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Re: IIgs questions

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On 8/31/2017 9:46 AM, Anthony Ortiz wrote:

> 
> Another question : I've been reading some older posts and there seems
> to be some discussion regarding the Apple IIgs as not being well
> designed or a worthy successor... is this just the opinion of a few
> disgruntled fanatics or the general concensus?
> 

Anthony,

I came relatively late to the IIgs party in the mid 1990's (after having 
been a IIe and even a II+ holdout for many years), and, even if one were 
to ignore the 16-bit stuff, I would say that the the Apple IIgs is a 
'Super IIe'.

Considering things from an 8-bit programmer's viewpoint, I think the 
IIgs' Control Panel with the 'Visitor Monitor' CDA is a fantastic 
hacking tool to use in deciphering 8-bit program internals.

And, from the perspective of an 8-bit software user, I'd say that the 
IIgs' built-in acceleration, (2) built-in serial ports (plus cards in 
the same slots if you so desire), built-in mouse card, built-in clock, 
built-in floppy controller, ADB keyboard controller capable of 
supporting the better Mac keyboards with function keys and the built-in 
memory expansion all enhance the 8-bit software user's experience.

I think, however, my favorite thing about the IIGS as a 'Super' IIe is 
this — it can use the _wicked_ fast RamFAST Rev. D SCSI disk controller, 
which gives one, even today, unmatched 8-bit ProDOS speed on an Apple II 
computer.

The RamFAST design is over 25 years old, and still nothing has topped 
(or even approached) its speed in running ProDOS 8 applications.

Check out Antoine's disk timings Google spreadsheet for the hard 
numbers. It's eye opening. The RamFAST's combination of DMA and cache 
hasn't been beaten yet (outside of emulation), but I'm hopeful that 
maybe someday it will.

With a IIgs containing an accelerator and a RamFAST SCSI, the Apple II 
'experience' is completely transformed, or at least it was for me.

I keep one enhanced IIe running (because I still have to use an old 
Saturn/Titan 128K card with one application), but every other II I use 
is a ROM 3 IIgs with a RamFAST SCSI. Most have accelerators, but not 
all. It will be interesting to see what Plamen comes up with in that 
regard, though.





Hugh Hood

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IIgs questions Anthony Ortiz <anthonypaulo@gmail.com> - 2017-08-31 07:46 -0700
  Re: IIgs questions "Michael 'AppleWin Debugger Dev'" <michael.pohoreski@gmail.com> - 2017-08-31 08:45 -0700
  Re: IIgs questions Charlie <charlieDOTd@verEYEzon.net> - 2017-08-31 12:06 -0400
  Re: IIgs questions roger.shimada@gmail.com - 2017-08-31 17:55 -0700
    Re: IIgs questions Du Hast <duhast6377@gmail.com> - 2017-09-01 18:14 -0700
      Re: IIgs questions roger.shimada@gmail.com - 2017-09-03 08:59 -0700
        Re: IIgs questions Polymorph <mike.a.stephens@gmail.com> - 2017-09-03 16:07 -0700
          Re: IIgs questions Steve Nickolas <usotsuki@buric.co> - 2017-09-03 22:24 -0400
            Re: IIgs questions awanderin <awanderin@gmail.com> - 2017-09-04 23:13 -0600
          Re: IIgs questions roger.shimada@gmail.com - 2017-09-06 18:34 -0700
            Re: IIgs questions John Brooks <jbrooks@blueshiftinc.com> - 2017-09-06 23:51 -0700
        Re: IIgs questions Du Hast <duhast6377@gmail.com> - 2017-09-03 19:03 -0700
  Re: IIgs questions David Schmenk <dschmenk@gmail.com> - 2017-09-01 10:52 -0700
    Re: IIgs questions Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> - 2017-09-01 16:40 -0500
      Re: IIgs questions Daniel Bethe <smuckola@gmail.com> - 2017-09-01 18:07 -0700
      Re: IIgs questions David Schmenk <dschmenk@gmail.com> - 2017-09-02 09:33 -0700
        Re: IIgs questions Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> - 2017-09-02 12:50 -0500
          Re: IIgs questions James Davis <JPD.Enterprises@outlook.com> - 2017-09-02 12:33 -0700
            Re: IIgs questions Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> - 2017-09-02 17:19 -0500
              Re: IIgs questions James Davis <JPD.Enterprises@outlook.com> - 2017-09-03 19:20 -0700
                Re: IIgs questions Michael J. Mahon <mjmahon@aol.com> - 2017-09-03 23:04 -0500
      Re: IIgs questions Tom Porter <laseractiveguy@gmail.com> - 2017-09-02 12:59 -0700
  Re: IIgs questions Hugh Hood <hughhood@earthlink.net> - 2017-09-02 12:20 -0500
    Re: IIgs questions Brian Patrie <bpatrie@bellsouth.spamisicky.net> - 2017-09-03 07:14 -0500
      Re: IIgs questions Hugh Hood <hughhood@earthlink.net> - 2017-09-03 22:56 -0500
        Re: IIgs questions Brian Patrie <bpatrie@bellsouth.spamisicky.net> - 2017-09-04 00:43 -0500
        Re: IIgs questions Brian Patrie <bpatrie@bellsouth.spamisicky.net> - 2017-09-04 00:49 -0500
    Re: IIgs questions MG <*@guidero.us> - 2017-09-03 09:41 -0700
      Re: IIgs questions Hugh Hood <hughhood@earthlink.net> - 2017-09-03 18:14 -0500
        Re: IIgs questions Steven Hirsch <snhirsch@gmail.com> - 2017-09-03 20:25 -0400
        Re: IIgs questions MG <*@guidero.us> - 2017-09-04 00:27 -0700
  Re: IIgs questions Jorge <jorge@jorgechamorro.com> - 2017-09-02 20:54 -0700

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