Berkeley TCP socket interface for the Apple IIgs 226
Scott C. Linnenbringer writes "In case you wanted to do something cool with your fancy little Apple IIgs in the back room, you can use GS/TCP to implement a standard BSD socket interface, allowing you to connect via SLIP, MacIP, and soon PPP on a GNO/ME (GNO Multitasking Environment) UNIX system for the IIgs, now completely abandoned, open-sourced and labeled freeware. GS/TCP also comes with ftp and inetd, built with ORCA/C directly from BSDi sources (hacked, of course,) and a text web browser for GNO/ME can be found at the website."
How about something like Minix for the IIgs? (Score:5, Interesting)
If an OS like contiki can be crafted for a C64, surely Minix or something like it can be made to work on the IIgs.
Lee
Re:Not the only TCP/IP stack for the IIgs (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Bah humbug (Score:5, Interesting)
Except the beautiful thing about the Apple ]['s were the learning one could get out of them. My Apple ][+ at least shipped with full schematics to the computer including all wiring and chip ID's. It was a fantastic opportunity for a then 11 year old back in 1981 or so, and some would argue that even modern adults can learn quite a bit from such an old architecture that is extensible enough to still function with much more modern technologies.
The other thing to consider is that this machine (Apple ][+) was essentially designed from scratch by one person. Steve Wozniak. Thank you Steve.
Apple IIGS Scene (Score:4, Interesting)
Well, in that case, I'd rather go to Ninjaforce [ninjaforce.com], download some demos, sit back and enjoy!
By the way, there is an IRC client, too.
Re:Why, you ask? (Score:3, Interesting)
The IIgs was well ahead of it's time
I could be way off but didn't the IIgs come out in '86 (or at least some time after the Mac)? I do know that it was slower then the Mac Plus which I thought was out at the same time and while the IIgs did have color the dispay was rather blocky. As for multiple hard drives, so could the Mac with it's built in SCSI (I know there were add on cards for the IIgs to handle SCSI as well but I don't think they came standard).
Great introduction to Computational Complexity... (Score:5, Interesting)
Write some code in Visual Basic.NET and the first thing you notice is that you need a 4GB dual Xeon box just to boot the IDE! In a more efficient environment like VS6 or GCC+Emacs you have to write some complex code before you begin to notice performance limitations of the host machine.
I suppose this is analogous to hopping up 1960's muscle cars versus today's ricecars. The muscle cars were simple enough that owners could make meaningful performance upgrades. Modern cars benefit somewhat from a new chip, but most owners just change the bodywork and add lots of wings.
That having been said, I like my TiBook at least as much as I like my old Apple ][.
What this brings to mind is.... (Score:4, Interesting)
I *have* a GS, and I don't use it. I emulate one on my PB 5300 (another limping animal that should be put down ;) with Bernie to the Rescue.
With the exception of the pain in the ass of making and managing floppy images (which is infinitely better than trying to nab them off a IIe) it works great. I'm glad that this software is free, but this just illustrates the BS of copyright laws. Unmaintained or un-updated software should lose copyright protection after 10 years AT MOST. This allows dumbasses like me to emulate, or actually *use* the hardware I own.
Like I'm going to go out and buy Karateka any time soon (Don't try to hit the princess, she will smoke your ass like a looter in a riot!).
Seriously, If the publishers need $$$ that bad, keep the trademarks (so someone can release Rescue Raiders II ((Rockstar Games??!)), and dump the software to freeware so assholes like me can play a classic, learn basic, explore and compare the limits of software and hardware of yesteryear and today, and so I can finally find out what I put on the back of those 5.25 floppies.
Oh, and not have to try and explain why Gemstone Warrior was so frickin' creepy-scary, and why the Beagle Brothers kicked ass.
Remember, all the software you use *right now* will still be copyrighted long after you're dead, Apple makes the G69 with OSeX (things will be looser that way, I'm sure) and Bill Gates will either be hooked up to a machine, or *be* a machine (let's hope it runs on Windows either way.
Good example - Cinemaware. Releasing all their old ROMs and images. *FREE* Defender of the Crown anyone?
Re-releasing the games for a new market: Phones, GBA, PDA etc.
Do more of that, or so help me, I'll grab Locksmith 6.0, and Copy II+ 7 and 9 and I'll do it for you, you publish-whores! Put that on a bun and eat it!
"Freeware" means nothing legally. Pick a license. (Score:5, Interesting)
Then the copyright holder should have said this software is in the public domain. That would have meaning (as would licensing under the remarkably liberal new BSD and MIT X11 licenses). The term "freeware" has no legal meaning and is not a license, therefore it cannot be considered free software or open source. The FSF warns against using the word freeware to mean "free software" [gnu.org]. As things are, it is unclear exactly what the copyright holder(s) were trying to convey which means the software should be regarded as non-free and therefore it would be wise to avoid the software. Here's hoping the copyright holder(s) pick a free software license [gnu.org].
Re:Apple Computer Announces The IIgs (Score:3, Interesting)
And here's my GS:
juicy inside pic [blakespot.com]
outside pic
blakespot
Re:What this brings to mind is.... (Score:3, Interesting)
It's not on every day, but I used mine to write the software that controls my beer fridge (that software is currently running on a IIe with 1 meg of RAM and LocalTalk, but was written to run on something as minimal as a 64K II+). More recently, it's seeing use as a Morse-code trainer (decided to take another stab at that after reading this article [slashdot.org]). Could I do this with a more modern system (like the dual Athlon MP 2100+ parked next to it)? Yes. I already have some software for the IIGS that I downloaded & installed years ago, though, so it saves me the bother of searching for something newer.
The Apple IIGS might well be 1986 technology...but it's good 1986 technology! Plenty of other machines have come and gone, but this machine's been parked on my desk since 1985 (it started as a IIe and was upgraded in 1993) and it isn't going anywhere any time soon.
Beagle Bros kicked loose most of its stuff as freeware (as in beer) years ago. I think the TimeOut add-ons for AppleWorks and some other newer apps are the only ones that are still in abandonware limbo (and even a handful of those are free).
Re:Bah humbug (Score:4, Interesting)
Today, the same kid gets a EULA that forbids him to even make a hex dump :(