Re: Apple IIgs Operating Systems

["Mark Cummings" <NOTfigjams@primus.com.au>]

"Wheelcom" <wheelcom@skybest.com> wrote in message
BAEAFB18.497%wheelcom@skybest.com">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.

what memory size is the RAM card. if it's got SIMMs it may be big enough for
System 6.0.1.  2MB is enough, and 8MB is the limit on a GS.
although 5.04 would be a better choice from floppys.

> 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.

Linux and Unix are not available for the Apple II series including the GS.
you can have as many of the other OSs as you can get your hands on as the
OSs are mostly on the floppy anyway. you should get Prodos 8 and System
6.0.1 or System 5.04 as many of the applications run from that. DOS 3.3 is
another for compatability with older software.

> 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.

you can't share a floppy drive over an Appletalk network, but you can share
the CD. you are on the right track if you can set up your GS to boot from
the Macs H/D. I can't help with that as I havn't done it myself, but it can
be done, and a few here are doing just that.

> I have trouble booting into OS 6.01.. Maybe my disks are bad.
> Im working on that.

how/where did you get them. Syndicomm sells them as a set for a reasonable
price. otherwise you may be able to make the set on your Mac from the
downloaded set of 6-7 disk images from Apples site.

> Any ideas about how I might make this a good setup?

get yourself a Hard Drive with say 128M to 1G in size. there are a few
options still available new. The Focus is probably the best value for $,
other options include SHH Systeme various IDE interfaces and Rich Drehers
recent Compact Flash Hard Drive, which I am waiting on myself.

> My intention for this machine is to use it as a tool to control custom
> electronic devices. I thought it would be a good choice seeing as how I
> won't have to worry about frying an expensive machine while at the same
time
> learning something about these classic computers.

I use my Apple IIes for my first interface experiments as they are easier to
fix if you do damage it, more commonly available, cheaper or free, not as
valued as the ROM3 by enthusiasts, and compatable with the GS for most of
your interfacing needs.

Mark