Repost - Question about balasted ignition system

["Frank Sperling III" <sperling@hooked.net>]

For some reason - I do not believe that my earlier message was sent 
to you all:

Can anyone provide me with some insight...

I have a '79B and have always been suspicious of the current 
coil...I'd like to replace it.  However, I don't know if my car
has a ballasted or non-balasted ignition system.  My questions are:

1) How can I tell which kind of system I have?

2) What is a balasted system anyway?

Thanks,
Frank Sperling III
'79 MGB - "Mugs"