Csa2 FAQs-on-Ground file: Csa21MAIN.txt rev013 3/28/1999
FAQs Contents is Main Hall-2
The Csa2 (comp.sys.apple2) Usenet newsgroup Frequently Asked
Questions files are compiled by the Ground
Apple II site,
1997 - 1999.
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Faqs/
http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Faqs/
The Csa2 FAQs may be freely distributed.
Notes: FAQs files in the main home site folder are pure Text files
which have no Font, Color, etc. formatting and no set line
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This makes them ideal for printing out or for viewing via
an ftp
client which places the content in a text viewer such as
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For best viewing on-line, set Word Wrap to ON.
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A line-length formated version for easy on-line viewing under
Netscape and 'Explorer is available at the mirror sites ...
There are, also, HTML versions of the FAQs Q&A files ...
Xoom.com
Grin.net
Apple.Cabi.net
____________________________
Csa2 FAQs on Ground "Main Hall"
Update: 28 March 1999
Welcome to the comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup
Frequently Asked Questions! This
file is called "Main Hall" because it's your starting-off point
for accessing
the Csa2 FAQs.
You can peruse a listing of FAQs files
along with lists of questions
answered; OR, you can check out some 'getting started' and 'what's
where?'
Questions & Answers immediately below. Whenever you like, you
can skip to the
FAQs Files & Contents area in Main
Hall-2.
001- What is a FAQ?
002- What is comp.sys.apple2?
003- What software
do I need to get starter and how do I get it?
004- How do I download
and upload Apple II files on the net?
005- Where can I
get Apple II software and information on the net?
006- What is an Apple
II: The KIM
007- What is an Apple
II: The Apple I
008- What is an Apple
II: The Apple ][ and Apple ][+
009- What is an Apple
II: The "Black Apple"
010- What is an Apple
II: The Apple //e
011- What is an Apple
II: The Apple //c and IIc+
012- What is an Apple
II: The Laser 128EX and 'EX/2?
013- What is an Apple
II: The Apple IIgs
014- What is an Apple
II: The Apple ][e Emulation Card
015- Where can I
find a compact listing of Apple IIgs specs?
016- What is "8 bit"
and "16 bit"?
017- How can I tell
what version my computer is?
018- How can I find
out about using my Apple II?
019- Where do I find
out about Apple II Users Groups?
020- Where can I
get Apple II parts, boards, and software?
021- Where do I get
Apple II books and periodicals?
A "FAQ" is a "Frequently Asked Question".
The Csa2 FAQs is a collection of
topics files which seeks to supply answers to questions about the
Apple II
series of computers and Apple II computing.
Comp.sys.apple2 (Csa2) is a USENET newsgroup.
USENET posts originate from
your local newsreader and spread to hundreds of thousands of machines
throughout the Internet, FidoNet, ProLine BBS system, etc..
There are several newsgroups in the Csa2
family, all concerned with Apple
II series affairs. They provide a forum for users to compare notes,
ask
questions, and share insights. The Csa2 groups include ...
comp.sys.apple2 (Csa2) - Discussion
plus questions & answers
relating to all Apple II computers
comp.sys.apple2.comm
- Communications and networking related
issues
comp.sys.apple2.gno
- Discussion of GNO/ME, a UNIX-like
multi-tasking environment for IIgs
(see file gno.v...)
comp.sys.apple2.marketplace - Buying, selling, and promoting
Apple II and related products
comp.sys.apple2.programmer - Discussion relating to
any aspect of
programming the Apple II
comp.sys.apple2.usergroups - Discussion relating to
Apple II
usergroups
comp.emulators.apple2
- The unofficial 'Apple II games stuff'
newsgroup features discussions of
Apple II games as well as of Apple II
emulation on PC, Mac, and other
platforms.
alt.emulators.ibmpc.apple2 - Discussion about the use
of Apple II
emulation software/hardware on a PC.
comp.binaries.apple2
- Public Domain and Shareware Software
for all Apple II's in Text-encoded
(binscii) form.
--Dan DeMaggio, David Empson, Al Kalal, Rubywand
003- What software do I need to get started and how do I get it?
If you bought an Apple II with no software
at all, then, at the very
least, you will need to get diskettes which boot DOS 3.3 and ProDOS
and which
include copy utilities (e.g. Copy II Plus). Probably, too, you
will need a
utility named "ShrinkIt" to unShrink compressed Apple II files
you download and
an Apple II telecom utility (e.g. ZLink, ProTerm, ...) to handle
file transfers
from your PC or Mac to your Apple II.
Aside from Apple II user friends, there
are many places you can get the
above, as well as all sorts of other Apple II utility, game, etc.
software:
1. Apple II Users Groups maintain software libraries of utility
and games
diskettes you can copy.
2. Some schools and universities have Apple II areas where you can
copy system
and utility diskettes.
3. Many sellers of original and second-hand software advertise on
the
comp.sys.apple2.marketplace newsgroup and/or maintain web sites
you can browse.
Be sure to check the listing of vendors presented later on.
4. If requested via email, regular posters to Csa2 will often send
one or more
'getting started' diskettes which will boot DOS 3.3 and/or ProDOS
and which
include some copy, telecom, etc. utilities plus games. (Expect
to pay mailing
and materials costs.)
5. The Apple II archive sites listed below maintain large collections
of
software which you can download via PC or Mac and transfer to your
Apple II.
--Rubywand
004- How and where do I download and upload Apple II files?
How: By far, the easiest and quickest way
is to access software sites on
the net using a PC or Mac. Files can be moved to and from your
Apple II via a
NULL-modem connection with the net computer. If you use a Mac,
you may have the
option of transferring the files via a ProDOS or HFS diskette or
an HFS Zip
disk. (For details on file transfes, downloading, and uploading,
see the FAQs
Telecom files.)
Where: Today, most users upload software,
info files, etc. to one or more
of the major Apple II ftp software archive sites. Other options
include
comp.binaries.apple2 and BBS systems. The software archives and
web sites
maintained by developers are good places to obtain software. (See
Question 5
for site URLs.)
--Rubywand
005- Where can I get Apple II software and
information on the net?
Major Apple II Information and Software Sites
Apple Cabi.net- major archive of IIgs games, system, etc. software
as well as being a major information resource and Csa2 FAQs
mirror
ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/
for FAQs mirror ...
ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/FAQs.and.INFO/A2.Csa2.FAQs/
Apple2 Caltech- large collection of II/IIgs games and utilities
ftp://apple2.caltech.edu/pub/apple2/
Asimov- #1 archive of Apple II 8-bit games and utilities in
emulator DSK and file formats; plus emulators and emu info
ftp://ftp.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/
Asimov Mirrors- sites which mirror Asimov
ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/apple_II/
ftp://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/apple_II/
ftp://mirror.apple.asimov.net/pub/apple_II/
Ground Apple2 U. Iowa- the largest Apple II archive and home
site
of the Csa2 FAQs; maintains II/IIgs games, utilities, HC/HS
stacks, music files, ..., and information plus separate
collections including the AOL A2 archives
ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/
Ground Mirrors- sites which mirror Ground
ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/ground/
GS WorldView 'zine- II/IIgs applications articles, games, utilities,
A2-2000 archive, and links; home site for 1WSW
http://www.apple2.net/gswv/gsezine/
Uni-kl.de Apple2 U. Kaiserslautern- II/IIgs games, utilities, and
emulator wares
ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/apple2/
USA2WUG- Apple II Help & FAQs Collective; Csa2 FAQs mirror
http://www.apple2.net/gswv/USA2WUG/A2.FAQS.INFO.ETC/
for FAQs mirror ...
http://www.apple2.net/gswv/A2.FAQs.and.INFO/CSA2.FAQs/
Other Important Apple II Sites
Apple2 U. Kentucky- A2 archive
ftp://f.ms.uky.edu:/pub/appleII
Apple2 U. Michagan- A2 archive
http://www.umich.edu/~archive/apple2/
Apple II Help Page- Info and links; Csa2 FAQs in HTML
http://members.xoom.com/apple_II/
Apple II Lessons & Software- BASIC Lessons and A2 software
http://www.iglou.com/qwerty/kb/dlfiles.html
Apple II Programmer's Archive- language software
http://net-24-42.dhcp.mcw.edu/a2pa.html
Apple II WebRing- links for several user group, etc. sites
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=apple2&list
Apple Computer- mainly, GS system software
ftp://ftp.apple.com/dts/aii
http://www.apple.com/support
Delphi- on-line service which permits A2 net access
http://www.delphi.com/
for "A2 (Apple II)" forum ...
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=apple2
for "A2Pro" - Apple II Programmers forum ...
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=a2pro
for "II Computing" forum
http://forums.delphi.com/m/main.asp?sigdir=csa2
Emu-Apple II Emulator Page- Apple II emulator software and info
http://www.saunalahti.fi/~profilon/net/emulators/apple2.html
Emu-Apple II Emulator Resource Guide- Apple II emulator info
http://www.zip.com.au/~alexm/faq/
Emu-Moro's Emulator Page- XGS .2MG utils, Sys6, games, and links
http://www.dgweb.com/~moro/
Home of the Apple II- Apple II manual reprints, new user info, ...,
and message board
http://www.educate.net.au/~apple2/
International Apple II BBS List- A2 BBS sites and phone numbers
http://home.earthlink.net/~gabesanchez/bbs.txt
KansasFest Web Page- KansasFest information
http://www.kfest.org
KulaSoft- Stocks Eamon Adventures, A2 software, Index
http://www.angelfire.com/hi/kulasoft
L.J. Silicon's Treasure Chest- Apple II software
http://members.aol.com/ljsilicon/index.html
Nova Scotia Apple Users Group Page-- II/IIgs utilities
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Services/PDA/appleII.html
Odessa Entertainment- on-line entertainment 'zines
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/rembrandt/2/comp.html
Texas II- Appleworks products and information, Y2K info, and
home site for Beverly Cadieux's Apple II Mail Group (A2MG)
http://members.aol.com/A2MG/
The Giant List- major listing of games and authors
http://www.dadgum.com/giantlist/list.html
Treasure Chest Project- Willie Yeo's list of A2 software
reclassified as freeware or shareware
http://www.tals.dis.qut.edu.au/staff/willie/treasurechest/
Unofficial, Unauthorized, Apple Online Museum- Greg Cifu's
pages of Apple II machine history, anecdotes, and pictures
http://www.hughes.net/~gcifu/applemuseum/index.html
Upgrade the GS Project- Home page for input and discussion
relating to IIgs upgrades
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/m/y/n/mynameisme712/g.htm
--Rubywand
006- What is an Apple II: The KIM
My Ex bought a KIM in ... had to be 1976, 'cause that's the year
we
split. He played Hunt the Wumpus on it. I couldn't see the point
of
messing with those red LEDs at the time.
Nancy Crawford, Csa2 post on 27 December, 1995
KIM (for "Keyboard Input Monitor") was
a 6502 'development system' release
in 1976 by MOS Technology. A single board with six 7-segment LED
displays, it
soon had a wide following of avid experimenters who wrote programs
like Jim
Butterfield's "Lunar Lander" and Stan Ockers's "Hunt the Wumpus"
and published
numerous articles in magazines like Byte and KiloBaud describing
hardware
add-ons. For many, KIM was the introduction to 6502 computing which
would, in a
few years, lead to becoming an Apple II user. --Rubywand
007- What is an Apple II: The Apple I
The original Apple was not much more than
a board. You had to supply your
own keyboard, monitor and case. It sold for $666.66, but now they
are worth
much more as a collector's item. --Dan DeMaggio
008- What is an Apple II: The Apple ][ and Apple ][+
The II and II+ are the computers that launched
the Apple II line. They
have the 6502 microprocessor, ability to do Hi-res and Lo-res color
graphics,
sound, joystick input, and casette tape I/O. They have a total
of eight
expansion Slots for adding peripherials such as the Disk ][ controller,
MockingBoard, serial I/O, and printer interface. Clock speed is
1MHz and, with
Apple's Language Card installed, standard memory size is 64kB.
The distinction between the ][ and ][+
is the installed ROMs. The ][
starts you in the Monitor program and includes in-ROM Integer BASIC.
The ][+
has the AutoStart ROM which tries to locate and boot a diskette
upon startup
and defaults to Applesoft BASIC which is included in-ROM. Many
][ owners
upgraded to the ][+ ROMs.
Apple ][ and ][+ computers can run thousands
of games, utilities, and
other programs created to run under Apple DOS-- chiefly, DOS 3.3.
Both machines
can, also, run under ProDOS through v1.9 so long as the software
does not
require features of an "enhanced" 128k IIe. For instance, you can
run
Appleworks if you have more than 128K RAM installed and a program
called
PlusWorks. However, the ][ can not run BASIC programs under ProDOS
since
Applesoft must be in ROM.
Recommended configuration: 16K "language card" (in Slot 0), an 80-column
video
card (not the same as a //e Extended 80-column card), shift key
modification (a
wire running from shift key to game port), modified character ROMs
to display
lower case, composite color monitor, Disk ][ controller card, two
5.25" Disk ][
or compatible drives, parallel printer interface card, and parallell-interface
printer. You can add memory beyond 64k in various ways, but many
programs that
"require 128K" probably will not work, no matter how much RAM you
have. You can
also add accelerators like the SpeeDemon or Rocket/Zip. --Dan DeMaggio,
David
Empson, Rubywand
009- What is an Apple II: The "Black Apple"
Bell & Howell marketed the "Black Apple"
made by Apple. It is an Apple II+
done in black with some extra audio/video connections to fit with
projectors,
etc. made by B&H-- mainly for use in the classroom. A nice
feature is the
"handle" attached to the back. It contains a few power outlets,
allowing the
CPU, Monitor, etc., to be controlled with one switch. Evidently,
5000-10,000
units were produced. --Coaxial, Mike McGovern, Rubywand
010- What is an Apple II: The Apple //e
The //e comes in two flavors: Enhanced
and unenhanced. When you start your
computer, the unenhanced IIe displays "Apple ][" at the top of
screen; the
Enhanced IIe displays "Apple //e". Apple made an Enhancement kit
to upgrade an
unenhanced to Enhanced by replacing 4 chips (CPU [65C02], Video
ROM
[MouseText], and new Monitor/Applesoft ROMs). Apple Resource Center
sells a IIe
Enhancement kit for $20.00.
The current IIe operating system is ProDOS-8.
(The IIe can also run DOS
3.3, earlier DOS's, and Pascal.) A lot of ProDOS software requires
an Enhanced
//e, and sometimes 128K, too.
A IIe Enhancement Kit does not include
any extra RAM. You can expand a 64k
IIe to the standard 128k required for a fully Enhanced IIe via
an Extended
80-column card. It plugs into the Aux Connector on the motherboard.
Alltech
($19.00), MC Price Breakers ($14.95), and Sequential Systems ($19.95)
sell such
cards.
Except for being able to type and display
lower-case characters, the
unenhanced IIe is very similar to the II+. A 128k Enhanced IIe
adds a number of
features including 80-column firmware and 16-color double-lores
and double
hires display capability.
The Apple //e remains useful for four major reasons:
1) It runs AppleWorks, a simple to use, yet sophisticated
Spreadsheet/Word
Processor/Database.
2) It can run many games and other entertainment software products.
3) There are many Apples in schools-- an example is Louis
Cornelio's room at
Clairemont High School ( http://www.n2.net/clairemont/
)-- so there is a ton of
Apple II educational software.
4) It is was and will always be a _Personal_ computer.
You can learn as
little or as much as you want, and nothing stops you from learning
about every
nook and cranny in it. Ask any big name programmer in MS/DOS or
Mac where they
learned to program. Most of them taught themselves on a good
ol' Apple II.
Recommended configuration: Extended 80 Column card (gives you 128K)
or RamWorks
(512K to 1MB RAM), Enhancement kit (for unenhanced IIe), and a
composite color
monitor which can display decent 80-colume text, Super Serial card,
Disk ][
controller card, two 5.25" Disk ][ or compatible drives, parallel
printer
interface card, and parallell-interface printer. A Hard Drive is
recommended if
you use a lot of different programs. Heavy Appleworks users should
add the hard
disk, extra RAM, and a 4MHz or better accelerator (like the Rocket
Chip, Zip
Chip or TransWarp). --Dan DeMaggio, Rubywand
011- What is an Apple II: The Apple //c and IIc+
The //c and IIc+ are compact 'luggable'
versions of an Enhanced //e, with
many built-in 'cards'. Included are 2 serial ports, a mouse port,
a disk port
and 128K of RAM. Support for the original Apple casette tape I/O
is gone. The
//c has a built-in 5.25" drive while the IIc+ has a built-in 3.5"
drive.
The IIc+ has a built-in accelerator that
runs at 4 MHz (vs. the //c's
1MHz) making it the fastest Apple II as well as faster than any
of the A2
clones. (To boot your IIc+ at 'regular', 1MHz, speed, include the
Escape key in
the usual boot keypresses-- i.e. OpenApple-CTRL-ESC-RESET.) The
IIc+, which was
introduced after the IIgs, also allows daisey chaining the GS Apple
3.5" drive
along with 5.25" drives.
The //c and IIc+ run just about all of
the DOS 3.3, ProDOS, "128k"
software, etc. that an Enhanced //e runs plus the few //c-only
software
releases. However, the use of certain locations for storing system
variables
and ROM differences means that //c series machines will not run
a number of old
games designed for the ][ and ][+ which the IIe and IIgs will run.
Even though //c machines don't have slots,
you can still add extra memory
(there's room under the keyboard) and a hard drive (through the
disk port--a
bit slow by ordinary standards, but usable. Hard to find
though.. Was made by
Chinook). There is also a for-//c "D" version of MockingBoard you
can plug in
to get much improved sound and music from software supporting the
board, and a
module you can attach to convert output to RF for using a TV as
a monitor.
Recommended configuration: A composite color monitor which can display
decent
80-colume text, 1 MB RAM, and, maybe, a hard drive. For the //c,
add a second
5.25" drive; for the IIc+, add a second 3.5" drive and two 5.25"
drives. --Dan
DeMaggio, Rubywand
012- What is an Apple II: The Laser 128EX and 'EX/2
While not made by Apple, these Lasers can
run just about anything that an
Enhanced //e can run. They are as luggable as a //c and include
built-in
'cards'. They are also fast; the entire motherboard runs at 3.6Mhz.
If you want
to use a card in the single expansion Slot, you may have to disable
the
internal UDC (for 3.5" drives) or the internal 1MB memory expansion.
Unlike the EX model, which supports one
additional disk drive, the EX/2
supports as many daisychained drives as a IIgs and has a built
in BRAM control
panel for saving settings. The EX/2 also has a built in 3.5" disk
drive, a MIDI
port, and a video port which can support analog RGB and digital
CGA monitors as
well as an LCD display. --Supertimer, Dan DeMaggio
013- What is an Apple II: The Apple IIgs
The IIgs (or "GS") represents a giant leap
in the Apple II line. It can
still run //e software, but has a better processor (16-bit), a
new super-hires
graphics mode, a toolbox in ROM (just like the Mac), a 32-oscillator
Ensoniq
sound chip, and a base speed of 2.8MHz.
GS can run DOS 3.3, ProDOS, Pascal, and
any other OS the earlier 8-bit
models can run. Like the //c series, it does not support the original
Apple
casette tape I/O. GS is the only A2 machine which can run GS/OS.
GS/OS and
Toolbox routines make it possible for the System Finder program
to deliver a
sophisticated 'mouse and windows' environment which looks very
much like PC's
Windows. The current version of System is "System 6.0.1".
The first GS's were released in the Fall
of 1986. The batches produced
until mid-late 1987 became known as "ROM 00" machines after release
of the "ROM
01" models. When you boot a ROM-01 GS, the startup screen shows
"ROM Version
01"; when you boot a ROM-00 GS the startup screen says nothing
about ROM
version.
The original GS's came in cases marked
"Limited Edition" with Steve
Wozniak's signature. Often, these are referred to as "Woz GS's".
A relatively
small number of users chose Apple's option to upgrade their IIe's
with a
motherboard swap. The swap included "IIgs" labels users could substitute
for
"IIe" in the case insert.
At the time of the ROM-01 change-over,
Apple supplied a ROM-00-to-ROM-01
upgrade service free. It consists of swapping in a new ROM and
a new Video
Graphics Controller ("VGC") IC. ROM-00 machines which have not
had the upgrade
can not run modern GS software-- the ROM must be upgraded. Alltech
(760-724-2404; http://allelec.com ) sells a ROM-01 'upgrade kit'
consisting of
the 01 ROM for $29.00.
The VGC upgrade is not required for software
compatibility, and is not
needed for all machines anyway. It is supposed to fix cosmetic
problems in
monochrome double-hires graphics mode (pink flickering or fringing
on what is
supposed to be a black and white screen). On some machines
the VGC swap also
fixes some color combination problems in 80-column text mode.
Whether via the upgrade or original purchase
of a newer GS, by late 1987
nearly all GS users were 'on the same page'. That is, we had the
ROM-01
platform with its base 256kB RAM plus the official Apple 1MB Expansion
Memory
Board plugged into the Memory Expansion Slot for a total of 1.25MB
of
fully-accessible system RAM. For the next couple of years, practically
all GS
software was designed to launch from 3.5" diskette under "ProDOS-16"
and to fit
within the 1.25MB of RAM everyone was assumed to have installed.
In 1989 Apple introduced the "ROM 3" GS--
the startup screen shows "ROM
Version 3". (No ROM-02 GS was ever released). The only major improvement
over
ROM-01 is more base RAM-- you get 1MB instead of 256kB. This is
a very nice
benefit. It means that a ROM 3 with a 4MB Mem Exp Board will have
5MB of fully
accessible RAM whereas a ROM-01 can have 4.25MB of fully-accessible
RAM. In
effect, the ROM 3 owner gets a 'free' 800kB RAM disk. As Mitch
Spector notes in
his listing of ROM 3 features (see in CSA2HDWHACK.TXT), the newer
GS offers a
number of other nice pluses with the only significant minus being
incompatibility with a few older GS programs.
Chiefly, ROM 3 is a 1989 re-do of ROM-01
featuring more streamlined
hardware and more built-in firmware. (Upon booting, the current
system software
applies in-RAM patches matched to each ROM version to achieve nearly
identical
operation.) Very few ROM-01 owners felt any urge to move
to ROM 3. Even today,
the vast majority of installed GS's are ROM-01 machines.
The 1990's have seen wide adoption of four major GS enhancements:
OS- After years of foot-dragging, Apple finally produced a decent
16-bit GS
operating system with release of System 5.0. Within a few years
this evolved
into today's System 6 (System 6.0.1). System 6 has won wide acceptance
as a
relatively stable OS which, at last, allows GS users to access
many of the
features of GS computing promised back in 1986. Whereas earlier
OS's can 'fit'
on a GS with 1MB of Expansion memory, System 6 really requires
something like
2.5MB RAM to be worth installing.
Memory- Driven, in part, by the need for more memory to run System
6, 4MB
became the standard size of installed Memory Expansions. Except
for school GS's
and GS's taken out of circulation and tucked away in closets, the
old Apple 1MB
Expansion Boards have long ago been replaced with 4MB boards.
Hard Disk- As with memory, the size of newer versions of System
supplied a
strong push toward adding a hard disk. Software was becoming larger,
too, and
there was so much of it that making everything work from diskette
became
impossibly cumbersome. Lower HD prices, attractive SCSI interfaces
such as
RamFAST, and low-cost, easy single-card IDE solutions such as the
Focus "Hard
Card" have helped make the hard disk a standard, expected peripheral
on today's
GS.
Acceleration- Few commercial software offerings actually sought
to push GS
users to higher speeds; and, as a result, users went for years
feeling no great
need for Applied Engineering's expensive Transwarp accelerator.
The arrival of
Zip Technology's lower-cost ZipGS board together with a clear need
for more
speed to handle System 6 sparked a nearly overnight 'acceleration
revolution'.
Today, an accelerator running at 8MHz or better is considered,
very nearly, to
be a necessary IIgs enhancement.
Recommended configuration: ROM-01 or ROM 3 with 4MB Memory Expansion
board--
i.e. 4.25MB (ROM-01) or 5MB (ROM 3) of total system RAM, RamFAST
SCSI + 120MB
or larger SCSI hard disk OR 120MB or larger HD-on-a-card IDE drive
(e.g.
Alltech's Focus Hard Card or SHH's Turbo IDE series) with System
6.0.1
installed, 8MHz/32k TransWarp or 9MHz/32k ZipGS or better accelerator
board,
Stereo Card, Imagewriter II printer, two 3.5" and two 5.25" diskette
drives.
A minimum GS system that will run many older wares and still deliver
a decent
operating system is a ROM-01 GS with the Apple 1MB Memory Expansion
board, two
3.5" drives, at least one 5.25" drive, and Imagewriter II
printer, which boots
System 5.0.4 from 3.5" diskette. --Dan DeMaggio, Rubywand, David
Empson, Randy
Shackelford, Richard Bennett
014- What is an Apple II: The Apple IIe Emulation Card
This is a 'IIe on a card' plug-in that
fits into Mac LC and some
subsequent machines that have the LC Processor Direct Slot (PDS).
This includes
020, 030, and 040 machines. The card is not compatible with the
Mac Quadra. It
lets one run Apple //e software.
Many of these cards are sold today without
documentation. In case you've
just plugged one into your Mac Color Classic, etc., it will help
to know that
pressing Command-Control-Escape gets you to the Preferences panel.
The Apple IIe Emulation Card is actually
more like a //c because the card
is not an expandable machine like a //e. There is a place on the
back of the
card to plug in a UniDisk 5.25" and a joystick. Because the
graphics are
handled by the Mac, animation may be slow if you don't have a decent
Mac. --Dan
DeMaggio, David Empson, Owen Aaland, Edward Floden, Liam Busey
Related FAQs Resources: R024GSSPECS.TXT (text file)
015- Where can I find a compact listing of
Apple IIgs
specifications?
Apple IIgs specifications are described
in the FAQs resource file
R024GSSPECS.TXT.
-- Supertimer
016- What is "8 bit" and "16 bit"?
Number of bits usually indicates how big
a chunk of data a computer's main
microprocessor can manipulate. The Apple IIgs is based on the 65C816
microprocessor and is considered to be a 16-bit machine. Previous
Apple ]['s
are based upon pure 8-bit microprocessors such as the 6502 and
65C02. These are
considered to be 8-bit machines. Sometimes II+ or IIe or IIc software
is called
"8-bit software".
The 65C816 is a member of the 6502 family
which includes expanded
registers and adds many new commands while retaining the ability
to go into
8-bit mode. So; the GS can run most 8-bit wares designed for older
Apple II
machines as well as newer 16-bit wares. Meanwhile, 8-bit machines
are pretty
well limited to 8-bit wares. --Rubywand
017- How can I tell what version my computer is?
Apple //e:
The major division is between the Enhanced
and unenhanced //e models. Look
at your computer while re-booting. If it says "APPLE ][",
it is not enhanced.
The enhanced computers will say "Apple //e". You can upgrade it
yourself by
getting the Apple //e Enhancement kit. (It contains 4 chips to
replace on your
motherboard.)
Many newer programs will not work unless
you have an Enhanced //e. If you
have a //c or GS, or a Laser 128, you have Enhanced //e compatibility.
There
are also some older //e's that are not capable of double-hires.
Check the
serial number on the motherboard (in the back, by the power-on
led). If it is
820-0064-A, you must change the motherboard to upgrade (unless
you have the PAL
version). Serial #s like 820-0064-B or 820-0087-A are the plain
//e, and the
version with the grey case comes pre-Enhanced.
week 26 1983:
820-0073-A (c) 1982
Colour killer switch soldered to open
B-607-0664
oscillator position on PCB.
week 38 1983:
820-0073-B (c) 1982
Colour killer switch near RHS of PCB.
B-607-0264
All chips socketed.
week 7 1985:
820-0073
(c) 1984 PCB marked for enhanced ROMs & 65c02
B-607-0264
(mine had old ROMs and 6502). RAM &
some TTL soldered in.
All three work with double res graphics.
(Apart from the revision letter
vanishing, most chips being soldered in and the silkscreened ROM
numbers, I can
see no difference between the last two PCBs mentioned.)
Apple //c:
Go into Basic and type "PRINT PEEK (64447)"
and press return. If it says
255, you have a very old //c. See your dealer about getting
an upgrade (tell
them that the Apple authorization number is ODL660). If it says
0, you can do
3.5" drives, but you don't have the memory expansion connector.
If it says 3
You have the memory expansion. If it says 4, you have the
latest model of the
//c. If it says 5, you have a //c+.
Apple IIgs:
There are 3 major versions of the GS: Check
the initial power-up screen.
It will probably say ROM-01 or ROM 3. If it does not say either,
you have a
ROM-00 model. You must upgrade a ROM-00 machine in order to run
current system
software. The ROM-01 has 256K on the motherboard, while the ROM
3 has 1 MB on
the motherboard. Most of the enhancements of the ROM 3 (except
the 1MB, of
course) can be added to the ROM-01 simply by booting up with current
system
software. --Dan DeMaggio
018- How can I find out about using my Apple II?
Of course, you can peruse the newsgroup
FAQs Q&A and check out the Apple
II internet sites listed earlier. Charles Hartleys's Apple II Lessons
&
Software is a good example of the latter. Also, Charles "Dr. Tom"
Turley is
building a collection of New User info on his site at ...
ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/AAA.*Help.for.NEW.A2.Users.txt
.
Still, there is really no substitute for
having the technical manual for
your particular Apple II or clone. The manual for the ][ and ][+
is the Apple
][ Reference Manual. For the IIe and IIc you want Apple's Technical
Reference
Manual for your machine. For the IIgs you will want, at least,
the IIgs
Hardware Reference and IIgs Firmware Reference.
Naturally, you will want to get manuals
and materials covering DOS,
ProDOS, BASIC, and many other areas relating to your Apple II.
Below is a
decent 'getting started' sampling:
Applesoft BASIC and Assembly Language
Assembly Lines: The Book by Wagner
Basic Programming Reference Manual from Apple
Programming the 65816 Including the 6502, 65C02, and 65802
by David Eyes and Ron Lichty
65816/65802 Assembly Language Programming by Fischer
DOS, ProDOS, and GS/OS
Apple IIgs GS/OS Technical Reference (Apple/ Addison-Wesley)
Beneath Apple DOS by Worth & Lechner
Beneath Apple ProDOS by Worth & Lechner
Exploring Apple GS/OS and ProDOS 8 by Little
ProDOS Inside and Out by Doms and Weishaar
ProDOS Technical Reference Manual (Apple/ Addison-Wesley)
The DOS Manual from Apple
General Apple II
Apple II Reference Manual from Apple
Apple II User's Guide by Poole, Martin, and Cook
Beagle Bros "Peeks, Pokes, and Pointers" (poster) by Beagle
Bros
The Apple II Circuit Description by Winston D. Gayler
What's Where in the Apple II? by William F. Luebbert
Some technical manuals and other materials
can be obtained in original or
reprint form from Byte Works. Most Apple II books, etc. also turn
up for sale
on comp.sys.apple2.marketplace, at used book shops, and at local
Users Group
swap meets. A few items, such as Reference Cards and posters, can
be downloaded
in Text or HTML form from Apple II archives.
Another good resource is a subscription
to an Apple II newsletter or
magazine (see Question 20); and, don't overlook collections of
major Apple II
magazines published through the 1980's (e.g. inCider, Nibble, Computist,
etc.).
They are virtual encyclopedias covering many areas of II computing.
Often, the easiest, quickest way to an
awswer for some Apple II question
is to 'just ask it' on comp.sys.apple2. There is no Csa2 rule about
making sure
your question is hard enough or reading the FAQs first. Supplying
information
is the main purpose of the newsgroup.
But, suppose you have zilch info, do not
feel like looking through the
FAQs, and want to start Now. The following _may_ be all you need
to get going
with some game or utility from diskette:
o The Disk Controller Card for Apple ][, ][+, and IIe goes into
Slot 6 (next to
last Slot on the right when viewed from the front). Drive 1 plugs
into the top
connector with the ribbon side of the cable plug facing out. Plug
in the
cable(s) before plugging in the card so that you are sure the connector
and
plug line up correctly.
o On the IIgs, the 3.5" drive(s) plug in first, then, the 5.25" drive(s).
o Unless a hard disk is installed, most Apple II's try to boot a
diskette and
start DOS 3.3, ProDOS, or GS/OS when turned ON. (On the old Apple
][ you can
type in 6 Control-P RETURN to boot from the Monitor, assuming your
Controller
Card is in Slot 6. To press Control-P, press and hold Control,
then P, then
release both keys.)
o Most, but not all, diskettes are bootable. If one diskette doesn't
boot, try
another. If no diskettes boot, use a Radio Shack Head Cleaner diskette
to clean
the drive head(s).
o If the prompt you see is ], you are in Applesoft BASIC; > indicates
Integer
BASIC; and * indicates the Monitor. If both Integer BASIC and Applesoft
are in
memory, you can enter FP to switch from Integer to Applesoft and
INT to switch
from Applesoft to Integer. To go from either BASIC to the Monitor,
enter
CALL-151. To start the current BASIC from the Monitor, enter Control-B.
To go
back to BASIC with program and variables in tact from the Monitor,
enter
Control-C.
o Except for the ][ and ][+, you must press Control-RESET to do a Reset.
o To boot a diskette when viewing a BASIC prompt, you can enter
PR#6 to boot a
drive associated with Slot 6-- usually a 5.25" drive-- and PR#5
to boot a drive
associated with Slot 5-- usually a 3.5" drive.
--Rubywand, David Wilson
019- Where do I find out about Apple II Users Groups?
Many Apple II users groups continue to
meet, especially in major cities
and on university campi. If a local group listing is 'missing'
from your phone
book, check for a Mac users group-- a number of Apple II groups
merged with
their Mac counterparts.
The Apple User Group Connection (800-538-9696
ext 500) can tell you the
closest Apple II (or Macintosh) User Group. Several web sites maintain
user
group lists. One such site is ...
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Technology/AppleUsersGroup/sub/usergroups.html
Of course, you can always post a question
to Csa2 or to
comp.sys.apple2.usergroups. --Rubywand
020- Where can I get Apple II parts, boards, and software?
All Electronics (800-826-5432; http://www.allcorp.com
) major surplus and new
parts seller- switches, LCD panels, connectors, transformers, caps,
IIgs-type
lithium batteries, etc.
Alltech (760-724-2404; http://allelec.com
accepts on-line orders) sells all
kinds of replacement parts for Apple II's as well as the Focus
Hard Card
drives, CD-ROM drives, cables, memory boards & IC's, diskettes,
... .
Apple Resource Center "The ARC" (800-753-0114; http://www.thearc.com
) sells
Apple II computers and peripherals.
Auction sites which handle Apple II items on the internet
http://www.ebay.com
http://www.cityauction.com
http://www.boxlot.com
http://www.haggle.com
AV Systems ( http://members.xoom.com/AV_Systems/
email:
73170.3546@compuserve.com) game, education, utility software for
Apple II
computers
B&R Computer Services (619-225-8281; http://members.aol.com/rrbp/Home.html
)
sells Apple II computers, peripherals, and software.
Stephen Buggie (505-863-2390) sells the famous Buggie Power Supplies,
Buggie
Drives, and does disk drive conversions.
Byte Works (505-898-8183; http://hypermall.com/byteworks/
email:
mikew50@aol.com) sells the respected Orca series of Apple II languages
and
support software including the new GS BASIC.
Catweasel ( http://members.tripod.com/~apd2/catweasl.htm
) makes and sells a
disk drive controller intended for reading A2 diskettes on non-A2
drives.
Charlie's AppleSeeds (619-566-0387; 9081 Hadley Place, San Diego
CA 92126-1523;
Chuck Newby's email: chucknewby@aol.com) sells Apple II hard disks
and
controllers, floppy drives, ... and ProSel, ProSel-16 documentation.
Comp.sys.apple2.marketplace is the Csa2 newsgroup for buying and
selling Apple
II hardware and software.
Creative Solutions (937-429-5759; http://members.aol.com/CreatSltn/index.html
)
Apple II hardware, software, and repairs
Digi-Key (800-344-4539; http://www.digikey.com) IC's and general parts supplier
DigiSoft Innovations ( http://www.hypermall.com/digisoft/digisoft/
email: Jim
Maricondo at digisoft@hypermall.com) continues to sell the Golden
Orchard CD
and is working on GO-II.
Dirt-Cheap Drives (800-786-1160; http://www.dirtcheapdrives.com
) 2.5" IDE
drives
Emerald City Sales (870-743-3872; http://www.ahhz.com/
) sells TrackStar boards
and other A2 hardware.
Gene Ehrich's On-Line Computer Garage Sale (email: gene@ehrich.com;
http://www.voicenet.com/~generic/
) sells Apple II (C-64, PC, etc.) hardware,
software, manuals, and other items.
Halted Specialties (800-442-5833; http://www.halted.com
) sells electronic
parts- sockets, cables, plugs, caps, Parallax BASIC stamp, SCSI
cables, ...
good prices for 74xxx, 65xx, etc. IC's
Hudson's Hobby Games (P.O. Box 121503, Arlington, Texas, 76012;
817-461-0126;
email: HudsonGame@aol.com) sells Old Apple II games in original
boxes
InTrec Software (888-PROTERM; http://www.intrec.com
) sells ProTerm A2 and
high-speed GS modem cable; the "InTrec Store" sells used II/IIgs
hardware and
software at good prices
Jameco (800-831-4242; http://www.jameco.com
) Apple II and general parts
supplier
JDR Microdevices (800-538-5000; http://www.jdr.com
) Apple II and general parts
supplier
Kitchen Sink Software (614-891-2111; http://www.kitchen-sink.com
) Apple II
Software
KulaSoft (808-595-8131; http://www.angelfire.com/hi/kulasoft
) Eamon
Adventures, Kula Index, software collections, tutorials, and books
Steven Lichter (Apple Elite II BBS 909-359-5338; email: stevenl@pe.net)
offers
GBBS/LLUCE support and software.
Lynxmotion (104 Partridge Road, Pekin, IL 61554-1403; 309-382-1816
http://www.lynxmotion.com
) sells Robot kits, Robot arms, servos, controllers,
... for PC but adaptable for Apple II
MC Price Breakers (360-837-3042; http://www.mcpb.com
)
sells memory boards,
high-speed GS modem cables, and other Apple II hardware
MECI (800-344-6324; http://www.meci.com
) surplus electronic parts- fans,
tubes, solenoids, IC sockets, 50-25 SCSI cables and adaptors, ...
Mouser Electronics (800-346-6873; http://www.mouser.com
) major IC and general
parts supplier
MPJA/ Marlin P. Jones (800-652-6733; http://www.mpja.com/
)
many power supplies,
NULL modem, Parallax BASIC stamp, misc kits, LED displays, LCD
panels, ...
Newark Electronics (800-463-9275; http://www.newark.com
) major electronic
parts supplier
Ninjaforce Entertainment ( http://www.igd.fhg.de/~girschik/nfc/
) Ninjaforce
software for IIgs
Pre-Owned Electronics (800-274-5343) sells a variety of peripherals
and
accessories.
Scantron Quality Computers (800-777-3642 http://www.sqc.com ) Appleworks,
Appleworks-GS vendor.
Sequential Systems (303-666-4549; http://www.sequential.com
email:
inquiries@sequential.com) sells 4-8MB GS memory boards, RAMfast
SCSI
interface, and other peripheral boards.
Seven Hills Software (850-575-0566; http://www.sevenhills.com/applesoftware
)
develops and sells IIgs software.
Shareware Solutions II ( http://www.crl.com/~joko/ssii.html
email:
joko@crl.com) sells Convert 3200 plus games, boxed Old game originals,
the
Golden Orchard CD-ROM, and other wares.
SHH Systeme, Germany ( http://users.ids.net/~kerwood/shh.html
) sells Turbo IDE
and other HD controller cards, Blue Disk, TWGS Accelerator upgrades,
and
repairs.
Shreve Systems (800-227-3971; http://www.shrevesystems.com
) sells II
computers, peripherals, parts and accessories.
Software and More (916-725-0228; http://members.aol.com/SWMoreTP/AP.html
)
sells Apple II hardware and software.
Sun Remarketing (800-821-3221; http://www.sunrem.com
accepts on-line orders)
sells Apple II parts and peripherals.
Texas II/Kingwood Micro Software (2503 Sherbrooke Lane, McKinney,
TX 75070;
972-562-6335; http://members.aol.com/A2MG/
) develops and sells classic
Appleworks v3.0-v5.1 support software.
Vernier Software (503-297-5317; http://www.vernier.com
) sells project books
and components.
Wayne's Computer (315-689-7899;
http://www.waynes.com/Business/WaynesComputer/default.htm
) sells Apple II
computers, peripherals, and software.
Western Design Center (602-962-4545; http://www.wdesignc.com
) makes and sells
65C816 microprocessor used in IIgs and for accelerator upgrades.
William K. Bradford Co. (800-421-2009; http://www.wkbradford.com
) Apple II
educational software
--Dan DeMaggio, Rubywand
021- Where do I get Apple II books and periodicals?
The Applebyter newsletter (Applebyters Computer Club, P.O. Box 2092,
Davenport,
IA 52809 http://helios.augustana.edu/~sbeattie/applebyters/
) is a vintage
monthly newsletter.
Apple Blossom is a bi-montly mini-magazine edited by Steve Cavenaugh.
(Apple
Blossom Publishing, P.O. Box 120434, Boston, MA 02112-0434;
http://people.delphi.com/appleblossom/
email: appleblossom@delphi.com)
Byte Works (505-898-8183; http://hypermall.com/byteworks/
) major source for
Apple II series manuals, other Apple books, and Orca languages,
manuals, and
support. (mikew50@aol.com)
Composition is an on-line 'zine devoted to GS MIDIsynth and synthLAB
music (
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/rembrandt/2/comp.html
) published by
Gregory Heald.
Dark Castle (Wolborgenmate 72, 7006 DK Doetinchem, The Netherlands;
+31-314-365145) is a quarterly mini-magazine edited by Doede Boomsma.
(dboomsma@sci.kun.nl)
Eamon Adventurer's Guild newsletter (7625 Hawkhaven Dr., Clemmons,
NC 27012;
910-766-7490) is the quarterly journal for the famous adventuring
series edited
by Thomas Zuchowski. (email: tzuchow@ibm.net or t.zuchowski@genie.geis.com)
GS WorldView ( http://www.apple2.net/gswv/gsezine/
)
is an Apple II/IIgs web
'zine edited by Charles Turley
Juiced GS (2217 Lakeview Dr., Sullivan, IN 47882) is a quarterly
mini-magazine
edited by Max Jones. ( http://www.wbwip.com/juiced.gs/
; email:
juicedgs@delphi.com)
Nuts & Volts Magazine (800-783-4624; http://www.nutsvolts.com
) not A2
specific, but good info on robot making and other interesting projects;
also, a
good source for surplus electronic parts ads
Shareware Solutions II (166 Alpine Street, San Rafael, CA 94901
http://www.crl.com/~joko
email: joko@crl.com) is a bi-monthly mini-magazine
edited by Joe Kohn
Texas II (2503 Sherbrooke Lane, McKinney, TX 75070; 972-562-6335;
http://members.aol.com/A2MG/
) is an Appleworks newsletter published by Beverly
Cadieux (a2mg@aol.com).
--Rubywand