I'm Not Moving to GS/OS!

Eric Schwarz - 2002.04.01

Everyone is talking about how great the GS/OS is for the Apple IIGS. Sure, it looks good, and it's rock solid, but I think I'm going to stick with ProDOS for a few reasons.

Sure, It Looks Good...

The GS/OS has a GUI much like that newfangled computer called the Mac Plus, but it's better. Not only does it have beautiful colors, but it supports all kinds of new innovations, including AppleTalk, 3.5" disks, and huge hard drives. These new innovations require hefty system hardware, so users of Apple ][, ][+, //e, //c, and other non-GS Apple IIs can't run it. Even users with GSes can't run it if they don't have a lot of memory.

Files Everywhere

The GS/OS scatters files all around your disk, mostly in this folder called 'System.' Within it, there are folders called 'FSTs', 'CDEVs', 'Drivers', 'Fonts', 'System.Setup', and 'Tools'. Within these folders are tons of indistinguishable files. Really, you don't want to mess with this folder at all, otherwise, you could mess up your IIGS.

Installation

The GS/OS comes with an installer that is also used to update your computer, as well as install some third-party programs. This makes installing/updating/removing things very intuitive.

Older Apps Still Run - Sorta

Your older Apple II programs run in an environment that actually starts up the old ProDOS familiar to most Apple II users. However, some programs do not like running in this environment and crash.

Old Formats Gone

The older DOS 3.3 format is now unsupported by GS/OS, so any older disks you have can't be used. This makes for many inconveniences.

Conclusion

Apps written to run natively in the GS/OS will be impressive, offering color graphics at high resolutions, sound, and more. However with older app support being spotty, and GS/OS requiring a whopping 1 MB of RAM and at least 600K disk space, it's not for everyone.

New technologies are sure to leave people behind, but this means that most will have to buy a new computer. 

Eric Schwarz has been using Macs and other computers for a few years. His personal website - dealing with Macs (of course) - is at <http://schwarztech.macweekly.com/>. You can learn more about his current computer setup in Eric Schwarz's iBook.

Recent Power of Mac

• TextEdit, a hidden powerhouse that comes free with OS X, 03.26. Although easily overlooked, TextEdit could be all the word processing software a lot of Mac users ever need.
• Whether you call it AirPort, WiFi, or 802.11 wireless networking, your portable should have it, 03.19. With more wireless hot spots popping up, there are more reasons to have an AirPort card in your 'Book every day.
• Are older Macs lower than low end?, 03.14. Are low-end Mac users finding happiness with newer low-end Mac?
• Back to school software, 2002 edition, 08.01. Practical software for students (and others) using Mac OS X.
• More in the Power of Mac index.

Links for the Day

• Mac of the Day: iMac Core Duo, Jan. 2006 - The first Intel-based iMacs ran at 1.83-2.0 GHz, came with 17" and 20" displays.
• Group of the Day: Mac Pro List is for those using a Mac Pro.
  
• November 22 in LEM history: 99: Gradebooks - 00: Leveraging Apple design - Quadra 630 to Power Mac 5200 - 02: Laptop or desktop? - 04: SuperDuper: Quick, easy, efficient backup - Cross-platform programming for the rest of us - 05: Mac video surveillance on the cheap - Which OS is best for my vintage Mac? - No 'best browser' for the Mac - Sorry state of browsers for classic Macs - 06: Core 2 means cooler running 'Books - 2.0 GHz G4 upgrade

Recent Content on Low End Mac

• Apple's Tablet an End Run Beyond Netbooks, Frank Fox, Stop the Noiz, 11.20. Whatever Apple has planned will leverage existing technologies while going beyond what its competitors can offer.
• i5 iMac Benchmarked, Mac mini 'Shouldn't Be Overlooked', Twitter Client for Classic Mac OS, and More, Mac News Review, 11.20. Also why Apple leaves the low end to others, 10.6.2 fixes video playback problem in 27" iMac, 3D Leopard and Snow Leopard performance, and more.
• Apple #4 in Reliability, Apple Tablet a Gadget for All?, HP's i7 Notebook Outdoes Mac Rivals, and More, The 'Book Review, 11.20. Also Flash 10.1 improves video on Hackintosh netbooks, thin-and-light notebooks impress, Windows XP finally on the way out, and more.
• NASA Chemical Sensor for iPhone, Smartphone Death Match, iPhone Earrings, and More, Ian R Campbell, 11.20. Also mobile phone dangers, new apps, GPS solution for iPod touch, new iPod and iPhone cases, and more.
• Replacing the Hard Drive in a Clamshell iBook, John Hatchett, Recycled Computing, 11.19. Yes, it is one of the most difficult Apple notebooks to disassemble and reassemble, but a 10 GB hard drive just will not do.
• IBM Model F: A Great Old Keyboard with an Outdated Layout, Tommy Thomas, Welcome to Macintosh, 11.19. Although it used a different technology than the revered IBM Model M keyboard, the Model F was a great keyboard in its own right.
• Soft Touch Keyboards, Wireless Mouse Options, Loving SeaMonkey 2, and More, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 11.18. Also the future of browsing with PowerPC Macs and the multiple mouse input bug introduced with OS X 10.5.8.
• More links in our archive.

Recent Deals

• Best eMac Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz Combo, $100; SuperDrive, $269; 1.25 GHz Combo, $119; SD, $319; 1.42 GHz Combo, $289; SD, $498.
• Best Mac OS X 10.6 and Mac Box Set Deals, 11.18. "Snow Leopard", single user, $25; 5 users, $45; Mac Box Set, single user, $139; 5 users, $180; Server, $414. Shipping included.
• Best Xserve Deals, 11.18. Used 1 GHz dual G4, $649; 2.3 dual G5, $795; 3.0 4-core Xeon, $1,899; refurb 2.26 4-core, $2,499; new, $2,888; refurb 8-core, $2,999; new, $3,449; more.
• Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.17. Used 1.83 GHz, $750; 2.16, $800; 2.33, $900; refurb 2.4, $1,299; 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,899; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
• Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.17. Used 400 MHz, $50; 933 MHz, $80; 500 dual, $60; 867 dual, $90; 1 GHz dual, $150; 1.25 GHz dual, $225; 1.42 GHz, $499.
• Best Mac OS X 10.5 Deals, 11.17. "Leopard" upgrade, $80; single user license, $135; 5 users, $173; Mac Box Set, 5 users, $230; Server, 10 users, $340; unlimited, $850. Shipping included.
• Best Mac mini Deals, 11.16. Used 1.42 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.66 GHz Core Solo, $419; 2.0 Core 2, $450; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $769; Server, $990.
• Best iBook G4 Deals, 11.16. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $210; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz, $479; SuperDrive, $498.
• Best iPod shuffle Deals, 11.16. Used 1 GB, $35; 4 GB, $65; refurb 1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 2 GB, $55, 4 GB, $75. New and refurb prices include shipping.
• More deals in our archive.

Search Luddite Mac

Mac of the Day
 Quadra 800
List of the Day
 Compact Macs
Channels
 Power Macs
 iMac Channel
 iBook/PowerBook
 MacInSchool
Computer Profiles
 iMac
 Power Mac
 PowerBook/iBook
 Performas
 Mac Clones
 Vintage Macs
 Lisa ï NeXT
Editorial Archive
Mac Daniel's Advice
Email Lists
LUDchat (uses AIM)
Message Boards
Online Tech Journal
Consumer
 advice, reviews
 guides, deals
Software
Apple History
Best of the Web
 Best of the Mac Web surveys
Miscellaneous Links
 Used Mac Dealers
 Video Cards
 Mac OS X
 Mac Linux
 Macspeak
 RAM Upgrades
About Luddite Mac
Site Contacts

Luddite Links:
 The Mac 512.com
 JAG's House
 System 6 Heaven
 Abandonware Petition
 Should Schools Have
  Macs or PCs?

Power of Mac articles copyright ©2001-2003 by Eric Schwarz. Luddite Mac copyright ©2002 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted. Copyright of individual articles resides with the author. All rights reserved.
  Advice presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Computers are like that. Please report errors to the webmaster.
  Letters sent to LUD may be published at our discretion. Email addresses will not be published unless requested. If you prefer that your message not be published, mark it "not for publication." Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
  LINK POLICY: This site allows and encourages links to any public page, as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
  PRIVACY POLICY: In brief, we don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it.
  Luddite Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Computer. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iBook, iMac, and PowerBook are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.
  For more details, see our Terms of Use.