My older kids are interested in 'programming' (my profession).
I figured that the apple IIgs is a GREAT environment, as there were thinks like BASIC, LOGO, etc available that were accessible enough for kids to do basic things with. Heck, it is what I started with (an apple IIe that is).
So, I dug up my old apple IIgs in the garage. It is a ROM 03... bone stock. I also have a couple of 5.25" and 3.5" drives.
I have no system disks, no software, no hard disk, etc. Before I put the thing away, I used to have a TWGS, 8MB memory card, RAMFast SCSI, SecondSight etc...etc... Sold the lot and regretted it ever since.
So, I was reading that the carteblanche offers an integrated flash HDD controller *and* a VGA output as well (which would be nice).
Is the CB card 100% compatible with the IIgs and capable of displaying all video modes. The information available on the CB site indicated that it was only Apple //+,e,c compatible.
Also, are there CB cards left? It looks like they were all swooped up!
Finally, are there any vendors that still sell old Apple IIgs hardware like memory cards, etc?
On Jul 4, 3:10 am, IUnknown <stevement...@gmail.com> wrote:
> My older kids are interested in 'programming' (my profession).
You are in a similar position to what I was a few years ago (I'm a programmer too). I grew up with a //e but shelved it in 1992 when I switched to using IBM compatible PC's. In 2006 I got the retro itch, pulled the //e out of mothballs and have been hooked ever since. I got my very first IIgs later that same year and have since suped it up considerably (12.5MHz Zip GSX, 4Mb memory card, CFFA (with a 2Gb card!), stereo sound card, etc). I made my own sound card, overclocked the Zip GSX to 12.5MHz, and rigged up my own external CF card plugged into the CFFA (see here for details http://dreher.net/?s=projects/CFforAppleII&c=projects/CFforAppleII/ma...).
> I figured that the apple IIgs is a GREAT environment, as there were > thinks like BASIC, LOGO, etc available that were accessible enough for > kids to do basic things with. Heck, it is what I started with (an > apple IIe that is).
Not only does the IIgs give you an accelerated Apple for programming 8 bit software, you also have the option of programming in 16 bits for GS/OS. I'm one of a few active developers for the IIgs. Once you've got some additional memory (I recommend 4Mb or 8Mb) and a high capacity drive (compact flash drives are probably the best at the present time), I recommend teaching your kids Complete Pascal for the IIgs. It is a good language to learn, that enforces good programming practices and yet has most of the features of a 'modern day' language. A virtual friend, Lim Thye Chean, has a created a great web site dedicated to teaching kids the basics of programming. He taught his own son, Ding Wen (who is now 9), to program on the IIgs, and has since moved onto programming games for the iPhone! Ding Wen has been on several TV appearances, demonstrating his new games.
> I have no system disks, no software, no hard disk, etc. Before I put > the thing away, I used to have a TWGS, 8MB memory card, RAMFast SCSI, > SecondSight etc...etc... Sold the lot and regretted it ever since.
Ouch! Thats an impressive list of items. You will be unlikely to get them all back, and if you do, expect to pay big $$ these days. As for software, check these sites out:
> So, I was reading that the carteblanche offers an integrated flash HDD > controller *and* a VGA output as well (which would be nice).
> Is the CB card 100% compatible with the IIgs and capable of displaying > all video modes. The information available on the CB site indicated > that it was only Apple //+,e,c compatible.
From what I can gather, and I'll let Alex or Steve correct me if I'm wrong, but the Carte Blanche provides VGA output for the 8 bit graphics modes supported by the //e and //c (i.e. lo-res, hi-res, double hi-res), but not the IIgs' super hi-res modes. I also gather that support for the IIgs' super hi-res modes might be possible by programming the onboard microcontroller, but it won't be shipped with this support.
> Also, are there CB cards left? It looks like they were all swooped up!
No CB cards have been shipped as yet, just people (including myself) have put there name down for one. Alex and Steve have mentioned a second run, so I'm pretty sure you will be accommodated for in this 2nd run if you want to grab one.
> Finally, are there any vendors that still sell old Apple IIgs hardware > like memory cards, etc?
See my list above.
> Thanks in advance for the answers!
No problems! Happy to help out.
BTW, you can read about some of the projects I've embarked upon over the last couple of years on my site: http://apple2.sytes.net/
On Jul 4, 3:10 am, IUnknown <stevement...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Also, are there CB cards left? It looks like they were all swooped up!
Once the cards are out in the wild and have gone through a few iterations of firmware improvement/development, I'm sure there'll be demand for another run, so stay tuned.
> Finally, are there any vendors that still sell old Apple IIgs hardware > like memory cards, etc?
Tony Diaz sells the SiriusRAM (an 8MB card for the IIgs) over at http://16sector.com/
Also available there is the Focus HD controller, which works beautifully on IIgs with a compact flash card.
> You can also pick up a replica Apple I at the same time! :)
> Cheers - Ewen
Though there were some very vocal complaints about this card not working properly in what I would characterize as *very rare and unusual configurations,* I have this card with my Rom 03 and a ZipGSX accelerator, CFFA storage card, and Uthernet ethernet card and it works just fine. If you can't imagine spending nearly $200 on an octoram, I think this is a pretty good card to have.
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