The Apple IIGS is a versatile machine. You can control the speed of the microprocessor, the color of the text and background displayed on the screen, the responsiveness of the keys on the keyboard, the volume of the built-in speaker, and more. The way you control these things is through the Control Panel, a program that is built into the Apple IIGS.

While the Control Panel Program is permanently stored in the Apple IIGS, your system preferences are recorded in a special kind of battery-powered RAM that, unlike ordinary RAM, retains what's stored in it even after the power is turned off. This means you can make changes to your system configuration and save the configuration for next time. The battery should last between five and ten years. If it ever runs low, the Control Panel Program restores the original system configuration. If this happens, have your authorized Apple dealer replace the battery; then use the Control Panel Program to reconfigure your system the way you like it.

Incidentally, applications can override your settings for special effects and special reasons of their own. For example, you may have the speed set to normal, but the application can override your setting and Run at the faster speed.

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