Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!eda.com!jim
From: jim@eda.com (Jim Budler)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: need advice on purchase of 512 mac system
Keywords: 512 mac purchase questions
Message-ID: <1990Feb24.072845.15136@eda.com>
Date: 24 Feb 90 07:28:45 GMT
References: <9783@batcomputer.tn.cornell.edu>
Distribution: comp
Organization: Digital Equipment Corp., DFE, Santa Clara, CA.
Lines: 75

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.

Having what was once a 128K Mac, which is now a 512Ke, with MacRescue
added, I think I'll reply with some knowledge.

} 1.  What's lacking in the 512 ROM's?

In the 512, as opposed to the 512Ke, much is lacking. Support for HFS
in general, and 800K floppies in particular is missing. There was, or
is, an add in extension called HD20, which was a file to place in the
system folder to add HFS.

You are still left without support for SCSI. i.e. the only hard disks
you can use are the original serial hard disks, which nobody makes anymore.

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

Many, if not all of the memory upgrades require the new ROM's to support
greater than 512K memory. As does MacRescue.

} 3.  Is most of today's software runnable on the 512?

} 	Hypercard?
} 	Microsoft Word?
} 	Excel?
} 	WriteNow?

WriteNow will, early Word and Excel will, current Word and Excel will not.
Hypercard will not, even on a 512Ke. (Really not useably on 1 Meg.

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

I don't know.

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

Probably. The LaserWriter will. The LaserWriter II SC and the other SCSI
will not. The HP DeskWriter basically will not work well without a hard
disk as the driver plus system plus more than one font is greater than
800k, and see above for hard disk and 800k disks on the 512 if not a Ke.

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

I think you are supposed to stay at 3.2, although I went to 6 on a Ke,
despite the memory hoggishness to get Shutdown (as opposed to Restart).

} 7.  What have I missed?  

Well, you didn't actually say it wasn't a 512Ke, but if not, I don't think
I'd bother... The upgrade to 512Ke is about $300, if still available.
The MacRescue people, I think, can supply the ROM's, since it requires them
and the literature said to call them, but I don't know their price.

} I'd be really grateful for answers to any of the above questions.
} Thanks in advance!

Back to the basics. A 512 needs the new ROM's to support > 512K memory and
SCSI.

Get at least a 512Ke, or you are looking at significant extra cost to be able
to upgrade it. I suspect a used 512Ke is not much more expensive than
a used 512. Make sure you get a 512Ke.

jim
-- 
Jim Budler	jim@eda.com    ...!{decwrl,uunet}!eda!jim
compuserve: 72415,1200     applelink: D4619
voice: +1 408 986-9585     fax: +1 408 748-1032