Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!usc!jarthur!uci-ics!ajauch
From: ajauch@ics.uci.edu (Alexander Edwin Jauch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: need advice on purchase of 512 mac system
Keywords: 512 mac purchase questions
Message-ID: <25E57F67.10881@paris.ics.uci.edu>
Date: 23 Feb 90 18:22:32 GMT
References: <9783@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Reply-To: ajauch@ics.uci.edu (Alexander Edwin Jauch)
Distribution: comp
Organization: UC Irvine Department of ICS
Lines: 57

In article <9783@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu> lynch@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu (Tim Lynch) writes:
>
>
>
>Can someone help me with a few simple questions?  I've got a friend who
>is considering a 512 Mac for use at home.  I work with Plus's, SE's
>and II's, but haven't touched a 512 in quite a while.
>
>1.  What's lacking in the 512 ROM's?

The most annoying thing missing on my 512E is appletalk.  The  512K has some
other differences, the main one being 400K drives.

>
>2.  Is there an easy, cheap way to upgrade to 1 Meg of main memory?
>	Or, do I have to go the MacRescue route?
>

I upgraded my 512E to 1Meg for $150.  Fairly cheap to me.  I used the Dove
product, I was easy (about 45mins by myself) but scary! (It's called McSnap
for a reason).

>3.  Is most of today's software runnable on the 512?
>
>	Hypercard?
>	Microsoft Word?
>	Excel?
>	WriteNow?
>

Hypercard no.  Word 3.x yes, 4 no.  Excel early versions only.

>4.  If the above examples don't run on the 512, are there some comparable
>	applications that do?
>

There are no subs for Hypercard as far as I know.

>5.  Is there any printer other than an ImageWriter that works with a 512?
>

An Imagewriter II works fine, as far as I know any printer that doesn't require
appletalk should work (Apple Lasers use appletalk for example).

>6.  What's the lastest system that works with a 512?
>

I used system 5.0 great (it has CDevs but no multifinder) and 6.02 works ok
but it is a bit of a memory hog.

>7.  What have I missed?

The key difference that I would look into is between a 512K and a 512E.  The
rom switch and step up to 800K drives makes the difference for me.

Alex Jauch
ajauch@bonnie.ics.uci.edu