Re: IIgs -- Now what?

[Michael Kent <michael@syndicomm.remove.this.com>]

cbmeeks <cbmeeks@gmail.com> wrote:

> I've had a Rom3 IIgs for a while in a storage.  I just hooked it up,
> inserted the system disk and there it sits.

Congratulations!  Computers may have become much more powerful nowadays,
but they're not nearly as much fun.

> IIgs Finder -- Version 1.3
> 1MB Ram and that's it.

The first step is to upgrade to System 6.0.1.  Do you have a modem and
a dial-up service?  If so, you can download the system disks for free
from Syndicomm.com.  If not but you have another computer available,
there are ways to download from the other computer and transfer to the GS.
The details, though, depend on what hardware you have.

If push comes to shove, you can buy System 6.0.1 from Syndicomm for, I
think, $2.00 a disk.  There are other, cheaper, alternatives if you have
a little patience.

System 6.0.1 was quite an upgrade from earlier system disks (inter-
process communication being one of the most powerful new features),
so it really pays to get the upgrade.

> Now my next move should be to get some type of mass storage and a way
> to transfer software.  I was thinking of the CFFA but I think he is
> going to stop making them.

I just bought a CFFA card, and I love it.  I highly recommend it.  The
CFFA will support up to four 32-meg (usually Pro-DOS) partitions and up
to 2 additional 1-Gig (usually HFS) partitions.  There's something to be
said about having a 2-Gig storage device on your Apple II!

> What do you guys suggest?  My goals would be to play games, surf the
> net if possible, and be able to  boot/run from something faster than a
> floppy.

The best GS program for telecommunications is Spectrum, by Ewen Wannop.
It is GS/OS based, so you have access to your inits, desk accessories,
HFS drives, etc.  It supports ANSI and vt-100 emulation and the x-, y-
and z-modem transfer protocols.  It also works with Marinetti, the TCP/IP
stack for the IIGS, and it has a rather powerful scripting language as
well.

Spectrum Internet Suite (SIS), Spectrum Automated Mailer (SAM is the
right acronym -- I think that's what it stands for), and Spectrum
Automated File Exchange (SAFE) are Spectrum scripts for web browsing,
POP3/SMTP mail, and ftp, respectively.  They all require Spectrum and
Marinetti to run.

There are other telnet, ftp, and mail options for Marinetti as well,
so Spectrum isn't required, just very very nice.

> Oh, I have one 3.5" floppy and FOUR 5.25" floppies...lol

Nice, but you really need either a hard (or compact flash) drive or a
networking setup -- something to store your software on without doing the
floppy disk shuffle every ten seconds.

Anyway, welcome back to the Apple II world.  You've come to the right place
to ask questions.

Mike