Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watnot!watmath!clyde!cbatt!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!j.cc.purdue.edu!k.cc.purdue.edu!ag0
From: ag0@k.cc.purdue.edu.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Apple //e upgrade to //gs
Message-ID: <1796@k.cc.purdue.edu>
Date: Mon, 16-Feb-87 15:47:49 EST
Article-I.D.: k.1796
Posted: Mon Feb 16 15:47:49 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Feb-87 03:40:40 EST
References: <273@aucs.UUCP>
Reply-To: ag0@k.cc.purdue.edu.UUCP (Colin Jenkins)
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 55
Keywords: //gs  //e  upgrade
Summary: Not worth it!!!

In article <273@aucs.UUCP> consult@aucs.UUCP (John Baikie) writes:
>Sender:John Baikie
>
> I'm writing this to see if any can tell me about the Apple //gs 
>and what is involved in upgrading an Apple //e to one. 
>                                John Baikie 

I have looked into the upgrade situation for the //e and I have come to the
conclusion that it is not worth it.  The upgrade (which is not available just
yet- I think) costs $499.  There may be a rebate of ~$100.  The upgrade
includes a new mother board and pan (the underside of the computer).  The
upgrade does NOT include a new keyboard, mouse, numeric keypad, or 3.5 inch 
drive.  In order to totally upgrade your //e, these additional parts will 
probably run you up to $500+ more.  On top of all that, Apple will keep the 
mother board from your old //e.  

If you had any cards that fit into the auxilliary slot of your //e
you will not be able to use them on your upgraded "//gs".  Many of your
comunications programs will not work.  I have read (although I am not 
entirely sure it is true) that accelerator cards will not work in the //gs.
Some say that is not a problem because a //gs runs at 2.8 times the speed of
the old apple, however *MY* Speedemon runs 3.5 times faster so you do lose
some speed there.

The bottom line is that in order to upgrade completely you will more than
likely spend a good $1000.00, plus lose your //e, and be forced to shelve or
sell many of your cards and programs.  Since a complete //gs system retails
for under $1000.00 you are better off just buying one out right and hanging
on to (or selling) your current system.

Perhaps some company will come out with a way to use a //e as a slave for a
//gs and we will be able to "merge" the two systems to form a more powerful
one (unlikely, but hey, this *IS* America!!).

Frankly I am dissapointed in Apple.  They are ripping us off incredibly--
especially since they keep our old mother boards.  Perhaps they expect us
to recoup losses by selling our "useless" cards.  I don't think the market
for the old cards is going to be so good anymore- especially since they are 
second hand.  If you are really wanting to upgrade to a more powerful system,
I think it would be worth your time for a few dollars more to look into
some alternatives to Apple.  The //gs has a lot of nice features, but it is
not really state of the art (except for its sound capabilities).  With today's
technology and software advances, I don't see any reason for micros not to
run REAL multitasking operating systems with true memory management and even
virtual memory running at reasonable speeds.  All these things are possible 
today.  Why the (hobby) microcomputer industry has not caught up with the 
times yet is beyond me.  Probably economic reasons.  

Personally, I love my little Apple, and I think I want to keep it just the way
it is.  When I feel the need to upgrade, I will buy a system that won't be
outdated before I get it out of the box.

				Colin

PS Does the //gs support multitasking??