From: mmunson@animal.es.com (Mark Munson)
Subject: Re: Apple ][+ upgrade questions
Reply-To: mmunson@animal.es.com (Mark Munson)
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp., Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 20:37:06 GMT

In article <921016115930.087387@DOCKMASTER.NCSC.MIL> Paul Hamersley writes:

PH>I have just bought an apple ][+ for my kindergartner.  I am interested
PH>upgrading it to the configuration mentioned in the FAQ, but have
PH>a few questions.

PH>1) what does a language card do beside providing 16k of extra ram?

Early Apple ][s came with Integer BASIC (INT) built into ROM (the upper
16K area). Apple introduced AppleSoft Floating Point BASIC (FP) a little
while later.  So some Apple ]['s had Integer BASIC and others had
AppleSoft BASIC.  The Language card was a RAM based memory card that
could be used to load in a language from cassette or disk.  You could
load in either BASIC that wasn't already in ROM, or load in other
languages like PASCAL or FORTRAN.  By flipping a software controlled
switch, the 16K of memory on the language card would replace the 16K
of ROM space that was built in to your Apple.  The configuration looked
like this:

                        / (16K of ROM with system stuff & BASIC)
  [Standard 48K of RAM]<
                        \ (16K of RAM with whatever you loaded)

{Note: I'm over genralizing here, but this will give you an idea
of what was happening}
 
If you were running one of the large applications that was written
purely in 6502 assembly, you didn't need any of the languages mentioned
above, so the application could use the extra 16K of memory.

When the //e came out, the language card feature was built in, making
the default machine a 64K RAM computer.  It wasn't long after, that
ProDOS replace DOS 3.3 as the latest disk format.  ProDOS did a lot
of things better than DOS 3.3, but it needed more memory.  Hmm...
that 16K of extra memory looked inviting, so they let ProDOS use
it if BASIC program were to be running.

PH>2) how do i find out what the current compliment of memory is?

If you have a language card plugged into slot #0 then you have 64K.
Another test might be to attempt booting a ProDOS based disk, and
try getting into BASIC.  This will require 64K.  Early versions of
ProDOS documentation suggested that 48K might work, but the docs
were revised later to show only the 64K configuration.

You need the language card to run ProDOS.  You also want to be
able to run applications like AppleWorks which need the extra
memory and ProDOS operating system.


PH>3) what do i need to buy to hook up a joystick / is there a joystick
PH>and board package still available?

In the center of the Apple ][ motherboard is a 16 pin DIP (dual in-line
package) connector.  You'll see the marking "GAME I/O" (or something
like that) next to the connector.  Older joysticks plug in here, with
the cable snaking out the rear of the unit. With the intro of the //e, 
Apple also added an external 9-pin D connector on the rear of the
computer.  Go to an Apple users group to find an old-style connector
joystick.

PH>4) anybody able to recommend sources of public domain/shareware for
PH>kindergarten-2?

Can't help you here.  Have you tried looking up a users group in your
area.  They usually have hundreds of public domain disks.  Something
would surely meet your needs.

PH>5) is it worth upgrading the apple ][+ to 128 k, 80 column or should 
PH>i look for an enhanced //e at the next swap meet?

There were several 80 column video cards and memory expension boards
available for the ][+.  Most of these products suffered from a lack
of standards.  When Apple came out with the //e, then included a
combination 80-column video/memory expansion slot.  This quickly 
became the standard.  Adding a compabile video card is easy, but the
memory expansion on the ][+ was always a pain.  You'd find it 
easier to swap the ][+ for a //e.