Apple II Frequently Asked Questions: Main Hall-1 ... Start Here!

Csa2 FAQs-on-Ground file: Csa21MH1.txt rev010 12/25/1998

The Csa2 (comp.sys.apple2) usenet newsgroup Frequently Asked

Questions files are compiled by the Ground Apple II site,

1997, 1998.

ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Faqs/Csa21FaqsMH.txt

http://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/apple2/Faqs

The Csa2 FAQs may be freely distributed.

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use a mono-spaced Font such as CoPilot or PCMononspaced.

A line-length formated version for easy on-line viewing under

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ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/FAQs.and.INFO/A2.Csa2.FAQs/

and at ...

ftp://ground.ecn.uiowa.edu/2/apple2/Faqs/Formatted/

____________________________

Csa2 FAQs on Ground "Main Hall"

Last updated: 25 December, 1998

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- What is "8 bit" and "16 bit"?

016- How can I tell what version my computer is?

017- How can I find out about using my Apple II?

018- Where do I find out about Apple II Users Groups?

019- Where can I get Apple II parts, boards, and software?

020- Where do I get Apple II books and periodicals?

001- What is a FAQ?

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.

____________________________

002- What is comp.sys.apple2?

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 files Csa2T1TCOM.TXT and

Csa2T2TCOM.TXT.)

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

Apple2 Caltech- large collection of II/IIgs games and utilities

ftp://apple2.caltech.edu/pub/apple2/

Asimov- #1 archive of Apple II 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/

Asimov-GS- major archive of IIgs games, system, and other software

as well as being a Csa2 FAQs mirror

ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/

for FAQs mirror ...

ftp://apple.cabi.net/pub/applegs/FAQs.and.INFO/A2.Csa2.FAQs/

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.grin.net/~cturley/gsezine/GS.WorldView/

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.grin.net/~cturley/USA2WUG/A2.FAQS.INFO.ETC/

for FAQs mirror ...

http://www.grin.net/~cturley/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/

ftp://ftp.wustl.edu/systems/apple2/umich.edu/

Apple2 U. Washington- comp.binaries.apple2 access

ftp://wuarchive.wustl.edu/usenet/comp.binaries.apple2/

Apple II Emulator Resource Guide- Apple II emulator info

http://www.zip.com.au/~alexm/faq/

Apple II Lessons & Software- BASIC Lessons and A2 software

http://www.iglou.com/qwerty/kb/dlfiles.html#53

Apple II Programmer's Archive- language software

http://net-24-42.dhcp.mcw.edu/a2pa.html

Apple II WWW and FTP Sites- comprehensive A2 & A3 links list

http://www.cstone.net/~rbraun/apple2/a2ftp.html#web

Apple Computer- mainly, GS system software

ftp://ftp.apple.com/dts/aii

http://www.apple.com/support

Apple Computer- license information

http://developer.apple.com/mkt/registering/swl/agreements.html

Delphi- on-line service which permits A2 net access

http://www.delphi.com/

for "A2 (Apple II)" forum ...

http://www.delphi.com/apple2/

for "A2Pro" - Apple II Programmers forum ...

http://www.delphi.com/a2pro/

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/

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

Mother of All Apple II Web Pages- links

http://www.syndicomm.com/a2web/

Odessa Entertainment- on-line entertainment 'zines

http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/rembrandt/2/comp.html

Texas II- Appleworks products and information; home site for

Beverly Cadieux's Apple II Mail Group (A2MG)

http://members.aol.com/A2MG/

The Apple II Classic Games Page- large listing of classic

A2 games with screenshots.

http://jones.netplace.com/apple/welcome.html

The Giant List- major listing of games and authors

http://www.dadgum.com/glist/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/

http://www.tals.dis.qut.edu.au/staff/willie/tcp/appleii.html

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. Originally known as "ProDOS 16", GS/OS is a sophisticated 'mouse

and windows' operating system which looks very much like the Macintosh

OS and PC Windows. The current version of GS/OS 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 are 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 GS/OS 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 GS/OS 5.04 (now called "System

5.04") from 3.5" diskette. --Dan DeMaggio, Rubywand, David Empson, Randy

Shackelford

____________________________

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 most

subsequent machines that have the LC Processor Direct Slot (PDS). This

includes 020, 030, and 040 machines. 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

____________________________

015- 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

____________________________

016- 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

____________________________

017- 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 .

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

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 User's Guide by Poole, Martin, and Cook

Beagle Bros "Peeks, Pokes, and Pointers" (poster) by Beagle Bros

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

____________________________

018- 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. Two such sites are ...

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Technology/AppleUsersGroup/sub/usergroups.html

http://www.frostbyte.com/Apple/Apple_usergroups.html

Of course, you can always post a question to Csa2 or to

comp.sys.apple2.usergroups. --Rubywand

____________________________

019- 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

software.

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

Effective Shareware Solutions (602-274-6905;

http://www.primenet.com/~clay1 ) Apple II music wares

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

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

L.A.Trade (800-433-3726; http://www.4LATrade.com ) sells memory,

including "Zip" package 1MB x 4 DRAM used by the AE GS-RAM III 4MB

card.

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, ...

Midwestern Diskette (800-221-6332; http://www.mddc.com/mdi/disk.html )

diskettes, including 5.25" DSDD diskettes

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.ninjaforce.home.ml.org )

Ninjaforce software for IIgs

Pre-Owned Electronics (800-274-5343) sells a variety of peripherals and

accessories.

Redmond cable (206-882-2009 http://www.redcab.com ) makes and sells

standard & custom Apple II cables.

Scantron Quality Computers (800-777-3642 http://www.sqc.com )

Appleworks, Appleworks-GS vendor.

Sequential Systems (800-759-4549 or 303-666-4549,800-999-1717 tech,

303-666-7797 BBS; 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/index.html-ssi ) 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

____________________________

020- Where do I get Apple II books and periodicals?

The Applebyter newsletter (Applebyters Computer Club, P.O. Box 2092,

Davenport, IA 52809) 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.grin.net/~cturley/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