPU CHIP model vs. Interface Card model:  In the Fen 1991 issue of
Incoder/A+ there is an ad showing two versions:  A CPU Chip model (actually
a tiny card that plugs into the CPU socket) and a full sized interface
card.  Which model is preferred?  Does the interface card model consume
more power???    [If the power demand is the same, I would go for the
interface card model, based on tricky pin-insertions with ZRAM boards
in my IICs]

Your advice will be appreciated!

P.S.  Will appreciate hearing from vendors who have ZIP-GS in stock;
Send price quotes.




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 ** Stephen Buggie  Psych Dept  Presbyterian College   Clinton SC 29325 **
 ** sebugg@presby.edu                 voice: (803) 833-8337 or 833-1632 **
 **             The Apple ][ pledge:  never to mess with MS-DOS         **
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