Re: Couple of IIgs-related questions

[dempson@actrix.gen.nz (David Empson)]

In article <2t9ppf$et1@hermes.unt.edu>,
Phillip "Ty" Young <tyoung@jove.acs.unt.edu> wrote:
> THanks for reading...couple of questions from a new IIgs user.
> (1) how come my IIgs pauses for about 20" when I boot using P8, v203?
> 	It seems to just sort of "stop" right after the P8 screen (credits)
> 	comes up.  Can't figure it out.

Mine does this too.  I suspect it is caused by ProDOS-8 reinitailizing
the SCSI card so that all devices are located.  I don't know how long
it takes with a RamFAST, but my Apple High-speed SCSI card takes about
five seconds.

> (2) Is there some sort of command one can execute in GSOS 504 to bring up 
> a list of installed tools available?

Not included with the System Software.  Back in System 3.2 and
earlier, the LAUNCHER.SYSTEM program had a hidden feature which
displayed the installed toolset versions (holding down the Apple key
and clicking on the version number in the launch dialog).  This has
been included in System 6.0 and 6.0.1, but isn't a separate
application: it is called up when you quit from your boot application.

The versions of the toolsets should be well-defined.  All of the system
toolsets are shipped with a particular version of the system software,
and it is never a good idea to mix toolsets from different system disks.

I've written a program which will display the version of all toolsets,
either in memory, or on the system disk.  It is a small GS/OS
application called TOOLVER.  I've also been keeping an AppleWorks
spreadsheet which lists the version numbers of all the toolsets in
each version of the system software (except a couple of early versions
which I never saw).

I think I posted both of these to comp.binaries.apple2 over a year
ago.  I can post them again if anyone wants them.

> (3) I have one of those "conversion" IIgs's, meaning one which was 
> perhaps an upgrade from someone's //e (although maybe apple did that 
> themselves!)  Anyways, any problem with running two ADB devices from the 
> IIgs' ADB port, i.e. keyboard (external) and mouse?

Nope.  Depending on power supply and total cable length, you should be
able to run up to sixteen devices off ADB (though you might have
software problems with more than nine).  I've successfully connected
three keyboards and a mouse to my IIgs.  :-)

By the way, there is a significant disadvantage using the built-in
keyboard on a IIe which has been upgraded to a IIgs: even if it has a
numeric keypad, software cannot distinguish between the numeric keypad
and the corresponding keys on the main keyboard.  There are some
programs that rely on being able to distinguish them (e.g. the game
"Thexder" operates using the numeric keypad, and won't work with the
IIe upgrade's built-in keyboard).

Using a proper ADB keyboard will fix this problem.

> This machine of mine has a HUGE footprint -- too big for my desk,
> and if this is possible to do, I'd just set it up on its side and let
> it sit at the back of my desk against the wall. 

That should be OK, as long as you don't block any ventilation slots.
-- 
David Empson
dempson@actrix.gen.nz
Snail mail: P.O. Box 27-103, Wellington, New Zealand