advice needed for my Apple IIgs: please help!

[mlevin@husc8.harvard.edu (Michael Levin)]

    I've just been given an Apple II GS. It has no hard disk, but does
have 3 external drives, a monitor, and a printer. I'm a system
programmer in Unix and VMS, but have never even touched an Apple
before. So, could someone who knows something about these things help
me with the following issues: 
1) How much is a used II GS, with color monitor, 2 3.5" and 1 5.25"
drive, and an apple line printer, worth (in case I am never able to
get it to do what I want)?
2) what kind of machine is it?  I.e., how fast, how old is this type
of , how much memory might it have, etc. Is this a dinosaur, or a
pretty new hine?
3) is this machine able to run a decent word processor?  If so, which?
4) is any software for it available in the public domain (i.e., by
anonymous ftp, on a BBS, etc.)? If so, what's a good place to look?
I have a Mac at work which is on the internet. Will the IIgs read a
disk if I format it on the Mac? Since I don't have a hard drive, I
assume I need to produce a bootable disk with whatever software I want
to use. How do I do that, if I am to get software from the internet?
5) I can't even boot it - the guy who gave it to me can't find the
system disk.  Where can I get the appropriate disk/file?

   I am completely lost here. If anyone knows anything about
any of this, or knows a better place for me to ask this, please email
to mlevin@husc8.harvard.edu.

Mike Levin