Re: Apple IIgs Operating Systems

[twohandsfree@hotmail.com (John)]

Wheelcom <wheelcom@skybest.com> wrote in message news:<BAEAFB18.497%wheelcom@skybest.com>...
> Greetings,
> 
> I have recently put together an Apple ][gs system.
> It is a ROM 3 machine. I have two 5.25 drives and one 3.5 drive.
> I have the memory expansion Card with only factory Sims.
> 
> I am trying to find the best OS to install with the limited amount of RAM
> that comes on these machines. I would prefer some flovor of unix/linux if it
> exists for these machines.
> 
> I thought maybe you guys might be able to suggest a solution.
> I have no hard drive or SCSI card but I do have a Mac Performa 6220CD
> running OS 8.6. I thought it might be possible to use a ProDOS disk image on
> that machine as a network drive.
> 
> I have trouble booting into OS 6.01.. Maybe my disks are bad.
> Im working on that.


- If you primarily want to control devices you can use BASIC and ML.
There are freely available dialects of BASIC, and many asseblers,
including SC.
So, ProDOS with interpreted BASIC seasoned with ML would work fine.
You don't need and probably don't want GS OS sucking up cycles. You
wouldn't need any more memory or HD. Most of what you wind up with
could run on the other 8 bit Apple systems you have.

- OTOH GSOS is a big part of what the IIgs is. It takes more
resources, as you know, and benefits from a HD. Bill G mentioned he
has an IDE drive system for sale, and Alltech also sells a system. I
believe you can buy the Alltech board sans drive and add your own
(some restrictions apply) replacemnet from people like DriveGuys.com.

  Development on a IIgs would be a better environment even for pure 8
bit applications, but not necessary.