On Sat, 27 Aug 2005, Byron Q. Desnoyers Winmill wrote:
On Sat, Aug 27, 2005 at 01:08:47AM -0400, Bill Garber wrote:
The ram ICs on the acrd are 256 x 1 bit and 8 will give you 256K.
With the 256K onboard, you have a total of 512K, not enough to run
anything correctly.
Not strictly true. The machine will run 8-bit software rather well
and many IIgs games were made to run on a 512 kB IIgs. A lot of
the application software will probably run, albeit not very well
(as Bill suggested).
True, Byron, but he was talking about GS/OS 6.0.1 - and for that a 4 meg
card isn't a luxury, but more of a necessity. If he were just running
AppleWorks then that 512k would be a lot!
Another cheaper option would be populating the RAM card, to reach
1.25 MB. While you won't be able to squeeze all of the power out
of your IIgs, most of the software which requires that much memory
will be begging for an accelerator card anyway. Besides, even with
1.25 MB you will be able to run virtually all vintage software
written for the IIgs. Machines with 4 MB and up were definitely
in the minority, so most vendors didn't target them.
Ultimately, most manufacturers were offering only the 4 and a few were
offering an 8-meg card. 1.25 was ok for pre-6.0.4 GS/OS but a lot of
GS-specific programs needed the heavier memory and later GSOS
Oh, and in case you haven't noticed it, there is this "upgrade your
IIgs to the extreme" crowd out there. Take whatever they say with
a grain of salt. While they will show you how to make your IIgs
experience slightly more plesant, a lot of the stuff which they
suggest buying is unnecessary. As far as I can tell, the vast
majority of Apple IIgs computers were limited to 512 kB RAM, and
a 3.5" and 5.25" floppy drive. As such, most IIgs software will
target these machines or machines with slightly (not extremely)
higher specs.
Uhhh...I run on a //e. I've had or had use of a GS so I know what a
difference the 4 meg can make. The lower meg cards were ok if all you
were doing was using the GS as an 8-bit machine (AppleWorks again :) ),
but a 4 meg card really wasn't a luxury for most people. I don't think
this falls into the "unnecessary" category. Now, adding a CD-ROM drive
might be, and an ethernet connection isn't all that necessary, and you can
get along without an accelerator. But memory IMO gives you "breathing
room." :)
(hey--I don't think we've ever disagreed about something before. So, this
ISN'T a flame--just a difference of opinion. :) )
Later.................Howard
____________________________________________________________
Computer n. A pocket calculator with a glandular problem.
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