Well, in my travels today I purchased 2 Apple IIgs units from a retired Music teacher (very nice lady) and a midi card, and tons of software + an Imagewriter printer all for $100.00.
I am beat today, so I just went through it quickly. I will take time next weekend and take some photos and post them.
One of the IIgs (hers) is almost factory new. She took real good care of it. The other was a spare her husband purchased at a yard sale for a spare.
Anyhow in my quick look and the motherboards (they are both ROM1s) the yard sale one looked like a normal IIgs motherboard.
But, her machine, The motherboard had not only the IIgs connectors on it, but it also had all the IIe connectors too. (The IIe power connector, Keyboard Connector etc.)
Could this be a IIe to IIgs motherboard that was put in the IIgs case? A service replacement perhaps? or Did some of the ROM1 IIgs boards come that way?
I will continue to investigate and as I said publish pictures next weekend.
Thought I would share.
Thanks,
Jay
Jay,
Could it be the IIe to IIgs upgrade board?
If it has the additional connectors it´s an upgrade-board !
A lot of the early ones seem to have both set of connectors. Yes it would be considered an IIe upgrade board. A lot of Woz signed IIgs ones had the same upgrade type mother boards. Have not seen that many Rom 0 to say what they had as connections.
Take Care
I am out of town this week, but will take a few pics this weekend and post them when I will get a closer look.
THanks
Jay
I used to have a ROM0 IIgs that had the same connectors. I don't see them in my ROM1 or ROM3 motherboards.
Try to boot the IIgs; the startup screen should give you an indicator of the IIgs ROM version.
Apple made *thousands* of these dualie Apple IIGS motherboards with the IIe power and keyboard connectors on them. They thought more Apple IIe owners would want to upgrade, but few actually did. So, Apple ended up running most of these boards through the production line while some were reserved for Apple Service stock.
There is nothing mystical rare about these boards - they're quite common, despite what some people on eBay might tell you. What makes an Apple IIGS upgrade kit RARE is the base pan, and the badges if you're a stickler.
It's more accurate to call these 'potential upgrade boards' because you need a compatible Apple or Shreve Systems base pan unless you're planning on making some ugly mods on a IIe pan.
Thanks. I know what you mean about eBay thinking the are "Super Rare". I didn't think they were, it is just odd that I haven't seen one in my travels yet. If I was apple back then, I would have done the same thing. Made a bunch of these dual purpose and if the Apple IIe upgrade program fell short then use them in production GS machines.
I will still post some pics this weekend and take a look at the ROM rev too.
Thanks for all the info everyone.
Jay