Copy Link
Add to Bookmark
Report
GEnieLamp Apple II - Vol.3, Issue 26
|||||| |||||| || || |||||| ||||||
|| || ||| || || ||
|| ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your
|| || || || ||| || ||
|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnieLamp Computing
|| |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable
|| || || ||| ||| || ||
|| |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE!
|| || || || || || ||
||||| || || || || ||
~ WELCOME TO GEnieLamp APPLE II! ~
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
~ POLISHING GREEN APPLES: Hooked on Storage, Part 3 ~
~ HARDVIEW A2: BlueDisk Controller Card ~
~ DR'S EXAMINING TABLE: VCR Companion ~
~ APPLE ANECDOTES: My First GS ~
~ APPLE II HISTORY: Part 20/21c, Magazines ~
~ HOT NEWS, HOT FILES, HOT MESSAGES ~
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
GEnieLamp Apple II ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol.3, Issue 26
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Editor....................................................Douglas Cuff
Publisher.............................................John F. Peters
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
~ GEnieLamp IBM ~ GEnieLamp ST ~ GEnieLamp [PR] ~ GEnieLamp Windows ~
~ GEnieLamp A2Pro ~ GEnieLamp Macintosh ~ GEnieLamp TX2 ~
~ GEnieLamp A2 ~ LiveWire (ASCII) ~ GEnieLamp MacPRO ~
~ Solid Windows ~ Config.sys ~ A2-Central ~
~ Member Of The Digital Publishing Association ~
GE Mail: GENIELAMP Internet: genielamp@genie.geis.com FTP: sosi.com
////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
>>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE APPLE II ROUNDTABLE? <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
~ May 1, 1994 ~
FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY]
Notes From The Editor. Is That A Letter For Me?
HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] REFLECTIONS ............. [REF]
God and the Bureaucrats. Economics of Electronic Mail.
BEGINNER'S CORNER ....... [BEG] TECH TALK ............... [TEC]
Polishing Green Apples. Macintosh Apple IIe Card.
ASCII ART GALLERY ....... [ASA] HARDVIEW A2 ............. [HAR]
Swallowtail Butterfly. BlueDisk and MTOOLS.
DR'S EXAMINING TABLE .... [DRT] THE TREASURE HUNT ....... [HUN]
Oldie review: VCR Companion. Yours For the Downloading.
APPLE ANECDOTES ......... [ANC] APPLE II ................ [AII]
On Getting My First GS. History Part 20/21c: Magazines.
LOG OFF ................. [LOG]
GEnieLamp Information.
[IDX]"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
READING GEnieLamp GEnieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing system
""""""""""""""""" to help make reading the magazine easier. To
utilize this system, load GEnieLamp into any ASCII word processor or
text editor. In the index you will find the following example:
HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM]
[*]GEnie Fun & Games.
To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM].
If you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will
take you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the
index.
MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages
"""""""""""" re-printed here in GEnieLamp, you will find all the
information you need immediately following the message. For example:
(SMITH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475)
_____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________
|Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number|
In this example, to respond to Smith's message, log on to page
475 enter the bulletin board and set CAT 6. Enter your REPly in TOPic
1.
A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that
this message is a "target" message and is referring to a "chain" of two
or more messages that are following the same topic. For example: {58}.
ABOUT GEnie GEnie's monthly fee is $8.95 for which gives you up to
""""""""""" four hours of non-prime time access to most GEnie
services, such as software downloads, bulletin boards, GE Mail, an
Internet mail gateway, and chat lines, are allowed without charge.
GEnie's non-prime time connect rate is $3.00. To sign up for GEnie
service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH.
Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: JOINGENIE and hit RETURN. When you get
the prompt asking for the signup/offer code, type: DSD524 and hit
RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. Need
more information? Call GEnie's customer service line (voice) at
1-800-638-9636.
SPECIAL OFFER FOR GEnieLamp READERS! If you sign onto GEnie using the
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" method outlined above you will
receive an *additional* six (6) free hours of standard connect time
(for a total of 10) to be used in the first month. Want more? Your
first month charge of $8.95 will be waived! Now there are no excuses!
*** GET INTO THE LAMP! ***
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ /
/ It's too bad we can't make the lawyers cease and desist. /
/ /
////////////////////////////////////////////// K.LUCKE ////
[EOA]
[FRM]//////////////////////////////
FROM MY DESKTOP /
/////////////////////////////////
Notes From The Editor
"""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[EDITOR.A2]
>>> GOING THE EXTRA MILE <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Deadlines love to lie in wait for me. What's more, while they're
waiting, they invite their friends to gang up on me.
The fact is, I always have at least three monthly deadlines -- not
counting the rent check -- and they're all exactly the same day: the last
day of the month. GEnieLamp A2 is one of those deadlines, of course, but
the one that's been giving me the most trouble lately is editing the
newsletter for the local Apple II user group, the London Apple Corps.
Two months in a row, my other commitments kept me from finishing the
newsletter in time for our monthly meeting. (My other commitments will
keep me from acting as editor for the London Apple Corps next year, but
that's another story.) I was determined not to make it three in a row, and
bled time from other projects to get as much advance work done on the
newsletter as possible.
It wasn't enough to not to be late; this time I had to be early, for
my parents were paying us a visit over the Easter weekend. Once my father
and mother arrived, all work would have to cease. As my wife -- the
long-suffering Tara -- and I drove to the airport to greet the travellers,
one computer was uploading copies of GEnieLamp A2 while another was
printing out the final proofs of the London Apple Corps newsletter. When I
finally dropped the proofs off at the printer, I felt great relief and
satisfaction.
Except that the printer, normally reliable, didn't have the
newsletter ready in time for the meeting. So I couldn't hand out copies to
the attendees. So the group's postage bills were going to be over budget
again.
Anger is powerful, but irrational anger has a greater strength. I
couldn't do a thing about the fact that I had no newsletters to hand out at
the meeting, but after the meeting was over, and the newsletters ready to
be picked up, the thing began to gnaw at me. I had invested a lot of time
in trying to keep the postage bill down. It wasn't my fault that the
newsletters weren't ready, but that didn't make me any less angry.
I looked at the pile of newsletters with distaste. If they'd chosen
that moment to make a sarcastic remark, I would have chucked the lot into
the fine-paper recycling bin. Instead, I hauled out a city map and began
plotting addresses on it.
It soon became apparent that there were too many to deliver, so I
started culling. Anyone outside the city limits would have to rely on
Canada Post. Ditto for anyone who hadn't paid their club dues. By this
process, I managed to get it down to a couple of dozen.
I don't know the city we live in terribly well. Perhaps that
accounts for the fact that it took me three and a half hours to deliver 20
newsletters. (Some addresses I never did find. I only hope Canada Post
fared better.)
That's how I came to travel the extra mile -- quite literally -- this
month. I'm glad I did it, too. It taught me something about the city I
live in and even a little something about the members.
Still, I wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been for someone who had
just gone the extra mile in a less literal sense: Harold Hislop.
If you hang around the A2 RoundTable, you already know how another
Apple II journal reprinted some advice on hooking up hard drives that Mr
Hislop had posted. Unfortunately, that journal missed a minor but
important correction that he posted afterward. When a couple of
subscribers to the journal followed the advice, bad things happened. We're
not talking about puffs of black smoke, but something that makes your heart
sink almost as much: data loss.
The subscribers called a bewildered Harold Hislop, who took the view
-- without pleasure, but also without flincing -- that if the advice had
his name on it, then it was his responsibility to help the unfortunate
subscribers.
Bravo, Harold. It was remembering this that kept me trudging around
peering at house numbers when I felt like slinging my stack of newsletters
into the nearest post-box and charging it to the London Apple Corps.
Sometimes, knowing that someone else took the responsibility of fixing a
problem that s/he hadn't created is all the inspiration you need.
[*][*][*]
You'll notice that there's no PAL Newsletter in GEnieLamp A2. Don't
worry, it'll be back next month.
You'll also notice that there are no CowToons this month. They won't
be back new month, because Cowboy Mike has hung up his spurs. All hail and
farewall, Mike.
You'll already have noticed that our profiles of Apple II
personalities have been absent for a while. Is anybody missing them? Is
anybody bidding a good riddance to bad rubbish. Can anyone out there hear
me? Hello?
-- Doug Cuff
GEnie Mail: EDITOR.A2 Internet: editor.a2@genie.geis.com
__________________________________________________________
| |
| REPRINTING GEnieLamp |
| |
| If you want to reprint any part of GEnieLamp, or |
| post it to a bulletin board, please see the very end |
| of this file for instructions and limitations. |
|__________________________________________________________|
[EOA]
[HEY]//////////////////////////////
HEY MISTER POSTMAN /
/////////////////////////////////
Is That A Letter For Me?
""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Douglas Cuff
[EDITOR.A2]
o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS
o A2 POT-POURRI
o HOT TOPICS
o WHAT'S NEW
o THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT
>>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
[*] CAT2, TOP4 ................. Software of the Month Club
[*] CAT3, TOP28 & CAT10, TOP2 .. LineLink 144e modem cable
[*] CAT5, TOP3 ................. Apple II laptop wish list
[*] CAT13, TOP36 ............... One World Software Wizards
[*] CAT23, TOP4 ................ Messages as property
[*] CAT34, TOP2 ................ II Scroll
>>> A2 POT-POURRI <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""
REPLACING SYSTEM SAVER FAN > "Is there room in a system saver for a
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" > second fan?"
Sorta. You'll have to move some wires around, maybe, but you can MAKE
it fit without a lot of effort.
Gary R. Utter (GARY.UTTER, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:542/M645;1)
>>>>> Just how the *&^% does one pop open the System Saver. I found two
""""" small screws (besides the ones holding the fan) but there must a
trick to opening up the beast. I'm just a curious type and the talk about
changing fans made me want to peek inside. Whoaaaaa......Rubic's Cube time.
Larry (LKRUPP, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:543/M645;1)
>>>>> Larry, look under the foam, there are several screws hidden there
"""""
--HangTime [Script-Central] B-)>
(A2.HANGTIME, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:544/M645;1)
<<<<< What Hangtime said. It's not as mysterious as it looks. It's not so
""""" much that they HID the screws to build a deliberate puzzle, just
that the foam goes on after it is assembled. If you feel through the foam,
you'll find them. I recommend cutting a little "x" over each screw with a
razor blade before you take the screws out.
Gary R. Utter (GARY.UTTER, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:547/M645;1)
>>>>> I'm using their 3" (80mm) 32 CFM fan, part #273-242. It fits
""""" perfectly where the original System Saver fan goes. However, the
screws that clamp the wires to the original fan don't fit the new fan so I
just dug up some screws that do fit.
Tony Ward [via GEM 4.21/PT 3.1]
(A2.TONY, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:549/M645;1)
LACK OF RESPONSE TO FREEWARE File Passage is a freeware file utility for
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" the Apple IIGS. It implements file commands
such as copy, backup, move, catalog, and delete, and lets you customize how
each command works by the use of a great variety of options and filters.
I recently wrote to the author, Charles Bartley, to note a problem with
version 2.0.1 sometimes getting a "resource not found" error during
startup. Along with the fix, he responded to a question I had asked...
"No I haven't heard from anyone concerning FP except another
programmer on the east coast who I sent a random free copy to."
No comments or encouragement after 100 GEnie downloads? After File
Passage was included on a GEnie Disk of the Month and on A2-Central?! I'm
surprised that no users dropped Charles a note to thank him for his
efforts, but it's unbelieveable that nobody from Resource Central or GEnie
let him know that his work is being distributed on their disks.
The new version (2.0.2) has been uploaded to the A2 library, and will
be file # 22558. If you want to send him a note of encouragement, the
address is:
Charles C. Bartley, 1310 Cholla Ct., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406.
-- Dave Tribby (D.TRIBBY, CAT3, TOP25, MSG:80/M645;1)
MULTI GS Reply-To: ltchean@iss.nus.sg
"""""""" From: Lim Thye Chean
Subject: Multi GS
I am very excited over Multi GS v2.0. In fact I am pretty impress! As
you might have known, I am a Switch It user, and have been using it for
quite sometime. So I am writing this mini-review for Multi GS v2.0, from a
Switch It user perspective.
Btw, I have also played with The Manager (demo), and the other few
switchers (including Alan Bird's and LeapFrog).
Multi GS v2.0 seems to combine the best of both world of Switch It
and The Manager. It uses similar metaphor of The Manager, where you can
click on the window to switch application, and all application shares the
same screen. Like Switch It, it has stack sharing!
I am very surprise to know that Multi GS stack sharing is even BETTER
than Switch It! First, it works. :) And it excels Switch It in this: Lets
say you have stack sharing shares set at 4K, and under Switch It, that
means that you are not able to run application like AWGS! But Multi GS
allows! All it does it to create a new stack space for AWGS since it is
larger than 4K. I think this feature is pretty cool, and should be
implemented in Switch It in the first place.
The second feature that impressed me is: it is able to launch ProDOS
8 program - and beyond what The Manager does - it is also able to launch
desktop application! You see, manay applications are sure to crash. For
example - GNO/ME or many games. I try launching GNO from Multi GS, and it
works beautifully. And upon quitting, returns me to Multi GS. This alone
can eliminate one of the major reason to buy Switch It.
Up to my surprise! I can run my own Mandelbrot IIGS v2.2 on Multi GS!
And I can switch it and out without any problem. Wow. Switch It and The
Manager simply fails to run it nicely. And I am even more surprise to see
my other applications such as Super Magic demo to run without any problems.
I have tested Multi GS with many applications, and with correct setting
(like some you have to set the write direct to screen as on), this software
is as stable as both the commercial products. Btw, it runs Proterm fine
too.
It is also the only switcher than can load more than one application
during startup. It can load up to 7! And like The Manager, it traps error
quite nicely.
Of course, I am still using Switch It right now, due to some
"problems" in Multi GS.
First - I hate the screen updates! Icons on desktop flashes here and
there, and this is exactly why I choose Switch It over The Manager in the
first place. I found that irritating. Backdrop (desktop pictures) also
drops the background occasionally.
When switching application and Multi GS trying to close all the DAs,
if the DAs present a dialog (like ShadowWrite with "Save..."), Multi GS
will enter infinite loop.
I can't find the Show window option documented.
The 3 major reasons I prefer Switch It over Multi GS: 1) Many times
during switching, there is a noticable pause; 2) Multi GS takes up 11K of
stack space! 1) Even if I request Multi GS to run Finder on Start up, it
will load Finder and returns control to Multi GS. This force me to manually
switch to Finder everytime.
Personally I think Multi GS is now a very powerful opponent for both
Switch It and The Manager. It is stable and has many features lack in the
commercial software. $20 shareware price is very reasonable, and I suggest
users who has not bought any switcher yet take a close look at this
software. This might be exactly what you want, with a much lower price.
For user who has The Manager, the only 2 advantages Multi GS offer
are ability to launch incompatible GSOS application and stack sharing.
Switch It seems to be having the least feature among the 3. Its main
selling point - stack sharinga is unfortunately not as good as Multi GS.
And since you can't launch GNO from Switch It (but you can launch Switch it
from GNO), Multi GS will be more attractive to GNO users who use it
occasionally (like me). But Switch It is a test and proven product, and it
is faster and less irritating when switching application.
I am still using Switch It. But it is a little aging now. It needs
more functions to be able to fight with The Manager (new version is coming
out) and Multi GS (with better stack sharing and able to launch GNO). I
have the following suggestions:
* Ability to launch ProDOS 8 program.
* Ability to launch GSOS program (not switch. Switch it just quit
Finder and itself and pass control to the software).
* Needs stack sharing as good as Multi GS.
* Most important - the main advantage I saw in Switch It is the
compatibility with GNO - if somehow it can ALSO be an extension of
GNO - this will be able to differential itself from the rest. For
example, if GNO attempts to run an application while Switch It is
the desktop application, and Switch It able to trap this, this will
be very convenient for GNO users.
* Features like memory map etc will be good.
--
%% GS Lover Loves GS %% Author of Super Magic 3 & Mandelbrot II GS
Lim Thye Chean: Lim is my surname. My name is Thye Chean.
My address: LTCHEAN@ISS.NUS.SG or 12, College Green, Singapore 1129
<<<
(B.TAO, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:274/M645;1)
WHAT DOES THE MANAGER HAVE OVER MUTLI-GS v2.0? Hmmmm. Good question. In
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" my opinion, The Manager
v1.0 has very little over Multi-GS.
The only thing I see is that The Manager is more of an "elegant"
MultiFinder-like utility. I like the extra menu, and the icon of the
program you are using as that menu's "title", I like the fact that The
Manager is not a separate "application"; I don't like having to scroll to
the _bottom_ of my NDAs to get to another application while using Multi-GS.
However, Multi-GS seems to currently be more "feature-full". The
ability to set up a default of programs to run as soon as Multi-GS is
loaded, stack sharing, access to a CDA that will put you in Multi-GS so
that you can get to another application no matter what the "front-most"
application is doing (some exceptions apply, of course). TM 1.0 is also
pretty slow at doing some things because of some of its background
processing...
BUT, I am reserving my opinion (and my Multi-GS shareware fee (: )
until the release of TM v 1.1. I _truly_ believe it will outdo Multi-GS at
that time. I think Dave and the beta testers will make TM into a rock
solid MultiFinder-like utility with all of the "pluses" of Multi-GS with
all of the current "elegance" that TM offers. TM will also offer some
"extras" (if I remember correctly), like InterProcess Communication so that
programs will know what's going on (when they are switched to, switched out
of, frontmost, etc.). I feel this will offer programmers (like myself) and
ultimately users a greater "power" over the environment in which they work.
Anyway, that's my spur of the moment $0.02 (I could come up with
more +s and -s if I had the time (; ).
Rick (R.ADAMS48, CAT43, TOP15, MSG:492/M645;1)
FREEWARE FLOPTICAL DRIVERS I find that by placing a RamFAST SCSI
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" partition map on the floptical, it becomes
unreadable on an Apple HS SCSI system with Rich Bennett's freeware
floptical drivers. Does anyone know if this happens with the Tulin
drivers?
(B.TAO, CAT11, TOP16, MSG:297/M645;1)
>>>>> The reason is that when the RamFAST formats, it lay's down an Apple
""""" partition map, of about 32K or so (from memory). My driver doesn't
use a partition map. My reasoning was 1) Why partition 19MB? and 2) Easier
to write! ;) It also means that MS-DOS flopticals *SHOULD* work OK with the
MS- DOS FST and my driver, although I haven't tested it. The RamFAST will
recognise a disk without a partition map, but if you reformat, it WILL lay
one down for you.
Regards,
Richard (RICHARD.B, CAT11, TOP16, MSG:298/M645;1)
<<<<< > My driver doesn't use a partition map
"""""
Ah, so you're the culprit. ;-)
> My reasoning was 1) Why partition 19MB?
I didn't mean to partition any of my disks (except one), but once
it's there, you cannot remove it with the RamFAST software even if you do a
low-level format. One disk *is* divided into one 15-meg and 6 800K
partitions. The 15-meg one is a backup of my HD boot partition and the
remaining six hold System 6.01 disk images. Very handy for distributing
copies of it at the usergroup. :)
> It also means that MS-DOS flopticals *SHOULD* work OK with the
> MS-DOS FST and my driver, although I haven't tested it.
Haven't tried that either. I can't even get the $&$#%! Macs at
school to recognize the floptical without crashing. There are using the
drivers and utility software provided by PLI (I bought the drive at a Mac
store), although I may need a newer version.
(B.TAO, CAT11, TOP16, MSG:299/M645;1)
TURBO ASB WITH PROTERM 3.1 The Turbo-ASB is a daughter-board addition to
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" the SSC to allow the use of 38400 baud and
full hardware handshaking. There is a driver for ProTERM 3.1 and the
Turbo-ASB available for download from The InTrec BBS. When using the
Turbo-ASB driver with ProTERM 3.1, you dont need to do anything special.
From the user perspective, the only difference is that 38400 is the maximum
baud rate instead of 19200. The only RlossS is that 110 baud doesnt work so
well (not a big deal). In addition to the higher maximum baud rate, the
Turbo-ASB also corrects a hardware handshaking problem present on many SSC
boards (this problem can cause extra errors during zmodem uploads). I have
used the Turbo-ASB and it works great with ProTERM 3.1. I would recommend
that people who plan to use the Turbo-ASB at 38400 with a //e should have
some sort of accelerator.
While it is also possible to use even higher baud rates (57600 &
230K), it becomes much harder to use and I would only recommend that for
hardcore hackers.
Greg Schaefer @ InTrec Software, Inc.
(INTREC, CAT24, TOP5, MSG:173/M645;1)
TURBO ASB WITH SPECTRUM FWIW, the Turbo-ASB will work with Spectrum 1.0,
""""""""""""""""""""""" straight out of the box! Contact Seven Hills for
more details...
Regards,
Richard (RICHARD.B, CAT10, TOP11, MSG:9/M645;1)
DISCQUEST INFO BUNDLE We are pleasedd to announce that we now have big
""""""""""""""""""""" bundles of information available about discQuest,
the discQuest CD-ROM drives, and the discQuest CD-ROM titles. If you want
this extensive information, simply send your name and US Snail address to
SEQUENTIAL or PROCYON.INC.
Jawaid (SEQUENTIAL, CAT20, TOP10, MSG:44/M645;1)
POSTING ON THE INTERNET VIA GENIE The only "public" destination you have
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" to worry about is in the "Newsgroups:"
header. Use these mail commands to send a copy of your reply to the
appropriate newsgroup:
*CC comp-sys-apple2@cs.utexas.edu
*CC comp-sys-apple2-comm@cs.utexas.edu
*CC comp-sys-apple2-gno@cs.utexas.edu
*CC comp-sys-apple2-programmer@cs.utexas.edu
[etc.]
That will mail your message to the automatic news gateway at the
University of Texas. It will then post the message on your behalf to the
newsgroup. Of course, once GEnie gets *real* Usenet access here, we won't
have to go through this. ;-)
(B.TAO, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:319/M645;1)
<<<<< Oops... a few boo-boos in my note to Harold about replying
""""" publically on Usenet. The correct command is:
*acc,comp-sys-apple2@cs.utexas.edu@inet#
The *ACC command adds an address to your Carbon Copy list. You need
a comma separating the command from the first address, and don't forget to
append "@inet#" to EACH Internet address. The above example should bounce
a copy of your e-mail message to comp.sys.apple2. I just mailed out a test
message to see if this in fact works (and to see how long it takes).
(B.TAO, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:322/M645;1)
>>>>> While perusing the Usenet's comp.sys.apple2 newsgroup yesterday, I
""""" noticed a very interesting posting. The title of the message was
"Test" and the text of the message was, "This is just a test. Please
ignore."
On Usenet, messages like that appear fairly often. I left one myself,
just a few weeks ago, after switching Internet Service Providers.
The only thing out of the ordinary was the email address of the
sender. It was B.TAO@genie.geis.com.
Anyone care to comment?
Joe (J.KOHN, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:325/M645;1)
>>>>> Ok, subtletly aside. What I'm trying to ask is if GEnie is working
""""" on expanding Internet access to include more than just an email
gateway?
I personally believe that all the online services are trying to keep
up with each other. A week or so ago, AOL expanded Internet access so that
AOL members (on Mac or PC's only) can access Usenet. To my way of thinking,
that would just be the first step towards providing full net access.
Is GEnie far behind? I think not.
But, I know not. I am merely speculating. Does anyone know, one way
or the other, or am I simply reading too much into Brian's usenet "test"
posting?
Joe (J.KOHN, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:329/M645;1)
>>>>> Brian sent that post from GEnie to test to make sure the University
""""" of Texas mail-->Usenet mechanism worked right from GEnie.
Eric Shepherd (Sheppy)
(POWERPC.PRO, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:331/M645;1)
>>>>> If I DID know something about that , I wouldn't be allowed to talk
""""" about it. In fact, anyone who had real information about a product
under development by GEnie would be bound by an NDA.
Remember when Apple people couldn't talk about what Apple was
developing or not developing? This would be the same deal.
Gary R. Utter (GARY.UTTER, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:333/M645;1)
<<<<< As you no doubt realize now, that was just me testing out the
""""" UTexas news gateway. I had given Harold the addresses to use, but
I thought it would be best to try it myself. ;-) This is the only way
GEnie users can leave message to the public via netnews. Take the name of
the newsgroup, convert the periods to hyphens, and append
"@cs.utexas.edu@inet#" to it.
comp.sys.apple2.comm --> comp-sys-apple2-comm@cs.utexas.edu@inet#
rec.sports.basketball --> rec-sports-basketball@cs.utexas.edu@inet#
alt.binaries.pictures.supermodels --> well, you get the idea. ;-)
On second thought, the gateway *may* not work for the "alt" groups,
since they tend to come and go as they please. That will require some
additional experimentation (since I'm not sure who to contact at UTexas to
ask). The mainstream newsgroups (comp, misc, news, rec, sci, soc, talk)
will work.
(B.TAO, CAT10, TOP10, MSG:348/M645;1)
MUSEUM PIECE #1 >" Has anyone actually SEEN a twiggy disk? :)"
"""""""""""""""
I know a guy who has one cast in a block of Lucite. He attached a
couple of pen holders and stuff like that to the Lucite and it sits right
smack in the front center of his desk.
This guy bought one of the first 100 or so Lisas made, and paid a
FORTUNE for it. He says it is a reminder to himself that being on the
cutting edge can be dangerous. :)
Gary R. Utter (GARY.UTTER, CAT4, TOP17, MSG:371/M645;1)
MUSEUM PIECE #2 The DuoUniDisk (which Apple claims to have never made,
""""""""""""""" but I have one of their prototypes right infront of me :)
is a dual 3.5" UniDisk type drive. It's the same footprint as a standard
single 3.5" UniDisk drive, but approx twice as high.
-Harold
Resident solder slinger.
(H.HISLOP, CAT4, TOP17, MSG:384/M645;1)
NIBBLE LOST CLASSICS? How about A2 re-publishing some of the better
""""""""""""""""""""" Nibble programs, or uploading them to lost
classics?
Ken "Kaz" Kazinski
(K.KAZINSKI, CAT23, TOP4, MSG:385/M645;1)
>>>>> Because they are copyrighted and still commercial. They are still
""""" being sold, either from Big Red or direct from the publisher. They
are =not= public domain.
Tim 'The Joat' Tobin, Lost Classics & R C Font Clearinghouse
(A2.TIM, CAT23, TOP4, MSG:387/M645;1)
BLUEDISK AND TOSHIBA [2.88 MB] PERFORMANCE
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Times (min:sec)
===================================
Copy Copy
Format Format Files Files
Applied Intl. Disk To From
=================================================================
Prodos 2.88MB 2:1 2:00 0:32 0:28
3:1 2:00 0:40 0:36
1.6 MB 2:1 8:24 0:45 0:43
1.44MB 2:1 1:23 0:49 0:46
HFS 2.88MB 2:1 2:00 2:20 0:38
3:1 2:00 4:53 0:32
1.6MB 2:1 8:33 2:19 0:44
1.44MB 2:1 1:24 2:20 0:45
MS-DOS 1.44MB 2:1 1:28 5:07 5:10
=================================================================
Notes:
(1) Copy files to and from: 10 files for a total of 717 kB.
The files were copied to and from the Ram disk to
minimize copying times.
(2) Formating and copying was performed in the Finder, except
for MS-DOS formatted disk. This was performed using
Peter Watson's MS-DOS utilities (mformat, mcopy, gmcopy).
(3) MS-DOS was limited to 1.44 MB and lower densities due to
limitations in mformat. Files were copied using binary
option (CR translation off) for fastest copies. Approx.
3 sec. was needed to load mcopy and gmcopy into memory
(included in total).
(4) Times are +/- 1 sec.
=================================================================
How's that?
David (D.WALLIS2, CAT13, TOP23, MSG:427/M645;1)
PROSEL DOESN'T DETECT DAMAGED RESOURCE? If I am not mistaken, someone
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" here had a problem with getting a
message from GSOS, "Volume SoandSo may be damaged", while ProSel 16 shows
that the volume has no errors.
I have discovered that ProSel 16 (at least on MY system) will not
detect a damaged RESOURCE file. Specifically, the Spectrum Preferences file
can be damaged/corrupted in such a way that GSOS can detect it but ProSel
can't.
This file cannot be deleted by Finder, but CAN be deleted by the
ProSel 16 "problem file deletion method". The volume then needs to be FIXED
with Volume Repair, and once this is done, the error message from GSOS
disappears.
I haven't been able to verify this other than the fact that it worked
for me. (I don't know of any way to deliberately corrupt this file for
testing purposes.)
Gary R. Utter (GARY.UTTER, CAT30, TOP2, MSG:376/M645;1)
WRITING ADVENTURE GAMES Oh, you can do a lot with SAM. But it takes a
""""""""""""""""""""""" LOT of patience and a LOT of time, or you have to
constrain your story inside the limits of SAM, which isn't easy for me to
do (just look at my TELOS transcript for a hint of what I like to do with
adventure games :).
I'm still looking for a good text adventure design system for the
Apple II. I've started writing a general-purpose set of routines for it in
Pascal, but I've been too busy to do it. I'd really like a pre-built
system that I can just pump ata into to construct my game, but I don't have
one. I had a good system all set up in ORCA/C a couple years ago, but I
lost it in a hard drive crash.
I've got a couple dozen adventure games either totally or partially
designed, either in my head or on paper, but I haven't got a good way to
crank them out. :(
Eric Shepherd (Sheppy)
(POWERPC.PRO, CAT34, TOP9, MSG:330/M645;1)
<<<<< What I want to see in a text-adventure design system (having tried
""""" a lot of them :):
1. The ability to create LOTS of rooms. Many adventure design
systems have a limit of less than 100 rooms, and that won't cut it for some
of my more complex games. I designed a game once with over 1,200 rooms in
it!
2. Directions including northeast, southwest, etc, as well as in and
out.
3. Nested objects -- a piece of paper tucked in a book in a desk
drawer in a desk on top of a rug.
4. Complex objects -- objects whose descriptions and information can
change over time. An object may be worthless until you have done something
else.
5. A reasonable parser. Commands like "Bill, put the blue onion into
the rightmost pot" should be accepted.
6. Expandability -- the normal verbs go, use, open, close, eat, and
take aren't enough to make a good game. I need verbs like pull, push, tie,
cut, hide, and other things like that. I should be able to tack new verbs
in (this is the primary thing that stalled me with SAM).
There's more, but I won't get into it now.
My problem with SAM and my adventure was this:
The game begins in a cell at the top of a tower. The ceiling is
cracked and is clearly ready to collapse, but is being held upright by a
sturdy beam. A sturdy bunk is fastened to the wall, and on the bunk is a
horse blanket (the really rough, scratchy kind). There's a sturdy door,
very tall, and mounted above the door (too high to reach) is an axe. A
window lets you see the grey and decimated landscape outside.
If you stop to look at the beam, you'll notice that there's water
trickling down it.
If you mess with the beam, it slips and the ceiling crashes down on
you. Not only are you buried under a few hundred pounds of rock, but you
also notice, just before you die, that thousands of gallons of water pour
down onto you.
The solution to the "get out of the cell" puzzle was to be this:
Get the blanket and tie it to the beam, then duck down under the
bunk. Give the blanket a yank, and the ceiling (and the water above) come
down. You then get out from under the bunk (still underwater) and swim to
the surface, where you find yourself within easy reach of the axe. You
then grab the axe and break the door open with it.
The problem was that to implement this in SAM, all the player had to
do was pick up the blanket, then click USE and the blanket would get tied
to the beam (since there's no TIE command). Then if they clicked USE
again, the beam would move and the ceiling would collapse.
SAM's limited command set gave away the solution to the puzzle.
Implemented in a text adventure, I think my puzzle would be pretty good
(not spectacular, but reasonable). In SAM, there isn't a puzzle, really.
Eric Shepherd (Sheppy)
(POWERPC.PRO, CAT34, TOP9, MSG:332/M645;1)
>>> HOT TOPICS <<<
""""""""""""""""""
A EULOGY FOR APPLIED ENGINEERING I have extremely mixed feelings about
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" the demise of Applied Engineering.
At first, I just couldn't believe the news that they'd gone out of
business. So, I tried calling them. "The number you have reached is not in
service at this time."
I own a number of AE products, including a Vulcan Hard Drive, a
PCTransporter, an AE-RAM card, a DataLink modem, and a TransWarpGS. At the
point when I realized that I had more AE equipment inside my GS than Apple
equipment, I even affixed an AE logo sticker to the front of my computer.
Like many in the Apple II world, I was upset and felt sleighted when
they started charging Apple II owners for "tech support." But, I understood
the reasons; they were a company struggling to stay alive.
Please remember that for many years, AE provided the Apple II world
with hardware galore. For a long time, they also supported several of the
Apple II magazines with page after page of ads. I used to be involved with
the Apple IIGS Buyer's Guide, and know for a fact that the revenues
generated by AE's ads kept that magazine afloat.
Over the years, AE employed many loyal Apple II engineers and
programmers, and provided the Apple II world with a steady source of new
(albeit expensive) hardware. I personally became friendly with several AE
employees, and now feel bad for them, and their families, as they line up
for unemployment.
Although it's been several years since I've purchased anything from
AE, I'm saddened by their demise. For the longest time, AE was the number 1
supporter of the Apple II, and I don't think that we should ever lose sight
of that.
As with the death of anyone, it's far better for the living to
remember the dead from the era of their lives when they were vital and
enthusiastic. For the longest time, AE was a great friend of the Apple II
world, and I for one would rather dwell on those good times, and look back
fondly at AE's contributions.
I can still clearly remember the thrill of plugging in my first GS
memory expansion card, and having a whopping 1.5 megabytes of RAM. Thanks
AE.
I can still clearly remember the thrill of adding 100 megabytes of
hard disk storage to my system. Thanks AE.
I can still clearly remember the thrill of stepping up to 2400 baud.
Thanks AE.
I can still clearly remember the thrill of inviting one of my MS-DOS
friends over to marvel at my Apple that could run IBM software...faster
than my friend's XT. Thanks AE.
I can still clearly remember the thrill of running my GS 3 times
faster than other GS owners. Thanks AE.
Thanks, AE, for all the good times. May you rest in peace.
Joe Kohn (J.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:451/M645;1)
>>>>> ][ just heard from Tony Diaz of Alltech that AE pretty much waited
""""" until they had used up all their remaining stock of parts and
products before they finally closed their doors. As a result, there _is
no_ large (or even small) supply of specialised components left that could
be bought up by anyone to continue repairs and/or upgrades of AE products.
-= Lunatic (:
(A2.LUNATIC, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:283/M645;1)
>>>>> What most people don't realize is that the original owner of AE
""""" (and true Apple II enthusiast) sold AE several years ago. The new
owner decided to branch out into the Mac arena. Approximately 1 year after
starting the Mac stuff the company had a huge upheaval that resulted in
more or less a hostile coup of Mac people throwing out the long time Apple
II folks. This was the beginning of the end, as all the really talented
and innovative people who made AE a success were lost.
D. Corkum (D.CORKUM, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:296/M645;1)
>>>>> > With the demise of AE. Will we still be able to get heavy duty
""""" > power supplies for our GS's, and if so, where can we get them?
Already covered. We have a new supplier for power supplies. I don't
personally know who it is, but I think it's the same manufacturer that AE
used:) The prices of the supplies is still unchanged.
Quality Computers --- Power for performance.
(QUALITY, CAT12, TOP11, MSG:121/M645;1)
LINELINK MODEM AND FAX SOFTWARE > How about the Linelink that everyone is
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > talking about. Will that wrk with the
> promised Fax software FOR SURE?
Well, I did a little checking on this. The following AT commands
revealed some information:
AT+FMFR (manufacturer ID) = SIERRA,V32BIS/F
AT+FMDL (model number) = SQ322X
AT+FREV (revision number) = 3.02 ,081793,SSC
AT+FCLASS can be set to 0, 1, or 2. So the LineLink supports both
classes.
Now, I think the promised Fax software is based on the Rockwell
chipset, as opposed to the Sierra chipset that the LineLink uses. It should
be compatible, though....
--- later ---
I just called the technical support number listed in the LineLink
manual. The technician told me that the LL uses a 'new' chipset that Sierra
has developed, and it's compatible with the Rockwell chipset. He also said
that if a particular fax program doesn't have a selection for the Sierra
chipset, use the Rockwell one and everything will be fine. He also told me
that I should use the MacFax software that MacWharehouse sells, as that's
the software they (the technical support line) support. :)
So, if you have a LineLink, this new Fax software will work just
fine. :)
|) \ /
|_)RIAN \/\/ELLS
(B.WELLS5, CAT10, TOP9, MSG:130/M645;1)
ALLTECH ARRIVES ON A2! A Short bit of historical info:
""""""""""""""""""""""
Alltech Electronics Co has been around since 1983. The founder/owner
of the company has been around the Apple II since then. Having worked with
Vista Computer Company (Which is now ACP). Vista used to make floppy
drives for the Apple II, one of which was the Vista 1500. A Removable 5.25"
"magazine" that would hold 5 5.25" disks and "reach out" and get the disc
you requested and pull it into the drive. Very similar to todays multi-cd
players. It was very popular with BBS sysops back then.
Alltech has three southern California stores that specialize mainly
in PC stuff and surplus electronics p arts/equipment. The Oceanside store,
the newest of the three, opened in 1989 is where the Apple II operations
are centered. Alltech began mail order Apple II peripheral sales around
1987 with a Disk ][ compatible, Full Size 5.25" drive, which we still sell
many today.
I came apon Alltech in 1989 when the store appeared here in Oceanside
less than 2 miles from my house.
Since opening the third location, and moving all the Apple II related
operations here, we began to provide service and parts as well as expand
the amount of products available and include new products as well,
something we're not really known for. We do sell/stock new items as well.
Mainly hardware items. For software sales, if we don't have it, we
recommend other sources like Quality Computers, Big Red, Seven Hills, etc.
We specuaialize in hard to find and older items, and. We do repairs
on just about any Apple II peripheral. All refurbished products are fully
checked out before shipping. Items such as printers are torn down to the
bare bones and completely cleaned and re-assembled and tested prior to
being sold.
We can be thought of as "recyclers" in a way, because when we come a
accross a large supply of something out there than can be used as an Apple
II item, with some or no modification at all, we, we do in order to bring
more products to the Apple II. Things as simple as the IBM PS/2 Model 25
carry case that fit a GS system so perfectly, it could have been called a
"IIgs system transport case" from day one. Another example is the Atari ST
RGB Monitor we had recently, and now the CGA for the //c, a 100%
compatible RGB color monitor solution, for only $129.00.
We have products and services for the Apple ][/][+, //e, //c & IIgs.
We even have parts & service availble for the Apple /// and some Lisa/Mac
XL stuff too!
We will be moving soon, to a 30,000 sq. foot building with 2 stories
and the phone numbers/address will change. The 800 line will remain the
same and the exhisting phone number/address info will remain valid as the
local retail portion of the current location will remain .
(T.DIAZ, CAT46, TOP1, MSG:1/M645;1)
MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE I am posting this on behalf of Larry McEwen
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" (L.MCEWEN) who has uploaded his 6-disk
Hyperstudio stack collection called, "Much Ado About Shakespeare."
[*][*][*]
MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE was created during 1990 and 1991. During
that period of time I was growing an intra-spinal-cord tumor. I finished
it the night before my entry into the hospital for spinal cord surgery the
next morning. On that day, my wife walked from the hospital to a nearby
postal service center and sent all six disks to Roger Wagner Publishing.
Roger was beginning to collect stacks created by HyperStudio users and
Steven Allen was working with him to make selections. A short time after I
was dismissed from the hospital, Steven Allen called me and we agreed upon
$29.95 as the price of the finished product. During the next few months,
v2.0 of MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE was finished and was advertised in the
Roger Wagner Publishing Company catalog at $29.95.
This is an improvement over those early versions. Because my immune
system continued to deteriorate, I found that I was sick more days per
month than well. Finally, I faced the fact that I could no longer work
productively and was disabled. As a hobby for those very few days in some
months when my energy level allowed me to dabble with the IIgs, I finished
v3.11 of MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE.
MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE is not in the "Public Domain" and it may
not be copied and given to another.
It is copyrighted by Larry B. McEwen, and may not be legally used
unless $25.00 has been sent to the national office of:
Immune Deficiency Foundation
MUCH ADO ABOUT SHAKESPEARE
3565 Ellicott Mills Drive, Unit B2
Ellicott City, MD, USA, 21043
Please do this within two to three weeks.
This is a good cause and we need help. The first case of Primary
Immune Deficiency Disease which caught the public's eye and ear was the
case of the "Houston Bubble Boy", a boy who lived in 1950's Texas. His
story was made into a movie. A very young John Travolta starred as the
"Bubble Boy" whose short life was contained within that plastic sterile
environment.
The Primary Immune Deficiency Diseases do not receive the attention
that the HIV "AIDS" cases do. Our cases do not get the headlines, and they
do not get the political attention or the budgetary appropriations.
If you wish to have a Home.Stack without the appeal, I will send you
one if you will send me a copy of your receipt from the IDF and your name
and address.
Thank you for your help and kind consideration. Thank you!
Larry McEwen
603 East 5th Street
Hastings, NE 68901
[*][*][*]
Please send all comments regarding this stack collection to Larry
McEwen (L.MCEWEN) not to me. Thanks.
Tony Ward [via GEM 4.21/PT 3.1]
(A2.TONY, CAT3, TOP25, MSG:101/M645;1)
>>>>> Those downloading these files MUST d/l disc #1. It contains fonts
""""" I designed or altered especially for these stacks. If the correct
fonts are not used, the aesthetic effects will be lost.
Larry McEwen (L.McEwen)
(L.MCEWEN, CAT3, TOP25, MSG:102/M645;1)
ALLTECH TAKES OVER SOUNDMEISTER 23 Apr 1994:
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Alltech Electronics wishes to announce the availabilty of the
SoundMeister card for the IIgs.
We have taken over prodiuction of the SoundMeister card, the only
available stereo / digoitizer card for the IIgs. Projected price will be
about $59.00 and availability should be around the last week in May.
The SoundMeister card will ship together with Digital Session
software and a disk or two of sample rSound files for use with System 6's
Sound CDEV or Q Labs Signature GS Sonics CDev. Sonics is a replacement for
Apples Sound CDev that is shipped with system 6 and a system 6 like Csound
CDev for System 5.0.4 users.
Available also, as a set will be the SoundMeister with a set of
amplified speakers w/volume control for $74.00.
For users of other sound hardware, Digital Session will also be
available separatly, as soon as modules to support digitizing on other
hardware are completed.
(T.DIAZ, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:1/M645;1)
>>>>> Someone is going to ask this, so I might as well do it. Tony, any
""""" chance of reviving the SoundMeister Pro? I've been waiting for two
years to buy one.
Eric Shepherd (Sheppy)
(POWERPC.PRO, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:2/M645;1)
<<<<< The SoundMeister Pro, for the time being isn't an option currently.
""""" It wasn't completely finished when the project was shelved. After
the Sound Meister is done, shipping and delt with, if there is solid demand
for something like the Pro, it can be looked into.
(T.DIAZ, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:3/M645;1)
>>>>> > It wasn't completely finished when the project was shelved
"""""
My memory isn't what it used to be... does this strike anyone else as
being new data?
Doug Cuff, GEnieLamp A2
(EDITOR.A2, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:30/M645;1)
>>>>> Everything I'd heard was that the SoundMeister Pro was almost
""""" finished, just needed minor tune-ups, when it was killed.
(POWERPC.PRO, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:31/M645;1)
<<<<< All this intrest, is quite intresting... at this time it's still
""""" not something thats on the drawing board, but if a decision is
made, it won't be for several weeks. Thats all I can really say on the
matter.
As for an upgrade, if the SMP should be produced, I think that can be
worked out.
There is alot to do before it can happen, including determining just
how much more work would need to be done since this was never a finished
product, never made it past the second wire wrap prototype. No real
software support was done for it other than a couple 'raw' testing
applications.
Of course, there is support for it in Digital Session for digitizing
(T.DIAZ, CAT46, TOP7, MSG:24/M645;1)
>>> WHAT'S NEW <<<
""""""""""""""""""
ICONFERENCE SPEAKERS AND DEMONSTRATIONS ANNOUNCED I'm pleased to announce
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" that the keynote
speaker at this summer's conference will be Randy Brandt. In AppleWorks
4.0, Randy has made major contributions to the Apple II community in the
last year.
We also have a confirmation from Western Design Center that they will
be on hand to demonstrate their new Mensch Computer. Steve Disbrow from GS+
magazine is once again preparing to roast a Major Apple II Personality (and
provide lunchtime entertainment and a technical sessions as well). We also
have sessions lined up from Joe Kohn, Bill Heineman, Roger Wagner, Joseph
Wankerl, and others. There are still session openings, however, so if you'd
like to do a presentation, send me a proposal now! (Session proposal
deadline is May 1).
(TOM.W, CAT23, TOP10, MSG:118/M645;1)
NEW RAMFAST DRIVERS I just uploaded a new version of the RamFAST Media
""""""""""""""""""" Control drivers. This new version fixes a bug that
caused crashes or other malfunctions if your RamFAST was in a slot other
than 7.
It will be file #22641 when released.
Jawaid (PROCYON.INC, CAT20, TOP12, MSG:349/M645;1)
CYNTHIA FIELD JOINS SHAREWARE SOLUTIONS II Although I'll shortly be
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" writing up a Press Release to
"officially" announce a change to Shareware Solutions II, I'm so excited, I
just wanted to share the excitement with all my friends online.
For several years, I was proud to share the inCider/A+ masthead with
Cynthia Field. Of all of us involved with inCider/A+, it was generally
Cynthia's articles that I turned to first, as they always included
information that I could learn from. Over the years, she just had a way of
finding out about new Apple II products, long before anyone else did.
Cynthia Field's credits in the Apple II wold re long and varied. She
currently is a Contributing Editor to NAUG's AppleWorks Forum. Many of you
may also remember that Cynthia Field was hired by Apple Computer Inc to
write the Apple II Newsletter. And, more recently, many will remember that
Cynthia wrote inCider/A+'s New Product section.
I'm pleased and proud to announce that Cynthia Field will be sharing
her knowledge of the Apple II with subscribers to Shareware Solutions II.
Starting in Issue #5, due to "go to press" this month, and in every issue
thereafter, Cynthia Field will be writing a new column, tentatively titled
"New Apple II Products."
In each issue of Shareware Solutions II, Cynthia will be writing
about new Apple II commercial software products and new hardware products.
Details, of course, still need to be worked out as to the exact format of
Cynhias column, but knowing her as I do, I wouldn't be surprised if she
wrote about 10-15 new products that even the most die-hard Apple II fan
hadn't heard of before.
Is this great news, or what?
Joe Kohn (J.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:501/M645;1)
POWERGS DISKAZINE PowerGS is the latest "diskazine" available for the
""""""""""""""""" Apple IIGS. It was started by Auri Rahimzadeh (who
created PongLife Issue #1), and is part of the Power-GS group, which
sponsors both the new PowerGS Diskazine and GS MOD Monthly, which is
published by Tony Morales. Get info on both here!
If you would like to contact me, you may reach me at the following
places:
GEnie: (email) A.RAHIMZADEH (and I'm in the RTCs almost every nite!)
Internet: (email) aurir@cap.gwu.edu Home: (phone) 890-1593 BBS: (data) 890-
8771 2400-14.4k ANSI/PTSE/ASCII (email) User #1, Auri Man
By the way, PowerGS Issue #2 (I started it at 2 since I did most of
PongLife Issue #1) will be finished THIS WEEK, so get your modem ready and
download it! [grin]
If you would like it BINSCIIed to you on internet (which is cheaper
for many people), please email me your internet address and I will have it
off to you once it's done.
Welcome to the World of PowerGS!!!
-Auri Rahimzadeh
Editor in Chief
(A.RAHIMZADEH, CAT13, TOP38, MSG:1/M645;1)
NEW A2-CENTRAL EDITOR Congratulations are in order for our own Doug Cuff,
""""""""""""""""""""" who's going to take over as editor of A2-Central
with the next issue! John Peters, who has been our editor, is letting go of
A2-Central to concentrate on ICON's new publication for Windows users,
Solid Windows, and an upcoming publication for MS-DOS users, Config.sys.
Doug has long been a reader of A2-Central and brings a background in
writing and publishing that should be very helpful in keeping A2-Central at
the hub of the Apple II community.
(TOM.W, CAT23, TOP4, MSG:399/M645;1)
BLUEDISK UPDATE Due to the fact that the beta testers didn't have enough
""""""""""""""" time for beta testing (and still being busy with other
things), we have prolonged the introductory offer for the BlueDisk card.
The software version 1.0 isn't available yet, but again, the beta versions
have proved to be very stable and free of data corrupting bugs. In fact,
the only "bug" we had to fix since opening sales was a small problem due to
spindle motor speed tolerances of some disk drives (you might read between
these lines -and from other messages- that BlueDisk works fine).
Here is the updated information you may need before ordering:
BlueDisk package contents:
'''''''''''''''''''''''''
- Interface Card (works in Apple IIe enhanced or Apple IIGS)
- English Manual (draft, preliminary)
- Utilites Disk containing
GS/OS Driver,
GS/OS Driver Installer script,
Drive Tester,
special BlueDisk ProDOS 8 Formatter
(including MFORMAT in the near future)
BlueDisk Icons file
R/W test program
Warranty and Support:
''''''''''''''''''''
One year limited warranty on parts and labour, free support via the
GEnie A2 Bulletin Board (cat 13, top 23), free software updates up to v1.0
via the GEnie A2 library and help from our beta testers.
BlueDisk Pricing:
''''''''''''''''
o Pricing for U.S. Orders (Canadian add an extra US $4 s/h)
US $114 plus $16 shipping/handling
two packages: $114 each plus $21 s/h
three packages: $114 each plus $24 s/h
Shipping is via standard air mail for overseas orders.
o Pricing for European Orders (surface shipping only)
DM 200 plus DM 19 shipping/handling
two packages: DM 200 each plus DM 24 s/h
three packages: DM 200 each plus DM 27 s/h
European orders only accepted if paid by cash or EuroChecque
This is a (prolonged) introductory offer. The price for BlueDisk,
final software/firmware version 1.0 will be $135 (prospective).
--------------------------------------------------------------
>>> This intoductory offer is valid until June, 15. 1994 <<<
--------------------------------------------------------------
Payment:
'''''''
All orders must be prepaid. We accept payment by cash, check,
travellers check or money order (American or German currency) and payment
via post office. If payment is _not_ by cash, an additional fee of US $10
(DM 17) is required (we have to pay this fee to get the cash for the
check). If you feel unsure when sending cash, please use registered mail.
///SHH SYSTEME
Dipl. Ing. Joachim Lange
Bergstrasse 95
82131 Stockdorf
Germany
GEnie: J.LANGE7
(no copyright claims on this message)
(J.LANGE7, CAT13, TOP23, MSG:439/M645;1)
>>> THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
THE GRAPHIC EXCHANGE MODULES > What about The Graphic Exchange by Roger
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > Wagner? Won't it handle the conversion to
> GIF as well?
As it comes, no. But, if you buy the Library Disk #1 for The Graphics
Exchange, it has the modules you need for GIF pictures. That's one nice
thing about this program. They made it modular so you can add modules later
for other graphic formats. I have heard that Roger Wagner is planning
another disk of modules for TGE.
\ /
The \/\/izz Using GEM 4.21
(B.MILYKO, CAT6, TOP5, MSG:170/M645;1)
MSDOS UTILITIES V2.1 I received e-mail today from Peter Watson concerning
"""""""""""""""""""" the registered version of his MTOOLS package.
Version 2.0 is the current publically available set. Version 2.1 (and soon
to be 2.11) will be available only to registered users some time in April.
Here is what you can look forward to in the new version:
[*][*][*]
>>>
This list below is taken from the "revision notes" text for V2.10.
BTW, the text has tabs in it.
MSDOS Utilities V2.10
All utilities:
- Better trapping of invalid device numbers and recognition of
12-bit FAT disks. Many messages edited and/or made consistent.
- Support for UNIX-style parameters, eg. MDIR -iw .d7
- Support for the device number to be included as part of the
MSDOS path name, eg. MDIR .d7/TOOLS; GMCOPY GSFILE .d7/TOOLS
- A default MSDOS device may be set in an ORCA/GNO shell variable
or in a parameter file named 'MSDOS.Device'!!!
COMMAND.COM:
- Strip control characters from files being 'TYPE'd
- Add CREATE, DELETE, RENAME and FILETYPE commands
MFORMAT:
- Allow disk size and interleave as options. Fix bug where
D/Density disks were actually formatted as 800K, not 720K!
- Also, check for supported disk sizes _before_ formatting
- Bug fixed in display of 'used' vs 'free space'
- More info displayed when format is complete
- Support 21Mb floptical disks (/S:21M)
- Added '/X' (no auto-eject) option
- Defaults for '/X' and '/Q' now easily patchable
- Volume name syntax changed from '/V name' to '/V:name'
MDISKCOPY:
- Allow interleave to be specified when formatting (/I:x)
- '/I:x' sets '/F' option
- Added '/X' (no auto-eject) option
- Defaults for '/X' and '/F' now easily patchable
- Will now copy a disk in up to 20 passes (ie. larger disks)
- Prompts for repeat copy of same disk, or copy of other disks
MDEL:
- Confirm if '*.*' specified or defaulted
- A directory name specified deletes all files in the directory
(after confirmation!)
- Wildcard deletes can no longer affect '.' and '..' entries
MCOPY:
- Use JudgeName call to convert filenames only if necessary
- Better support for copying to non-ProDOS (eg. HFS) volumes
- Added '/O' option (overwrite existing files automatically)
- Defaults for '/B' & '/O' now easily patchable
GMCOPY:
- For generated filenames, the (extra) extension (.TXT or .BIN)
is no longer automatically added
- Fixed a major bug when extending directories
- Improved support for non-ProDOS source disks
- Added '/O' option (overwrite existing files automatically)
- Defaults for '/B' & '/O' now easily patchable
- Unlike all other utilities, GMCopy now no longer supports
the old command syntax where the device number followed the
command name
MRENAME:
- Now renames files in subdirectories as it was supposed to do!
FINDMFM:
- Displays device numbers of MSDOS devices in decimal, not hex
MMD:
- Added utility to create directories
MRD:
- Added utility to remove directories
MFDISK:
- Added utility to display fixed disk partition details
MPATCH:
- Added utility to patch defaults of some MSDOS Utility options
You could also add that only registered users get the MMD, MRD and
MPatch utilities.
V2.11 will be a minor update to support PC Transporter logical
volumes larger than 16Mb (ie. with two ProDOS files), and with additions to
MFormat to improve use with the BlueDisk (eg. more disk sizes supported, an
option to use the GS/OS format dialogue for the low-level format).
<<<
(B.TAO, CAT13, TOP23, MSG:386/M645;1)
MORE ABOUT AUSTRALIAN SHAREWARE In another topic, long away and far
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" away...
The subject came up of paying shareware fees to Peter Watson for his
MS-DOS Utility package.
After getting an email this week from someone asking if they should
send Peter's shareware fee to me, it was suggested that I post my reply in
public.
A while back, I did Peter Watson a favor. He sent me a few hundred
dollars worth of US checks, and I cashed them, and sent Peter one check in
return. That way, he only had to pay one bank processing fee.
Right after we did that, Peter spoke to his banker again, and found
out that what we'd done was unnecessary. The upshot of the whole matter is
that Peter can cash personal US checks at his Australian bank.
Whether he brings in one check, or twenty, he only has to pay a
single $5 service charge. So, Peter is not cashing the checks immediately,
but when he has $100 or $200, he'll bring them in, and be able to cash them
all, for just a single $5 fee.
So, feel free to submit your personal check in US dollars for MS-DOS
Utilities. Send it directly to Peter Watson, whose address is listed in the
documentation.
Speaking of Australian shareware...
Does anyone have v2.1 of John MacLean's DOS 3.3 Launcher? If so,
could you please upload it.
Apparently, John does not currently have use of an Apple II, but he
completed an update to DOS 3.3 Launcher recently, and now swears that he
sent it to me. He didn't, or if he did, I never got it. I can't track it
down anywhere, and John is a bit hazy on who he sent it to.
Did he send it to *YOU* ?
If he did, I want it! Please upload it. Thanks!
Joe (J.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:513/M645;1)
>>>>> I guess you've been speaking to John Maclean then? Yes, he sold his
""""" Apple IIgs late last year, and everything else Apple related with
it.
I'll have an ask around locally about 2.1 of DOS Launcher. I know I
only have 2.0.
John also completed yet another Graphics Exchange toolset disk about
two or three years back, that RWP never released. Devoted Graphics Exchange
owners may like to pester RWP for that one.
Regards,
Richard (RICHARD.B, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:516/M645;1)
APPLEWORKS GS RUMORS AND DATES I would say that a product advertisement
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" in our recent Apple II mailing qualifies
this as a little more than a "rumor." Rumors are things that people say to
each other based on wishful thinking. They are not things you receive
advertising for in the mail. B)
(II.ALIVE, CAT17, TOP22, MSG:89/M645;1)
>>>>> I talked to Quality late last week and was told the release date
""""" for AWGS 2.0 is July 1, 1994. Given delays I am hopeful for an
August or September release.
Michael
Delivered by ProTerm and CoPilot 2.5
(M.EWEN, CAT17, TOP22, MSG:92/M645;1)
>>>>> Just to be up front with all of you... I know that the salespeople
""""" are saying July 1, but honestly we don't have a good solid date.
The salespeople are told July 1 because that is our best and most
optimistic date.
We really hope that something will be available at least by
mid-summer.
It is a BIG job though... Basically the code is being thoroughly
re-worked.
Walker
Quality Computers
(W.ARCHER2, CAT17, TOP22, MSG:94/M645;1)
GS/OS RAMFAST UTILITY? No, not yet. But stay tuned for information.
""""""""""""""""""""""
BTW, such a thing would make a GREAT shareware program for someone to
write. The information to do it is available from the Sequential BBS.
Jawaid (PROCYON.INC, CAT20, TOP13, MSG:336/M645;1)
PRINT SHOP GS H-P DRIVERS > How's Bill Heineman coming on the PSGS HP
""""""""""""""""""""""""" > Color Printer Drivers?
The timing of your question is kind of amazing. I just got off the
phone with the BurgerMeister, not 2 minutes ago.
As I'd mentioned in the last issue of SSII, the project turned out to
be a lot more difficult and time consuming than originally anticipated.
Apparently, Bill has had to come up with patches for 17 different PrintShop
GS files. Originally, he thought that he'd need to patch only one or two
files. But, with the patches applied, he says that PSGS now runs much
faster, and due to the changes he's made, even those who own an ImageWriter
will see improvements.
At this point, he is quesstimating that it'll be only a few more
weeks until he sends me a full working program.
Then, of course, a testing phase needs to occur, and if it passes
that, then I'll need to write some documentation. So, it's still going to
be a while.
But, according to Bill, the drivers WILL be done, and maybe we will
be printing Memorial Day signs and banners on our HP printers?
Speaking of PSGS, I can't believe that I've had that program so long,
and only yesterday found out about an Easter Egg. Run the program, and look
at the main menu. Then, re-set your IIGS clock to December 5-31, and look
at the PSGS main menu again.
Joe Kohn (J.KOHN, CAT28, TOP4, MSG:462/M645;1)
SHEPPYWARE TEASERS hehe..yeah, Sheppy has a lot of stuff going on right
"""""""""""""""""" now, and one of them is almost done (besides KN 1.2 :)
hmm..I'd better not say anything, tho :)
(T.BUCHHEIM, CAT13, TOP18, MSG:274/M645;1)
>>>>> The latest piece of SheppyWare is:
"""""
1) "Way past kewl" (c)Sonic the Hedgehog
2) Has had very few problems during beta testing, even on my system.
3) Not only has it found a permenent place on my system, I use it
several times every day.
Best I leave it to Eric to say what it is, where & when it will be
published, etc :)
-Harold
Resident solder slinger.
(H.HISLOP, CAT13, TOP18, MSG:276/M645;1)
<<<<< yup, the next piece of SheppyWare is great, and I use it 4 out of 5
""""" times I boot my system. :) but, I don't think he wants betatesters
telling everyone all about it, so I'll shut up now and let you all be
surprised and amazed when you see his next great program :)
(T.BUCHHEIM, CAT13, TOP18, MSG:277/M645;1)
WHITHER PROTERM? A while back a friend brought my attention to a thread
"""""""""""""""" here which involved some speculation of the future of
InTrec Software. I found and read through the related parts of the thread
which seemed to be summed up in the following statements:
> In other circles, this is popularly referred to as "pulling a
> Beagle".
> :-/
> Exactly my point. Let me blunt: InTrec is working on Mac & PC versions
> of ProTERM. I consider ProTERM to be a great product, and would hate for
> InTrec to go the way of Beagle Bros and Applied Engineering.
Pardon my jousting here, I can't resist a flipant cyncal reply:
Beagle only had Point To Point and AE had Ready Link -- We have ProTERM!
<grin>
Excuse my moment of artistic freedom, now on with the serious stuff.
After reading the thread and signing off, I thought it would set
minds at ease if I explained our official position and policy on the
subject. The piece got lengthy and after I got to a point where I thought I
had all the bases covered, I saved it and got some Zzzz. The next morning I
read through the text and had second thoughts about posting what to me had
been good therapy, but to others would be boring and perhaps appear self
gratifying. So I have not posted my (expanded) thoughts but will give the
"Reader's Digest" version.
Our plans are to release ProTERM/Mac in the not too distant future
(possibly during the Summer months), and when it is released, we will
continue to support ProTERM/A2. In fact, our strategy is the same as it was
the day Greg Schaefer and I sat down over a couple of beers and decided
this is what we wanted to do and they are listed in the same order of
priortiy as they were on day one.
o Develop a strong telecom position by improving a product that was
already established in the marketplace.
o Develop a version for the Macintosh platform and establish it in
the market.
o Develop a version for the PC platform and establish it in the
market.
o Look back to see what is needed to bring the Apple II product up
to date.
Even then, our intention was for each product to be complimentary to
the others. As planned, ProTERM/A2 built our company and gave it a solid
foundation, and now ProTERM/Mac will provide the resources to build our
strength. We consider the different products to be like siblings which will
compliment each other in the same market. When all three are out, we will
again look at ProTERM/A2 for a revise. All three of those product will
allow us to support a broad base telecom market.
At that point, we will look at whatever else may show promise,
including another part of our original plan, offer a publishing/marketing
platform for programmer-authors who want to maintain control of their
products like we've done for Greg Schaefer.
Will we "...pull a Beagle?" (to reference the exact phrase)
Our product development of each of the ProTERM/A2 3.0 and 3.1 took
longer than we expected. ProTERM/Mac has been the same. But our track
record for delivering dependable products stands, and we expect it to
remain. It does take time to do it right, but its a metter of not being
intimidated by those who would like to see the new product. No good whine
before its time. ;-)
This is getting out of hand again so that's it. Hopefully that will
end the speculation about our allegiance or our plans about new releases.
Oh, there was one other question, "Will we be bought out by a
monster?" Its doubtful. Truth is, we enjoy what we do, and if we sold the
toys, the dream would end. To quote another Apple II guy who made it but
walked, and is now still trying to make his NEXT venture, "The Journey is
the Reward." Hey! That would be an excellent title for a book!
Jerry Cline @ InTrec Software, Inc.
Publishers of ProTERM telecom software.
Winner of the Awards of Excellence - Best Apple II Software.
Sent automatically from ProTERM's Editor.
(INTREC, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:288/M645;1)
OUT OF THIS WORLD NOT LONG FOR IT? > Does anybody know where I can get
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" > OOTW?
Big Red Computer Club
423 Norfolk Ave
Norfolk, NE 68701
402-379-4680
If you've been thinking about ordering OOTW, but have put it off,
don't put it off too much longer. I had a conversation the other day with
the owner of BRCC, and he informed me that when the current stock is gone,
there will be no more.
Joe Kohn (J.KOHN, CAT6, TOP3, MSG:62/M645;1)
USER GROUP CD-ROM? our Apple IIGS SIG is in the process of producing a
"""""""""""""""""" CD-ROM. This CD will contain 238 disks worth of
shrinked Apple IIGS public domain (fonts, pics, utilities, desk
accessories, sounds, inits, CDEVs, etc., etc.) plus about 180 disks worth
of Macintosh PD. The price for this CD will be around $40. Shipping from
Germany to the US airmail will be $11 for the CD within the jewel case, and
$5 for the CD within a 5.25" disk mailer. Are you interested in this
beast??
Udo - ... just a IIGS freak -
(U.HUTH, CAT20, TOP15, MSG: /M645;1)
NEW COPILOT COMING SOON I have killed the "ascii airplane" in the next
""""""""""""""""""""""" (coming up RSN!!! :) version of CoPilot, and it
won't be reappearing.
-Harold
Resident solder slinger.
(H.HISLOP, CAT3, TOP15, MSG:45/M645;1)
WOLFENSTEIN 3-D FOR GS? I just got this message on Software Creations BBS
""""""""""""""""""""""" from Joe Siegler, head of Apogee (PR at least,
not sure) and sysop of The Arsenal of Freedom
(Apple II) BBS:
[*][*][*]
Date: 04-18-94 (13:22) Number: 106339 of 107594 (Refer#106253)
To: KEN GAGNE
From: JOE SIEGLER
Subj: Wolfenstein for the GS
Read: 04-22-94 (01:39) Status: PUBLIC MESSAGE
Conf: Main Board (0) Read Type: GENERAL (+)
KG>I just rented Wolfenstein 3D for the Super NES. I miss the blood. :) But
KG>I noticed the instruction manual says, "Developed on an Apple IIgs."
KG>This makes sense since they both use the same microprocessor. Will
KG>WOLF3D be released for the Apple IIgs? It seems only fair, since the
KG>original Castle Wolfenstein was for the Apple II. :)
I've been trying to push id Software to put it out on the Apple IIgs.
Write their E-Mail boxes on the Internet about it. I'd like to see that
too, since I have an Apple IIgs.
Joe Siegler - Apogee Software
[*][*][*]
Sounds hopeful! Once I get their Internet addresses, I will post them
here (unless someone else has them handy?)!
-Ken Gagne (KEN.GAGNE, CAT6, TOP3, MSG:523/M645;1)
<<<<< OK, if you want Wolfenstein 3D to be ported to the Apple IIgs, send
""""" email to johnr@idsoftware.com, johnc@idsoftware.com, and/or
carmack@idsoftware.com. (attach #INET to the end of these addresses to send
them from GEnie)
(KEN.GAGNE, CAT6, TOP3, MSG:98/M645;1)
>>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
Category 13, Topic 18
Message 275 Sun Apr 17, 1994
B.WEITHOFER at 13:59 EDT
For those of you who might not know. Sheppy doesn't just write
extradornary programs for the II. Occassionaly. he turns into a knight in
shinning armour and charges in on a white horse to safe people from
disasters.
At our last meeting one of our members who is unemployed showed up
with a hard drive problem. The partition with all his programs had
disappeared from his hard drive. Obviously, he was very concerned and did
not know what to do. Sheppy took a quick look at the problem at the meeting
and then took the hard drive home with him. By the next morning, he had
recovered almost all of the lost files.
This kind of dedication and help is greatly appreciated by all of us
in the Apple II community.
Bob Weithofer
President - Appleholics Anonymous - Oxnard, CA
Delivered by Co-Pilot v2.5 Beta & TIC
[*][*][*]
While on GEnie, do you spend most of your time downloading files?
If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin
Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of
what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area.
If you are serious about your Apple II, the GEnieLamp staff strongly
urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally
thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the
world.
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ /
/ Hey, I insist that I be quoted at every opportunity! I /
/ want to be FAMOUS! /
/ /
///////////////////////////////////////////// D.ROGERS2 ////
[EOA]
[HUM]//////////////////////////////
HUMOR ONLINE /
/////////////////////////////////
Fun & Games On GEnie
""""""""""""""""""""
Author Unknown
Note: This was sent to me by someone who had it sent to her by
someone...well, I guess you get the point. I just don't know the origin.
:)
NADINE.K [Aladdin Lass]
[*][*][*]
What would happen if God had to do it all over again?
AND GOD SAID:
"IN THE BEGINNING, GOD CREATED HEAVEN AND EARTH." He was then faced
with a Notice of Violation and a class action lawsuit for failing to file a
Part A notification and an environmental impact statement with HEPA
(Heavenly Environmental Protection Agency), an angelically staffed agency
dedicated to keeping the Universe pollution free.
God was granted a temporary permit for the heavenly portion of the
project, but was issued a "cease and desist" order on the earthly portion,
pending further review by the HEPA.
Upon completion of His construction permit application and
environmental impact statement, God appeared before the Heavenly
Environmental Protection Commission to answer unresolved questions
regarding His application.
When asked why He began these projects in the first place, God simply
replied that He liked to be "creative." This was not considered adequate
reasoning; and God was required to substantiate this further.
HEPA was unable to see any practical use for earth, since "THE EARTH
WAS VOID AND EMPTY, AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP." And God
said, "LET THERE BE LIGHT." He really should never have brought up this
point, since one Commission member was very active in the Sierrangel Club
and immediately protested, stating "How was light to be made? Would it be
a nuclear-powered or coal-fired generating plant? Would there be strip
mining? What about thermal pollution? Air pollution? Universal warming?"
God explained that the light would come from a huge ball of fire. No one
on the Commission really understood this, but it was provisionally accepted
assuming (1) there would be no smog or smoke resulting from the ball of
fire, (2) a separate burning permit would be required, and (3) since
continuous light would be a waste of energy, it should be dark at least
one-half of the time. And so God agreed to "DIVIDE THE LIGHT FROM THE
DARKNESS, AND HE CALLED THE LIGHT 'DAY', AND THE DARKNESS 'NIGHT'." (The
Commission expressed no interest with in-house semantics.)
When asked how the earth would be covered, God said "LET THERE BE
FIRMAMENT MADE AMIDST THE WATERS, AND LET IT DIVIDE THE WATERS FROM THE
WATERS." One ecologically radical Commission member accused Him of
double-talk, but the Commission tabled action since God would be required
first to apply for a "firmament" permit from the ABLM (Angelic Bureau of
Land Management), would be required to obtain water permits from the
appropriate agencies involved, and further, insure that construction of any
firmament would result in no net loss of wetlands.
The Commission asked if there would be only water and firmament, and
God said "LET THE EARTH BRING FORTH THE GREEN HERB, AND SUCH AS MAY SEED,
AND THE FRUIT TREE YIELDING FRUIT AFTER ITS KIND, WHICH MAY HAVE SEEN
ITSELF UPON THE EARTH." The Commission agreed to this, as long as only
native seeds were to be used.
About future developments, God also said "LET THE WATERS BRING FORTH
THE CREEPING CREATURE HAVING LIFE, AND THE FOWL THAT MAY FLY OVER THE EARTH
UNDER THE FIRMAMENT OF HEAVEN." Here again, the Commission took no formal
action, since this would require approval of the Game and Fish Commission,
coordinated with the Heavenly Wildlife Federation and the Audubongelic
Society.
It appeared that everything was in order until God said that He
wanted to complete the project in six days. At this time He was advised by
the Commission that His timing was completely out of the question. HEPA
would require a minimum of six to nine months to review the permit
application and environmental impact statement, and then there would have
to be a 45-day public comment period followed by public hearings. After
any and all public comments were considered, it could feasibly take 12 to
18 months before a permit could be issued.
And God said, "THE HELL WITH IT!"
[EOA]
[REF]//////////////////////////////
REFLECTIONS /
/////////////////////////////////
Thinking About Online Communications
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Phil Shapiro
[P.SHAPIRO1]
>>> SOME THOUGHTS ON THE ECONOMICS OF ELECTRONIC MAIL <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
The United States postal service has proposed raising the price of a
first class stamp from 29 cents to 32 cents. Like many other people, I'm
adamantly opposed to this proposed increase. It doesn't go nearly far
enough. An extra three cents per stamp? Oh, come on. If the postal
service truly had the best interests of the nation in mind it would raise
first class postage to 40 cents per stamp.
Here is why:
The low price of postage stamps continues to foster an economy based
on shuffling papers and envelopes around the country. Each year billions
of letters get stuffed into billions of envelopes that get mechanically
hauled in aging postal service trucks to technologically undernourished
sorting centers that channel the mail to overaged airplanes that fly
crowded skies to understaffed airports, channeling the mail back to aging
postal service trucks driven by underpaid postal carriers who are mandated
to deliver the mail through inclement weather even though they may not be
feeling well.
It's not quite that bad. But it's close.
By golly, it doesn't have to be this way. If the price of postage
stamps were increased to 40 cents, a lot of homes and businesses would
start getting interested in using electronic mail.
Suppose the Federal government adopted a policy to encourage the
entire nation to get connected up online. As a hypothetical example,
suppose the Federal government placed an eight cent surcharge on the new
postage stamp to help fund this goal.
With the revenues from such a government subsidy, computer
manufacturers could produce an inexpensive dumb terminal that could sell
for $50. This would be a disk-driveless machine. Just keyboard,
monochrome monitor, and dedicated terminal program.
Plug this device into any phone jack, and you're connected to the
information highway. Using this device you can send and receive
electronic mail to your heart's content. No per message charge. After
all, e-mail takes up just a tiny section of network bandwidth.
Now, if you want to trudge over to the post office in the freezing
rain to stand in a long line to buy stamps, you should have the perfect
right to do so. It's a free country.
But the government should make it its business to help promote
electronic communications. Listen, communications is the vital engine of
all commerce. It happens to be the engine of education, medicine, science,
art and a few other things that are thought to have a positive effect on
the social good.
Streamlined communications means streamlined everything else.
Slow-poke communications means slow-poke everything else.
Someone once did a study to find out the real price of mailing a
business letter. Well, it takes about ten minutes to write a one page
business letter. Then it takes two minutes to print it. One minute to
fold it. Three minutes to address the envelope. Another minute to fold
and seal the envelope. A minute to stamp the envelope and throw it in the
bin to be picked up by aging postal service trucks, to be hauled to...
well you get the idea.
The time that it takes to send one letter doesn't seem overly
inefficient. But if you multiply the inefficiencies of one business letter
by a couple of billion, you arrive at a humongous collective inefficiency.
One of the best ways of making this country more competitive in the
international marketplace would be to raise the price of first class
postage to a sufficiently high level that individuals and businesses start
taking electronic mail seriously.
Imagine the fear such an action would strike in the hearts of big
business in Japan. The country that invented the telephone, the light bulb,
the airplane, the transistor, and rock-and-roll -- all connected up with
near instantaneous online communications.
Such a prospect ought to cause a few people to lose sleep on the
other side of the Pacific. And for good reason. It's as efficient to us
as it is threatening to them.
-Phil Shapiro
[*][*][*]
The author takes a keen interest in the social dimensions of
communications technology. He can be reached on the information
superhighway at: p.shapiro1@genie.geis.com; and pshapiro@aol.com
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ /
/ 14 terabytes? 5 megs a second? My brain has just /
/ exploded. :) /
/ /
/ Well, I hope you had a cover on your GS. Biomuck /
/ isn't good for it, you know. /
/ /
////////////////////////////////// T.BUCHHEIM & A2.BILL ////
[EOA]
[BEG]//////////////////////////////
BEGINNER'S CORNER /
/////////////////////////////////
Polishing Green Apples
""""""""""""""""""""""
by Steve Weyhrich
[S.WEYHRICH]
>>> HOOKED ON STORAGE (Part 3) <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
INITIALIZATION Last month I concentrated on hard disk solutions for the
"""""""""""""" Apple IIc, and some tips on use for that computer. This
month the discussion turns to assembling a mass storage system for the
Apple IIs that have slots -- the II Plus, IIe, and IIgs.
"INNIES" VS "OUTIES" Slots make adding features to a computer system MUCH
"""""""""""""""""""" easier. That has been the major strength with the
Apple II series (except for the IIc) from the beginning. Even the
Macintosh finally had to crumble to popular demand and make some sort of
internal expansion slots available for users who wanted to upgrade and
enhance their system.
Despite the help that slots give us, there are still two OTHER
choices that must be made when selecting a hard drive. The selection of an
internal versus an external drive has mostly to do with cost and aesthetics
(i.e., whether or not you mind having your desktop cluttered with extra
boxes attached to sockets on the back panel). In some situations, an
internal drive package may be available at a lower total cost than an
external drive, since the external needs the addition of a controller card
(which usually comes packaged with the internal drive).
INTERNAL DRIVES The internal drives themselves come in two basic forms.
""""""""""""""" One type is completely self-contained on a card that
simply plugs into a slot. Some examples of these "hard card" types of
drives include the Zip hard drive (sold by Zip Technologies, the makers of
the Zip Chip and Zip GS card), several models of self-contained hard drives
sold by Charlie's Appleseeds, and the Focus Hard Card sold by Parson's
Engineering (which is very similar to the Zip hard drive). The primary
advantage of it is ease of use; you plug it in, turn the computer back on,
and you have 20 megs or more of storage available, WITHOUT any extra wires
trailing from the back of the computer. The primary disadvantage of these
drives is that you can ONLY have that one drive attached to the computer on
that slot; if you want to add another hard drive, you will need to use
another slot. On the Apple IIe this may not be too great a problem, but on
the IIgs it may require disabling one or more of the built-in features that
already require a slot.
The other type of internal hard drive common to the Apple II series
is one in which the computer's power supply (that large metallic box to the
left when you remove the top from the computer) is replaced by another
power supply that also just happens to contain a hard disk drive assembly.
A cable runs from the power supply/hard drive to an interface card in one
of the slots. Historically, internal hard drives for the Apple II series
have been of the IDE type control protocol, rather than the more
commonly-used SCSI (Small Computer Systems Interface) protocol.
Examples of this type of internal hard drive include the Applied
Engineering Vulcan, Applied Ingenuity's InnerDrive, and the Pegasus drive
made by Econ. None of these is currently available new, but can be found
on the used market. The Pegasus drive differed from the others in that it
used a SCSI controller. This has usually been an advantage over the IDE
type of drive, primarily because of better speed obtainable with the SCSI
interface cards.
TURBO IDE CARD SHH Systeme, a company located in Germany, manufactures a
"""""""""""""" controller card they call the Turbo IDE. It significantly
improves performance of IDE drives, including older ones like the Vulcan
and InnerDrive. (In fact, the online "ads" I've seen for the Turbo IDE
claim that "We make IDE drives RAMfast!", a take-off of advertising done by
CV-Tech for its RamFAST SCSI card.) The Turbo IDE uses DMA (Direct Memory
Access) to achieve its higher speeds of data transfer. This means that the
block of memory being transferred to or from the disk drive is directly
accessed, rather than being moved first to ANOTHER place in memory, and
THEN being sent to the disk.
Since IDE drives seem to cost a bit less than SCSI drives of the same
size (at least in a quick review of ads in PC-based magazines), this could
be a more affordable solution without any loss of performance.
Furthermore, the Turbo IDE card will significantly speed up the operation
of older Vulcan drives, prolonging their usefulness. Also this card will
support up to =two= IDE drives, so an older Vulcan plus another larger IDE
drive could both be used.
The utilities disk that comes with the Turbo IDE Card has its own
formatter that is able to reformat a Vulcan drive from its original 7:1 or
5:1 interleave to 1:1 or any other value desired (which may improve
performance). A complete format takes anywhere from three to eight
minutes, depending on the size of the drive. The Turbo IDE supports ANY
type of IDE drive; starts up in less than a second (there is no chain of
devices that has to be scanned, unlike SCSI cards); and it takes only nine
seconds to get to the Finder on a minimum IIgs system, and less than a
second to get to ProDOS 8. Finally, it is possible to boot from any of 16
partitions on two drives at the user's request without any extra boot
utility, selected at boot time.
EXTERNAL DRIVES External hard drives are more widely used in the Apple
""""""""""""""" world at this time, primarily because of Apple's decision
to include a built-in SCSI port on their newer model Macintosh computers.
For the Apple II, SCSI requires two pieces of hardware: a SCSI interface
card, and the SCSI drive itself. Because of the flexible design of the
SCSI protocol, it is possible to attach up to seven devices to a standard
SCSI card, and not all of those devices need necessarily be hard drives.
Tape backup drives, magneto-optical and Floptical drives, and CD-ROM drives
can be attached to most SCSI cards. The limits may be more constrained by
the system software than by the system hardware; whereas the Apple IIgs can
easily accommodate all of the above mentioned devices, it may be more
tricky for the IIe. If you have a IIe, you will have to look carefully to
make sure that the device you want to attach can be accessed by the
programs you are able to use. If you have any uncertainty about this, talk
with a vendor that is used to dealing with Apple II users, and ask specific
questions about compatibility with YOUR equipment.
SCSI CARDS - APPLE For SCSI interface cards, you can chose between the
"""""""""""""""""" RamFAST SCSI card and an Apple-built SCSI card. The
newest (last) Apple card is the Apple II High Speed SCSI card, which is the
fastest version available. The older versions of the Apple SCSI card are
identified as either Revision A or B; these have to be upgraded to be
compatible with the Apple IIgs (although the Rev B card will work on the
IIe). The Rev C card works on the Apple II, II Plus, IIe, and IIgs. The
Apple High Speed SCSI card uses the 65c02 opcodes, and so requires an
enhanced IIe, IIgs, or an older Apple II that has had its 6502 processor
replace by either a Zip Chip or a 65c02 chip. The fastest SCSI interface
made by Apple is the Apple II SCSI card.
As mentioned above, the Apple II High Speed card is a faster choice
for a SCSI interface than the older cards that Apple produced. With this
card, the speed of data transfer between the computer and the hard drive is
significantly improved. There are some drawbacks, however. First of all,
the way in which the HS SCSI card gets faster speeds is to do Direct Memory
Access (DMA), just as the Turbo IDE card mentioned above. The IIe does not
reliably work with DMA enabled on this card (it may actually cause a
crash), and so some of the speed improvement may not be noticed on the IIe.
On the IIgs, DMA works just fine. However, the speed is not nearly as good
when running ProDOS 8 applications (such as AppleWorks) as it is with GS/OS
applications. If a IIgs user doesn't do much in the 8-bit world, the Apple
HS SCSI card may be just fine. If AppleWorks and other 8-bit programs are
frequently used, the slower speed in those programs may make this a less
desirable choice.
Since the Apple II High Speed SCSI card is made and sold by Apple,
this may be the best way to go if you have any concerns about future
compatibility and service. (Admittedly, it may take a little explanation
to an Apple Dealer that this item for repair goes into an Apple II and NOT
a Mac, but if all else fails, 1-800-SOS-APPL should be able to get you the
needed help).
Those seeking out the Apple HS SCSI card should also be aware of a
couple of other points. First, Apple made a change to the ROM (firmware)
code on the card after it was released, but did NOT make any changes in how
those cards were labelled. Because of this, it is not easy to always tell
whether a particular card is the older or newer version. One advantage of
the newer version is that the card will continue to check the hard drive
attached to it until it has come up to speed, and THEN try to boot that
drive. The older card, and many other hard disk controller cards, will
check the hard drive to see if it is ready; if it does not receive a
positive response from the drive, it will return a "DEVICE NOT READY" error
and stop. This simply means that the hard drive must be turned on first,
allowed to come to speed, and then the computer is turned on.
The other possible problem with the differences between the two
versions of the Apple HS SCSI card have to do with "term power". For a
SCSI chain of devices to work properly, the electronics of the link between
each device in the chain (including the card) require that the chain be
powered by at least ONE of the devices (in some circumstances, it may be
good if term power is supplied by more than one device). The older HS SCSI
card did NOT supply terminator power; the newer one does. This may cause a
conflict if the hard drive attached to the card does not supply term power.
If the card DOES, everything is all right; if the card does NOT, then
NOTHING in the chain is supplying term power, and it won't work. There are
some hardware patches that have been posted to alter the cards that do NOT
supply term power so that they DO. This does, however, require some
knowledge of electronics and the ability to use a soldering gun, so don't
try this trick unless you REALLY think you know what you are doing.
Buying an Apple HS SCSI card NEW from a mail order company does not
necessary guarantee that you will have the newer version of the card. If
they (or Apple) have had a card sitting in the warehouse for a long time,
it may be the older card. Sometimes it is not possible to tell which
version it is until you plug it in and try it out.
SCSI CARDS - RAMFAST The RamFAST SCSI card, formerly sold by CV
"""""""""""""""""""" Technologies and now by Sequential Systems, is more
expensive than the Apple card. The Apple card may be found in some places
for $99, and the RamFAST has sold for as little as $139. However, there
are several major advantages of the RamFAST:
1) It works as quickly under ProDOS 8 as it does under GS/OS. That
means that you do NOT take a speed hit if you prefer to work in the 8-bit
world (as is the case with the Apple HS SCSI card).
2) The card has BUILT-IN utilities to partition and format a SCSI
hard drive. That means that you CANNOT lose a configuration disk somewhere
in the pile on your desk; the configuration programs are ON the card and
available at any time by pressing the "0" key when you do a RESET.
3) Some of the RamFAST utilities include tape backup software, which
will even work in the background. This means that you can start a tape
backup, and then exit the utility program and do some work on a disk
partition other than the one which is being backed up. (Actually, you CAN
work on the one being backed up, but it is locked and you will not be able
to save any files to it.)
4) Like the Turbo IDE card, the RamFAST has the ability to shuffle
the partitions on a hard disk so a different one can be used as the boot
partition if you wish. For example, if you have GS/OS version 6.0.1 on one
partition, and version 5.0.4 on another partition, you can select which one
you want to boot by pressing the appropriate number key upon RESET. This
is not possible with the Apple card.
5) You can specify exactly WHERE a partition will appear in the
ProDOS 8 disk mapping table (which Slot and Drive number) within the
RamFAST configuration program. This was not possible with the Apple card
until ProDOS 8 itself was changed to work with more than four devices on
certain slots after version 1.9.
6) Finally, the RamFAST is STILL being actively supported and
upgraded by Sequential Systems. It is highly unlikely that any further
changes to the Apple II High Speed SCSI card will ever appear from Apple.
At the time of this writing, Sequential has even made it possible to play
musical CD disks in a CD-ROM drive attached to the RamFAST. Upgrades are
available at a very reasonable price.
SCSI CONNECTIONS "Term power" was mentioned earlier in this article.
"""""""""""""""" Part of what "term power" is powering are the
"termination" resistors that must be present at both ends of a SCSI chain
of devices. The resistors decrease the extra signals that can be induced
and reflected on the chain due to the high frequencies used in data
transfer. To work properly, these resistors need to be powered. This
power can come from only ONE device on the chain, although the newer SCSI-2
protocol suggests that each device power its own terminator resistors (if
being used). If the terminator absent at the end of a chain of devices,
none of the drives attached may appear to be present; or, if termination
resistors are active in the middle of the chain, nothing may appear PAST
that point. This is not a hard and fast rule, however; sometimes things
will work properly even though the termination has NOT been done properly.
If it works under those circumstances, consider yourself lucky; but set it
up properly as soon as possible to avoid an unexpected loss of data.
In the cases of the various versions of RamFAST cards that have
appeared (up through Rev D) and on CMS SCSI cards, the SCSI card itself has
termination resistors on ITS end of the chain. That means that only the
LAST device attached to the SCSI chain needs to have termination resistors
installed. Other devices between the card and the end of the chain should
have their termination resistors disconnected or turned off, as this MAY
cause problems with proper function. In the case of Apple's Rev C SCSI
card, termination is NOT supplied on the card, and so the FIRST device
attached to the card must have termination resistors installed, in addition
to those on the LAST device attached. Also, the cable running between the
Apple card and the first device on the chain should be very short.
SOURCES In case your appetite has been stimulated by this explanation
""""""" (and if that is the case, you really need to get out more often),
here are sources of some of the various disk drives and controller cards
spoken of in this month's article:
FOCUS HARD CARD:
Parson's Engineering
5010 Rimhurst Ave
Covina CA 91724
Phone: 818-966-5538
Fax: 818-966-5701
RAMFAST SCSI CARD (and the CT-40c and CT-100c drives for the IIc):
Sequential Systems
1200 Diamond Circle
Lafayette CO 80026
Sales: 800-759-4549
Service: 800-999-1717
Fax: 303-655-0933
TURBO IDE CARD (and the upcoming BlueDisk card)
SHH Systeme
Dipl. Ing. Joachim Lange
Bergstrasse 95
82131 Stockdorf
Germany
Phone: 49 - 89 - 8577040
GEnie: J.LANGE7
Internet: behrenss@informatik.tu-muenchen.de
Note that the Turbo IDE card sells for about DM235 (that's 235
Deutsche Marks). The price in U.S. dollars will vary, depending on the
current exchange rate, but was $135 up until recently. They also charge
DM38.00 (about $22.00) to ship a card to the U.S., and it includes an IDE
cable, a utilities disk, an English manual, and a one year limited warranty
on parts and labor. Free online support is available in Cat 13/Topic 22 in
the A2 Roundtable. For more details, check out files #20961
TURBO.NEWS6.BXY, and #19646 TURBO.IDE.BXY in the A2 Library.
ZIP DRIVE
Zip Technologies
5601 Slauson Ave
Suite 283
Culver City CA 90230
Phone: 310-568-2002
Fax: 310-568-2005
CRASH Enough's enough, so I'll stop for now. Next time I hope to delve
""""" into getting that new hard drive initialized, partitioned, and
loaded. See you in 30.
[*][*][*]
Steve Weyhrich is a family physician from Omaha, Nebraska. He
has been using Apple II computers since 1981, and writing about
them since 1990. He follows closely the events that continue to
shape the destiny of the legendary Apple II and IIgs computers,
and compiles a monthly column called the "A2 News Digest" for
A2-Central disk magazine. He is also the author of the "Apple II
History", available on fine BBSes everywhere.
[EOA]
[TEC]//////////////////////////////
TECH TALK /
/////////////////////////////////
Apple II Hybrids
""""""""""""""""
by Jay Curtis
[J.CURTIS8]
>>> THE MACINTOSH LC/IIe HYBRID <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
John Dvorak, an editorial writer for MacUser, recently wrote,
"Suppose the Mac had been based upon the Apple II, for example. Can you
imagine how horrible and limited it would be?"(1) This kind of statement
is not surprising, especially coming from Dvorak. Dvorak displays a
remarkable ignorance of just how far both Apple II hardware and software
have come in their development. Instead of checking out his facts, he uses
the Mac crowd's narrow beliefs and tired cliches about the II's limitations
to try to make a point about the growth of computer technology. In his
editorial, Dvorak's real target is Windows running on Power Macintosh
systems, but as he shoots at Windows he hits the Apple II and perpetuates
Apple's own myth about its limitations.
In fact, I can easily imagine a Mac based upon an Apple II because I
already own such a machine. It's called a "IIgs," and the one that I own
has several desktop capabilities under System 6.0.1 that I cannot find on
the System 7-equipped Mac that I use at work.
Even as a used machine, the 16-bit Apple IIgs, with its accelerated
Apple IIe mode, 24 bit data bus, and 8 MB addressing still offers a
reasonable upgrade path for any 8-bit Apple II user. Through Apple's
development of GS/OS, the IIgs has acquired what is essentially a Macintosh
user interface, a Mac-style operating system and, finally, both Macintosh
and MS-DOS file system translators. Today's IIgs with System 6 will drive
any of the latest peripheral devices including fax-modems, CD ROM drives
and high resolution printers. I can easily imagine a server-class Apple II
(built around Western Designs' 65832 microprocessor) possessing an SVGA
display, 32 bit bus and unlimited addressing. In truth, whatever Apple II
limitations exist, exist because of APPLE MARKETING DECISIONS, not because
of any inherent limitations in the technology itself.
When Apple introduced its Apple Macintosh line in 1984, it also
introduced a dilemma for Apple II users. Simply put, the Macintosh was not
designed to run Apple II software. Unlike the users of IBM PCs and
compatibles, who could take their old software with them when they
"upgraded" to a new x86-based platform, Apple II users had nowhere to go.
Many sales of the Trackstar and PC Transporter cards (discussed earlier in
this series) were almost certainly generated because of this dilemma. With
no clear upgrade path, some Apple II users began migrating to PCs rather
than Macs, and they maintained their cross-platform compatibility with the
Apple II through the use of the PCT and Trackstar coprocessor boards.
Apple has done a number of things to insure cross-platform
compatibilities between the Apple II and the Mac. The company would love to
convince their Apple II customers that all Apple products are essentially
the same thing so that they can feel good about "upgrading" to a Macintosh.
Nonetheless, even though both the II and Mac carry the same logo, they are
different computers. As it gradually became obvious that Apple had no
intention of developing the Apple II architecture any further (nor allow
anyone else to develop the architecture), an Apple II/Mac "bridge machine"
became the hope of many Apple II users.
Apple II users, however, had to wait six years after the Mac's
introduction before a bridge machine would finally appear as the Macintosh
LC/IIe hybrid. Yet, for many Apple II users it was too little, too late.
For example, IIe users had already forged their own upgrade paths by
outfitting their computers with accelerator chips, additional RAM and other
improved capabilities. A good bridge machine, they reasoned, should offer
them at least as much capability in IIe mode as they already possessed with
their enhanced Apple IIs. After all, when PC users upgraded to a higher
x86 system, they were automatically guaranteed a faster microprocessor and
better addressing to use with their existing software. Apple II users, on
the other hand, were getting LESS than an off-the-shelf IIe with the IIe
PDS (Processor Direct Slot) card.
As far as IIgs users were concerned, no bridge machine even existed,
because the LC's IIe PDS card couldn't run IIgs software, and many IIgs
users ran GS applications and games exclusively. It was especially the
superb sound and color graphics of IIgs games that GS users would miss if
they bought an LC. In addition, the multiple expansion slots found in IIes
and IIGSes had always been prized by Apple II lovers, and both Apple IIgs
and Apple IIe users were disappointed by the fact that the LC had only one
slot, which had to be used by the IIe card. The LC's lack of slots,
together with the IIe card's 1 mhz processing speed were seen as
significant limitations.
Comparisons between the IIe card-equipped LC and the Apple IIgs were
inevitable after the LC was first introduced in late 1990. Most of these
comparisons found the two computers to be nearly equal in their
capabilities. Price comparisons, using mostly Apple peripheral equipment
and official retail pricing, found the LC to be cheaper in price than the
IIgs.(2) Most IIgs users knew, however, that the street price of a
comparably-equipped IIgs remained less than an LC with IIe card, at least
at the time it was introduced. However, Apple continued to hold the prices
of both its IIgs and IIe at the same level while gradually bringing down
the price of its increasingly more powerful LCs. It was this marketing
strategy which rankled with Apple II supporters and eventually enabled
Apple to discontinue both the IIgs and IIe by citing decreased demand for
these systems.
Despite the LC's perceived shortcomings at its introduction, Apple's
LC line and its IIe PDS card have gone on to enjoy remarkable sales. The
LC, including its various Quadra and Performa incarnations, has been
Apple's best selling computer, helped especially by competitive pricing and
replacement sales to schools. The LC's IIe PDS card remains the only Apple
II still in production. At one time, Apple was reported to be sending out
75 percent of its LCs equipped with the IIe card.(3)
Sales of the IIe card, especially to schools, remain strong in many
places up into the present time. Additionally, anyone who has taken the
time to read GEnie's Macintosh LC categories will find that the topic of
IIe card compatibility remains very important to Mac users who are
contemplating upgrading to the latest, 68040-based, LC-style machines.
Many of the sales of AppleWorks 4 have almost certainly gone to users of
LCs with IIe PDS cards.
It has been rumored on GEnie's A2 roundtable that some Apple
officials, surprised by the strength of their LC-line and IIe PDS card,
have lamented privately that they did not continue development of the Apple
II line further. Hindsight, as they say, is always 20/20, but it seems
very doubtful that Apple will now reverse their policy toward the
development of Apple II hardware.
Although it leaves much to be desired in Apple II mode, the LC/IIe
hybrid has a number of features worth exploring. As indicated in last
month's article, the LC itself now comes in several versions which include
the Quadra 605, Performa 475, LC 475, Performa 460 and LC-III. All of
these machines possess essentially the same motherboard with IIe PDS
capability. The LC-III and the Performa 460 series computers are fast
68030-based Macs, while the Performa 475, LC 475 and Quadra 605 are VERY
fast 68LC040-based Macs. As reported last month, these 68040-based
LC-style Macs run at 22 MIPS, about three times as fast as the 68030-based
LCs. Unfortunately, while all of these machines run Apple II software with
the Apple IIe PDS card, they continue to run the software at 1 mhz, and
they benefit only from slight improvement in the video display speed.
It is expected that, as sales of the Power Macintosh line increase,
prices on these very fast, LC-style machines will continue to come down as
they become Apple's low-end computers. It has been announced that a future
Power Macintosh upgrade will become available for the Quadra 605s and
LC/Performa 475s. At present, Apple is providing Power Macintosh upgrades
for other Macintoshes but not for these LC-style machines. Power Macintosh
upgrades for LCs are a virtual certainty, however, given the sheer number
of LC-style machines in existence and the potential dollars that can be
made by anyone who provides the "Power" hardware at a reasonable cost. The
current official price of Apple's Power PDS card is $699.
PowerMac upgrades will be provided in the form of complete
motherboard swapouts from Apple or as PDS coprocessor cards from both Apple
and DayStar corporation. The capabilities of this new hardware will vary
somewhat with the type of board and the type of Mac it is installed in, but
all upgrades guarantee remarkable speed improvements in Mac emulation as
well as the capability to run multiple operating systems in other
emulations. Apple II users must wait to see if the Apple II can play a
software emulation role in the new technology. While Apple II emulation
software is reportedly being investigated for the PowerMac and PowerPC
systems, it has not been promised by anyone. Nonetheless, Apple II users
have gotten used to waiting on new technology, and somehow it has always
become available.
Despite the limitations of the LC/IIe hybrid and the perception by
people like John Dvorak that the Apple II is "limited," a IIe
card-equipped, LC-style Mac may well represent one of the best new computer
choices for an Apple II user who plans to maintain their IIe capability
while expanding their software base on a new platform. It is the
tremendous power of the LC 475s, their IIe compatibility, their low cost,
and the promise that these Macs will soon become PowerMac compatible that
make them such a good buy. Therefore, next month we will examine how well
the LC/IIe hybrid works as an Apple II. Until then, think hybrid!
NOTES
"""""
(1) Dvorak, John C. "You'll Do Windows". MacUser. May 1994, p. 230.
(2) Statt, Paul. "Meet The Mac LC". InCider/A+. Dec. 1990, p. 44.
(3) Statt, Paul. "Soul of a New Machine". InCider/A+. Jan. 1993, p. 30.
[EOA]
[ASA]//////////////////////////////
ASCII ART GALLERY /
/////////////////////////////////
Swallowtail Butterfly
"""""""""""""""""""""
by Susie Oviatt
[SUSIE]
,,,,. .,,,,
;';';';%;,. .,;%;';';';
`",;%';%;' ;%,. .,%; `;%;`%;,"'
`;",%',; ,%%;'', ,``;%%, ;,`%,";'
`;",;%' ;%; .;%;,. .,;%;. ;%; `%;,";'
`;",;%',; ,';;;',;, ,;,`;;;`,; ,`%;,";'
`;",%';';;;,' .;%%;, ,, ,, ,;%%;. `,;;;`;`%,";'
`;",%' ,%;' ;;%%%;;', ` ', ,' ' ,`;;%%%;; `;%, `%,";'
`;",%'',;,;,';%;',;%;, )( ,;%;,`;%;`,;,;,``%,";'
`;",%'',,;%,';',;%; ;%, %% ,%; ;%;, ;`,%;,,``%,";'
`;",%'',;%%;',;%; ;%;',%%,`;%; ;%;, ;%%;,``%,";'
`;",%'',%;; ;%',;%'%;,%%,;%`%;,`%; ;;%,``%,";'
`;",;%',;; ;;;%';%;;,%%,;;%;`%;;; ;;,`%;,";'
`;",;%';; ;;'%'%;;%,%%,%;;%`%`;; ;,`%;,";'
`";;%';,`;'%;%';;`%%';;`%;%`;'.;`%;;"'
.,,,`;%,;,`;,'%;'; %% ;`;%`,;',;,%;',,,.
,'%;`,%;;';%;`;%,'%; %% ;%`,%;';%;`;;%,';%',
,";`,%;;',%;'%; %;,'; `' ;`,;% ;%`;%,';;%,';",
,";`;%;',%;;';%%; %;,' `,;% ;%%;`;;%,`;%;';",
,";`;%;',%%;';%%;;; %;; ;;% ;;;%%;`;%%,`;%;';",
;";,;%',%%';';%%;;'; %; ;% ;`;;%%;`;`%;,`%;,;";
;";.;',%;'%;';%%;';;;.; ;.;;;`;%%;`;%`;%,`;.;";
`;",;',%'%%;;';%';' `;' `;' `;`%;`;;%%,`,`;,";'
`;",,;;%%%;;';%;, ,;%;`;;%%%;;,,";'
``;";;%%%;;';%; ;%;`;;%%%;;";'
``;,;`' `' `' `';,;''
;,; ;,;
;,; ;,;
;',; ;,`;
`'' `''
[EOA]
[HAR]//////////////////////////////
HARDVIEW A2 /
/////////////////////////////////
BlueDisk and MTOOLS
"""""""""""""""""""
by Udo Huth
[U.HUTH]
>>> BLUEDISK CONTROLLER (Lange) AND MS-DOS UTILITIES (Watson) <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
New developments of hard- and software for the Apple IIgs do not take
place in the United States alone. One firm developing new products is
found in Germany.
Joachim Lange (///SHH Systeme, Bergstr. 95, D - 82131 Stockdorf,
Phone: ++49 89/8 57 70 40, GEnie: J.LANGE7) scored a big hit when releasing
the BlueDisk controller for the Apple IIgs (and the enhanced Apple //e).
This controller will accept two MS-DOS drives of any size. (These are
drives which use the MFM format for data recording, whereas the "normal"
Apple drives use the GCR format for data recording -- the Apple SuperDrive
is capable of both MFM and GCR formats.) The formats currently supported
are 5.25" disks with 360K, 720K, and 1.2MB, as well as 3.5" disks with
720K, 800K, 1.44MB, 1.6MB, and 2.88MB. Disks can be formatted from Finder
with the capacities mentioned for ProDOS and HFS. (Yes, you can format
800K and 1.6MB MFM disks for ProDOS and HFS!) A BlueDisk controller with a
double-drive is
far cheaper than an Apple Superdrive with controller, and
it's even cheaper than a SCSI Floptical drive.
As I write this, the BlueDisk controller is still available as
introductory offer for DM200 plus shipping and handling. The introductory
offer is valid as long as the GS/OS driver and the firmware are in
"official beta stadium". Extensive tests by beta testers in the US and my
own findings have shown, however, that everything works and is stable. I
don't know whether the introductory offer will still be valid by the time
GEnieLamp A2 reaches you.
With System 6.0.1 and a BlueDisk controller, you're able to read
disks in ProDOS, HFS, and MS-DOS format in the above mentioned sizes
directly from Finder. You can write disks in the above mentioned sizes in
HFS, ProDOS, and MS-DOS.
Just a moment -- write MS-DOS? Yes, you can write MS-DOS disks with
a BlueDisk controller, although not from Finder. You have to use the
MS-DOS Utilities by Peter Watson; but more on that later on.
The BlueDisk controller comes with a GS/OS driver and a testing
program. The driver provides a bit more functionality than the built-in
firmware. The test program lets you test the drives connected to the
BlueDisk controller.
The driver operates in two modes; one mode polls the drives
continuously, which generates some noise (owners of a PC Transporter will
know what I'm talking about; this was the reason to develop some patches,
which "hide" the TransDrives from GS/OS); the other mode does not poll the
drives continuously, which will keep GS/OS from recognizing disk changes
automatically. In this second mode you have to press the Control key to
tell the BlueDisk controller to check the drives. You may toggle the modes
with the key combination Shift-Control.
When the driver is deactivated, you'll see a 5.25" disk icon on the
desktop for every drive connected to the BlueDisk controller (just like for
the normal Apple 5.25" drives). After inserting a disk, you have to
double-click on the drive icon, to show the disk icon for opening it (just
like you have to do with Apple 5.25" drives). Without the active BlueDisk
driver not all of the above mentioned disk sizes are available, because
they are not (yet) implemented in the firmware.
The circuit board itself is very well done. You use a DIP switch to
configure the slot you want to install the BlueDisk controller in. A set
of three jumpers is used to tell the BlueDisk controller how many (one or
two) and what kind of drives (5.25" or 3.5") you have connected to it. Two
soldered jumper wires configure two signals for 2.88MB drives.
After installing the controller and connecting the drives (when you
buy everything from ///SHH Systeme, a cable for that is provided), I
started the first tests. I took a pack of preformatted MS-DOS disks I
happened to have available -- the disks were recognized by Finder just fine
as MS-DOS disks. I reformatted one into a HFS disk and copied a file onto
it -- and was disappointed -- it took forever and forever and forever...
but more on this in a moment. It was definitely NOT the fault of the
BlueDisk controller and driver.
I performed the following tests (all tests were conducted with a
stock IIgs running at 2.8 MHz):
Writing and reading of a 490K file to the different disk sizes and
formats with and without the BlueDisk driver.
Write with driver/without driver:
ProDOS 360K 34 sec. (345K only)
ProDOS 720K 56 sec. 55 sec. (3.5")
ProDOS 720K 46 sec. n.a. (5.25")
ProDOS 800K 48 sec.
ProDOS 1.4MB 27 sec. 30 sec.
ProDOS 1.6MB 25 sec. 102 sec.
ProDOS 1.2MB 28 sec. 30 sec.
HFS 360K 36 sec. (345K only)
HFS 720K 59 sec. 59 sec. (3.5")
HFS 720K 48 sec. n.a. (5.25")
HFS 800K 54 sec.
HFS 1.4MB 34 sec. 180 sec. (!)
HFS 1.6MB 33 sec. 198 sec. (!)
HFS 1.2 MB 33 sec. 156 sec. (!)
MS-DOS 720K 146 sec. 146 sec. (3.5")
MS-DOS 720K 120 sec. --- (5.25")
MS-DOS 1.4MB 217 sec. 217 sec.
MS-DOS 1.2 MB 185 sec. 185 sec.
onto an Apple 3.5" drive
ProDOS 800K 35 sec.
HFS 800K 142 sec. (!)
reading with driver
ProDOS 360K 32 sec. (345K only)
ProDOS 720K 50 sec. (3.5")
ProDOS 720K 41 sec. (5.25")
ProDOS 800K 45 sec.
ProDOS 1.4MB 25 sec.
ProDOS 1.2MB 26 sec.
ProDOS 1.6MB 23 sec.
HFS 360K 29 sec. (345K only)
HFS 720K 50 sec. (3.5")
HFS 720K 41 sec. (5.25")
HFS 800K 44 sec.
HFS 1.4MB 24 sec.
HFS 1.2MB 25 sec.
HFS 1.6MB 22 sec.
(in Finder with the MS-DOS FST)
MS-DOS 1.4MB 26 sec.
MS-DOS 1.2MB 26 sec.
MS-DOS 720K 53 sec. (3.5")
MS-DOS 720K 45 sec. (5.25")
from an Apple 3.5" drive
ProDOS 800K 17 sec.
HFS 800K 17 sec.
While doing those tests I made an interesting discovery; it took 245
seconds to write a file onto a HFS disk in one instance (see above "it
lasted forever..."). MS-DOS disks are usually preformatted at 1:1
interleave; when the writing took so long, I had just reformatted the disks
for HFS, leaving the interleave intact. When I initialized the disks from
Finder, using the 2:1 interleave, things became a lot faster. All the
above tests were done on 2:1 interleave disks (even the MS-DOS timings, but
the MS-DOS utilities write to the disks direct, not using the BlueDisk
driver efficiently). The differences you encounter when using the
different interleave factors are dramatic:
1:1 interleave 228 sec.
2:1 interleave 45 sec. (!)
The 5.25" 360K, 720K, and 1.2MB disks are formatted with 52:1
interleave according to Finder!?
I recommend you format disks always from Finder with 2:1 interleave
for use with ProDOS or HFS. MS-DOS disks can be formatted with different
interleaves from within the Watson MS-DOS utilities. They are recognized
by the MS-DOS FST just fine.
(BTW, tests of the beta-testers and Joachim Lange found that the HFS
FST is programmed for slowness deliberately! It uses SINGLE block read and
write calls and writes blocks in the wrong order. That is, blocks 200-300
are written in the order 300, 299, 298, 297, I, and it uses a single GS/OS
call for each block. I think you can imagine that to be slow, can't you?)
GS/OS recognizes the drives connected to a BlueDisk controller as
Superdrives, by the way.
The MS-DOS FST recognizes a MS-DOS disk as such with the following
steps:
1. Read block 0 (the boot block)
2. Byte $0000 has to be $E9 or $EB
(8088 code long resp. short jump)
3. Byte $1FE has to be $55
(ID byte)
4. Byte $1FF has to be $AA
(ID byte)
5. Bytes $00B - $00D have to be $200
(512 bytes per block/sector)
Well, there's but one glitch in this whole picture -- when Kangaroo
is used to change folders or disks, the drives connected to the BlueDisk
controller are accessed about 20 times (when there are no disks in the
drives), til Kangaroo displays its menu. Even when loading just a file
from HD, the drives are accessed once prior to loading the file. When
there are no entries in Kangaroo's file and folder submenus, this behavior
doesn't occur. When there are disks in the BlueDisk drives, Kangaroo looks
only about three times, before displaying its menu. When Kangaroo isn't
activated, GS/OS just looks once at the drives and that's it.
The testing program for the drives has the following menu:
IRQ: 0 Rst:0 Dr2: yes n/a: 1
Typ2: 5.25" Typ1: 3.5" ME2: on/off ME1: on/off
1: Drive 1 Motor: OFF/ON
2: Drive 2 Motor: OFF/ON
O: Select Drive 1
T: Select Drive 2
D: Disable Drive Selection
0: Recalibrate Selected Drive
9: Seek Track #79 of Selected Drive
+: Step to Next Cylinder (inwards)
-: Step back (move outwards)
R: Try to Read From Disk
Q: Quit
To test a drive, you select a drive and switch its motor on. Then you
can issue the commands (0,9,+,-) to the drive. The program will
respondwith a message. When this is a positive message, the drive is
functioning properly.
BlueDisk:
o has been tested with Archiver's backup function; there have been
no problems with either of BlueDisk's formats and sizes.
o works just fine with HardPressed
o works in Slot 5, when its set to "Your Card"
o works with PC Transporter (there are the same problems you
encounter when using a Floptical with the PC Transporter)
Things which don't work (but neither the fault of the BlueDisk
controller nor the driver):
o ProSel 16 does no backups to drives, which aren't connected to
Slot 5
o Salvation Bakkup does not recognize non-Apple drives
o ProSel 8 Cat Doctor does not format correctly
[*][*][*]
A software package that BlueDisk users will find useful comes from
Peter Watson of Australia. Watson's MS-DOS Utilities contain the following
commands:
MDir reads the directory of a MS-DOS (MFM) disk
MType types the contents of a file to screen
MCopy copies files from MS-DOS to GS/OS
GMCopy copies files from GS/OS to MS-DOS
MRename changes MS-DOS file names
MDel deletes files from MS-DOS disks
MLabel creates a disk name for MS-DOS disks
MAttrib changes file attributes for MS-DOS files
MFormat formats disk for MS-DOS
MDiskCopy copies whole disks
findMFM tries to recognize all connected MFM capable drives
Online shows all volumes online with their drive numbers
MMD creates a directory/folder
MRD deletes a directory/folder
MFDisk shows partition info (on a HD)
MPatch patches the parameters of some commands
The commands need a shell to be usable. A shell called COMMAND.COM
comes with the program, but you may use the ORCA/Shell, ProSel-16, or
GNO/ME. The aforementioned MS-DOS commands are small programs, which are
loaded from disk when requested. In addition to them there are a few
built-in commands contained in COMMAND.COM:
Prefix selects the standard prefix
Cat shows a directory/folder
Type shows the contents of a file on screen
Ver shows the version number
Help displays the help texts
Quit quits COMMAND.COM
As you may see, the necessary functions for writing to and modifying
MS-DOS disks are there. After starting COMMAND.COM, the ">" prompt
welcomes you and the program is waiting for you to enter something; it's
solely text based. A valid entry might be "MFormat .d7 /Q"; this erases
the disk in device 7, creates a MS-DOS root directory, and creates the FAT
(File Allocation Table -- what the VTOC [Volume Tables of Contents] is for
ProDOS, the FAT is for MS-DOS.) To copy a file from a ProDOS disk onto an
MS-DOS disk, you have to issue the command "GMCopy .d7 :Hard2:Read.Me
ReadMe.TXT"; this instructs Command.Com to copy the file Read.Me from
/Hard2 onto the MS-DOS disk in device 7 and change the name of the file to
ReadMe.TXT.
Well, there isn't much more to say about the MS-DOS Utilities. They
function as advertised and do their job; however, you're dealing with
MS-DOS, so you might have to try a few times sometimes to get the syntax of
a command right. Entering a command which needs parameters to operate
without those parameters will cause COMMAND.COM to display that command
with some samples on how to use the parameters. With "Help name" you'll
get an explanation of the command "name".
Peter Watson asks US$15 or AUS$20 for his Utilities. This is money
well spent; you'll get a big bang for the buck. For $5 more you'll receive
the latest version of the Utilities.
All in all, still more possibilities and functionality for our "good
ole" Apple IIgs!
Udo Huth
Apple IIgs SIG of the AUGE e.V.
Leipziger Str. 16 a
D -- 38329 Wittmar
Phone: ++49 53 37/4 40
u.huth@GEnie.geis.com (InterNet)
U.HUTH (GEnie)
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ /
/ Programming Law #30: Users ALWAYS find something to /
/ complain about. :) /
/ /
/////////////////////////////////////////// POWERPC.PRO ////
[EOA]
[DRT]//////////////////////////////
DR'S EXAMINING TABLE /
/////////////////////////////////
Golden Oldie Review: VCR Companion
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Jim Wellman
copyright (c) 1989
>>> GUEST REVIEW <<<
""""""""""""""""""""
DR wasn't able to be with us this month, so instead we present a
guest review from Jim Wellman, who was co-sysop of APPLESIG on the
SOURCE(tm) at the time this review was written. While VCR Companion was a
recent product when this review first appeared, you'll find it cropping up
in sales of second-hand software quite frequently, and can still find it at
some mail-order houses.
[*][*][*]
MACHINE ][e, ][c, ][c+ ][gs with 128k memory, one disk drive, monochrome
''''''' or color monitor (television).
OPTIONAL Mouse/joystick, second disk drive, VCR, VCR Companion Film
'''''''' Library.
PUBLISHER Broderbund Software Inc.
'''''''''
The VCR Companion is a unique approach to titling your home movies!
I have been a "weekend" freelance photographer doing weddings and other
events since 1985 and have always wanted to do movies.
Well, I purchased a camcorder not long ago and started doing home
video movies. You know the type: Birthdays, parties, picnics, and other
events as requested. I even started taping the weekly church service.
The problem I encountered was to give proper credit to those that
were participating. That is where VCR Companion entered the picture. I
saw this program on the shelf and just had to try it out.
VCR Companion comes with the following standard features:
o 12 Fonts (scripts);
o 12 Boarders;
o 12 Background Pictures;
o 12 Background Patterns;
o 12 Animations; and
o 12 Background Icons.
Also, you can install VCR Companion to your hard drive for easier and
faster use! However, I was not successful in installing it to my 20 meg
drive as it is partitioned only for ProDOS applications.
As a bonus VCR Companion included:
o 12 Additional Animations;
o 12 Icons; and
o 3 "ready made" scripts for you to examine.
I found the easiest way to use this program is to just start! I had
taped an office party and needed to put titles on the tape. I did the
titles in about 30 minutes and placed them on the tape without problems. I
took the finished tape to the boss and asked him to play it back...
success! All the people in the party were just raving about it...
especially the titles!
A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to shoot my first video
wedding. I warned the bride and groom ahead of time but they still wanted
the movie of their special day. I prepared myself with four blank tapes:
One for the wedding, one for the reception and the one for candid shots of
that day and the last tape for the final product.
I took about one hour to prepare the titles and music. I then placed
the titles on the new tape followed by the wedding, reception, and candid
shots! Each section had the titles announcing the section.
I delivered the tape to the newly weds and watch them watch their
wedding. They saw the titles start with a "cover" and an animation of the
bride & groom kissing! That scene faded to listing the grandparents,
parents, aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters. Well, you should be getting
the picture by now... the movie was a success: They were happy and so was
I!
Follow the easy to read instructions to put your finished titles on
tape. VCR Companion even gives you a diagram to follow so you can connect
your computer to the VCR.
VCR Companion allows you to import your own animations created by
Dazzle Draw, Fantavision, or Animate. You must observe the size
constraints placed from VCR Companion when converting from these programs
to the VCR Companion.
Some other uses of VCR Companion could be slide titles, "welcome to
the business" tour, computer advertising, and many other ideas!
I created a self run advertisement for my business that presents
information, advertisement, and other items as a slide show. The uses of
VCR Companion are really endless: Just let your imagination go and you
will really enjoy VCR Companion.
So even if you don't own a camcorder or a VCR you will find that the
VCR Companion is a welcomed addition to your library... I certainly did!
[*][*][*]
This review, along with ten others, may be found in PublishIt! 2
format in file #9991, REVIEWS.BXY, in the A2 library. This
review and the others in this file may be reproduced as long as
credit is given to the author, Jim Wellman.
[EOA]
[HUN]//////////////////////////////
THE TREASURE HUNT /
/////////////////////////////////
Yours For the Downloading
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Charlie Hartley
[C.HARTLEY3]
Welcome back to the Treasure Hunt! This month we will take a look at
a variety of files including some GS/OS stuff and some interesting text
files. We will conclude with one of my personal favorites.
First we will focus on HyperCard IIgs and related files available in
the A2 Library. This terrific program has been available online since
early February for the price of $3 an hour downloading. No doubt many of
you have already taken advantage of this addition to the library. For the
rest of you, here a brief description of what you need to do to get started
with HyperCard IIgs.
Here is a list of the HyperCard IIgs Program Files:
File# Title Brief Description
22194 INST.TOUR.BXY HCGS Installer/Tour disk
22195 HCGS.BXY HCGS Program Disk
22196 STACKS1.BXY HyperCard IIgs stacks disk #1
22197 STACKS2.BXY HyperCard IIgs stacks disk #2
22198 HCGS.HELP.BXY HyperCard IIgs help disk
22199 HTALKHELP.BXY HCGS HyperTalk help disk
Each of the files is a 3.5" disk image. All of the six files are
required to install HyperCard IIgs from floppy disks. HyperCard IIgs
_requires_ 1.5 megabytes of RAM and a single disk volume greater than 3
megabytes. System 5.0.4 or later is also required.
Unpacking a disk image can be a bit of a hassle if you are not
careful. I suggest that you download the files to a folder on your hard
drive and then unpack them to a blank diskette using ShrinkIt GS. Also, be
prepared for a long download. I suggest doing it between midnight and 6 AM,
when the online traffic is lightest.
Once you have downloading the six files and unpacked them to
diskettes, select the Installer program from the Tour disk and follow the
directions to install HyperCard on your hard drive.
Now let's take a look at several neat HyperCard stacks available in
the A2 Library.
[*][*][*]
QUICK.TUTOR.BXY File #15466 (HyperCard Stack)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
According to A2.TYLER, who uploaded this HyperCard stack, "this is a
stack created by Sebastian Foti, an instructional computing instructor at
the University of Florida's College of Education. The stack gives an
overview of how to use the different tools within HyperCard to write one's
own stacks. There are some interesting ideas included for the use of
buttons that will cause the tongues of the creators of HyperCard GS to drag
on the floor and their eyes to bulge out of their heads."
Foti, who calls his stack "Quick 'n Easy HyperCard Tutorial,"
describes it this way: "This stack was created as an introduction to the
basic elements of HyperCard GS. It is designed to offer the user a chance
to play with HyperCard without worrying about making a mess of the stack.
The changes made to the stack will not be permanent."
He begins with a brief definition of what HyperCard is. Then he
explains in some detail what the various elements (buttons, fields,
pictures) of a card are with ample examples of each. Foti gives you the
opportunity to play with these things to your heart's content _without
destroying the stack_.
This is a fairly long download (182272 bytes), but in the opinion of
this novice HyperCard user, well worth it. Now if someone will just tell
me how Foti did the "slippery button"....
[*][*][*]
HCFONTVIEW.BXY File #16991 (HyperCard Stack)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
According to Alvin Yee, the author of this stack, "Font Viewer is a
stack that will let you select all Font Attributes such as Font Family,
Size, Style & Color and alter them via HyperCard Buttons. It will then
show you an example (more than 1 line and in color) of your choices. Also
present are options for field styling and changing the background color. As
a bonus, a HyperCard Screen Saver is included. The Screen Saver paints
random triangle outlines in random colors on a black background."
This freeware stack displays all its directions on screen as the text
that serves as an example of the font choices that you make. At first
glance, the scope and variety of buttons on the screen may be a bit
overwhelming to the novice user. If you read the onscreen directions
carefully, it soon becomes clear what you can do with this stack.
You may also get a print-out of the directions by first clicking on
the sample field (where the text is). This brings up a dialog box that
gives you the option of printing the sample text using the current font
attributes.
Font attributes include style (plain, bold, italic, underline,
shadow), size, height (use this to alter the default height set by size),
alignment (left or right justified, or centered) and color.
Once you have the font just the way you want it, you may install the
font attributes onto a field in another stack. You may also save up to
three different settings for the font.
Aside from its uses with HyperCard, this stack will also let you see
what each of the fonts in your font folder look like. As a bonus, you can
select a full character set table using the font, style and size of the
font that you have in the sample window. Then you can print it out.
This file contains 68480 bytes, which is a relatively short download,
particularly for the value you get.
[*][*][*]
VISUAL.FX.BXY File #14763 (HyperCard Stack)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
This is a freeware HyperCard stack by Hangtime and Chet Day.
According to Hangtime, it "demonstrates all the different visual effects
available through HyperTalk. It allows the user to try all the effects at
any speed (very fast, fast, slowly, very slowly), and even add an image to
go to rather than a card image (all 16 colors, plus inverse) via a PopUp
menu! It's VERY easy to use, and it's VERY, VERY small (only about 13k!).
This stack is _not_ locked in any way, so use it, look through it, figure
out how it works, but most of all have fun!"
This is another stack that gives you an opportunity to experiment
with HyperCard without worrying about messing up. HyperCard has a variety
of visual effects that can be used to move from one card to another. These
include zoom (open, close, in, out), wipe (up, down, left, right), scroll
(up, down, left, right), iris (open, close), barn door (open, close),
checkerboard, dissolve, fade, and of course plain.
If you are a novice, as I am, and particularly if you have little
experience with visual transitions, this is an excellent stack to learn
from. Besides, as Hangtime says, you can take it apart to see what makes
it tick. In my experience as a programmer, I have frequently learned much
from working my way through someone else's code.
[*][*][*]
NOWORRIES13.BXY File #22323 (HyperCard Stack)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
This final HyperCard stack for this month's column was just recently
uploaded to the library. The stack was created by Brendan Bellina. He
describes it this way:
"No Worries v1.3.0 is a HyperCard GS stack that allows the launching
of GS/OS, ProDOS, Applesoft BASIC programs, as well as opening other
stacks, New Desk Accessories, and Documents, all within an environment that
is very similar in appearance to the Macintosh At Ease software. Includes
security to protect against unauthorized addition/deletion of applications
buttons. Earlier versions published in Script-Central. This is the first
freeware release."
If you need security to prevent others from messing with the computer
settings (school children messing with the control panels for example),
this stack provides a straight forward way to do that. It uses a single
system password that restricts the user to running the programs that are
already set up in the stack, unless he has the password.
At the same time it gives you a point and click format for choosing
programs to run. Setting up the stack for these programs is easy. For
example, if you want to run HyperStudio from this stack, pull down the "No
Worries" menu and select "set up mode." Then pull it down again and select
"Link to GS/OS Application." From there you will select the location of
the HyperStudio file from the standard dialogue menu. Once you have it
located, an icon will appear on the screen. Drag the icon to where you
want it. It will now appear complete with the name of the program.
Clicking on it will take you to HyperStudio. Quitting HyperStudio will
return you to this stack.
It is also possible to link to ProDOS applications (system files), to
BASIC programs (requires BASIC.SYSTEM), other stacks, documents (linked to
GS/OS applications), and various menu commands.
If you need security, and/or if you really like the look and feel of
"At Ease," then this stack will be a good download for you. If, like me,
you don't need security, then you probably don't want it.
If you decide to download this stack, be sure to become familiar with
it before you apply the password protection. Also, be sure to read all the
good information provided in the help screens. To get to them, select
"help" from the "No Worries" menu.
By the way, Brendan was the professor at a recent A2 University
course on HyperCard GS over in the A2Pro Roundtable. To learn more about
the course, visit their library and search on "HyperCard."
That concludes the HyperCard stuff. Now let's look at some
interesting text files.
[*][*][*]
NIGHT.XMAS.TX File # 4496 (Humorous Text File)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
I like this one! As stated in the file description, "If you fed 'The
Night Before Xmas' into a computer, and then asked the computer to explain
the story, it would look something like this." This is a short download
(6300 bytes) and well worth it.
Here is a short excerpt...
"T'was the nocturnal segment of the diurnal period preceding the
annual yuletide celebration, and throughout our place of residence, kinetic
activity was not in evidence among the possessors of this potential,
including that species of domestic rodent known as Mus Musculus."
[*][*][*]
CORP.DEFS.TXT File # 4501 (Humorous Text File)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
If you work in corporate America, or even if you don't, I think
you'll like this file. This is a humorous text file containing some silly
definitions for corporate terms and phrases.
Here are two examples ...
Clarification: Filling in the background with so many details that
the foreground goes underground
Committee: A group of the uninformed appointed by the unwilling, to
do the unnecessary
At only 3780 bytes, this download will only cost you pennies, and I
guarantee that you will get at least that must satisfaction from it.
[*][*][*]
MATH.DEFS File # 4502 (Humorous Text File)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Math students, math teachers, and anyone who ever struggled through a
math class, will enjoy this tiny little text file created by Rainer Kock.
In it he says, "Any student who ever sat or slept through a mathematics
course knows that certain words and phrases occur very frequently. This
glossary might eliminate some confusion." You'll smile reading it.
Sorry, no quotes this time. At 2520 bytes, you will have it before
you know it.
[*][*][*]
DISCLAMER.TXT File # 4559 (Humorous Text File)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
It seems that everything you buy comes with some kind of disclaimer.
They all seem to be saying "If it ain't right, it ain't my fault!" Well,
whoever put this file together must have tried to incorporate all of them
into one funny disclaimer that disclaims everything!
If you haven't seen this one before, it just might be worth the 5040
byte download.
[*][*][*]
MUSIC.MIDI.APPLE.BNY File #4897 (Informative Text File)
'''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
This is an article written by Leah R. H. Weisman and Tyler D. Weisman
(A2.TYLER) describing the development of music hardware and software on the
Apple II line of computers.
It includes a description of what MIDI is all about. While the
article was written in 1988, it still makes interesting reading today,
especially for the beginner.
Besides, who knows, if enough of you download the file, Tyler might
decide to bring it up to date. (Hint, hint!) At 8820 bytes, this is well
worth the download.
[*][*][*]
SPELL.MACH.BXY File #18068 (Applesoft Program)
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
The Spelling Machine is an individualized spelling lessons program
designed specifically for seventh graders. While it was designed for use
at school, it is perfectly suitable for parents who want to help their
children improve their spelling.
The freeware program begins with a diagnostic test to determine a
list of words that the child does not already know how to spell. Once it
has collected a sufficient number of words, the program presents the child
with a list of 10 words to learn. It also prepares a worksheet to be
printed out that includes definitions and sample sentences using the words.
Once the child has completed the worksheet and studied the words, he
goes back to the program to take a test. The test is presented in a
multiple choice format with several possible spellings to choose from. The
program presents the words in random order and presents each word twice for
correct spelling. If the child gets it right both times, it is put in his
completed list. Next, a new set of words, including those missed on the
previous test, is presented complete with a new worksheet. When new words
are needed, the child takes another diagnostic test.
There is a whole year's worth of lesson words available with this
download. It is a large download (124416 bytes), but well worth it for
someone who has a real need for it.
This program runs on anything from an unenhanced IIe on up. Oh, by
the way, the programmer is a pretty neat fellow too. <grin>
[*][*][*]
Well, that concludes this month's column. I would appreciate any
comments that you might have concerning the first two columns, and about
anything you might like to see in future columns.
Until then, happy downloading!
Charlie
[EOA]
[ANC]//////////////////////////////
APPLE ANECDOTES /
/////////////////////////////////
True Stories
""""""""""""
by Bruce Maples
[B.MAPLES]
>>> ON GETTING MY FIRST GS <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Where have you been?" my wife asked.
"Picking up the GS," I replied. "You know, the one I traded for...
with that new client."
"That's all we need around here -- another computer!" she exclaimed.
I could tell, though, that she was intrigued. Hadn't she heard me talk
about getting one for years?
"Are you going to give it to me to use for my papers?" she asked,
knowing the answer. "I could put it in the bedroom."
"No, it's going right on my desk, next to the 486."
"Well, don't make a big mess, Mr. GS-Man!" But she smiled as she
said it.
I had traded for the GS with a new client that was getting rid of it.
Consulting time in return for computer. It was a ROM 3 with a 3.5" and a
5.25" drives, a straight stock machine with no hard drive and 1.25 meg
memory that had cost the client thousands of dollars when bought. I knew
it was going to need some additions -- a hard drive, more memory, a Zip
chip, more software -- but that would come later. For now, it was enough
to finally have an actual GS in the house.
Quickly, I cleared out a spot in the computer area. The GS wound up
next to the IIe that had served me so well all those years, and right down
from the 486/33. "Got to get a SuperDrive or a BlueDisk," I thought to
myself. "Or maybe that Coactive thing will come through. Well, like
Margaret Hamilton once said, 'All in good time, dearie, all in good time.'
Let's get this thing fired up."
Quickly I discovered that there were no system disks anywhere with
the machine. Bummer! Having a good Apple II friend in Dan Crutcher, I
called him up and explained my plight.
"So you finally got a real computer, eh? Well, I hate to see a
computer go to waste, _especially_ a GS. I've got an old 30-meg drive you
can borrow for a while. Come get it." I was in business!
"Welcome to the IIgs! System 6.0.1." What a welcome sight! After
wanting a GS for years, I finally had one in the house. And I must say,
the last two weeks have been interesting, to say the least.
I'm a computer professional. I spend my days _working_ with
computers, of all shapes and sizes, from 8088s to Pentiums, with even a few
Macs thrown in here and there. This GS, as it is right now, is in many
ways outclassed by those other machines. They are faster, bigger, have
much better displays, and more useful software in many areas.
But even acknowledging all that, there's one thing the GS has all
over those other machines: It's more FUN! That's right, I get a _kick_
out of using this machine! I love dragging files to the Bill the Cat
trashcan and having him go "Ack! Phhllt!" I enjoy the "whoosh" when I open
windows, and the "hsoohw" when I close them. I appreciate the filing
system, and the simplicity of use, and the little nice features here and
there.
I hope to get a memory card soon, and a Zip chip also. Dan's going
to need this drive back also, so I've got to dig up a hard drive as well.
But for now, I'm grabbing a few files from GEnie every so often, and
writing some things, and just generally enjoying my new machine.
It's good to have a GS in the house. May it live long, and prosper.
[EOA]
[AII]//////////////////////////////
APPLE II /
/////////////////////////////////
Apple II History, Part 20/21c
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
by Steven Weyhrich
[S.WEYHRICH]
>>> APPLE II HISTORY <<<
""""""""""""""""""""""""
Compiled and written by Steven Weyhrich
(C) Copyright 1994, Zonker Software
(PART 20/21c -- MAGAZINES, CONT)
[v1.2 :: 10 Feb 94]
INTRODUCTION We conclude this month our look at the magazines that have
"""""""""""" helped us in the past, and in some cases continue to help us
today to use our Apple II computers. This will include GS+, Softdisk,
Softdisk G-S, II Alive, Shareware Solutions II, and some foreign Apple II
magazines.
GS+ (1989-Present) In the late 1970s, Steven Disbrow entered the world
"""""""""""""""""" of microcomputers with his purchase of a TRS-80 Model
I, complete with cassette storage and 4K of memory. To learn more about
his computer and what it could do, he picked up a newsstand magazine called
"80-Micro" (published by Wayne Green, who had also started Byte and inCider
magazines). He enjoyed the humor that the editors of that publication
included, and the fun they showed one could have with a computer. Active
also in the local TRS user's group, he originally disdained Apple IIs and
those who used them. However, in 1984 he found that he needed the ability
to communicate with a mainframe computer in order to do some schoolwork.
After looking into the cost of upgrading his TRS-80 to be able to do this,
he found that it would actually cost him LESS to buy the newly released
Apple IIc with a 300 baud modem (and at that time, a new IIc went for about
$1300), so he crossed enemy lines and entered the Apple camp.
As he got more familiar with his IIc, his interest in that computer
and the upcoming 16-bit IIgs also increased. While learning more about it
from Apple magazines at the newsstand, he noticed that many of the
publications that dealt with the Atari ST included a disk with each issue.
Disbrow went so far as to contact several of the Apple II magazines that
were in print at the time to see if THEY had any interest in a companion
disk, but he did not find any interest. After purchasing his Apple IIgs,
he saw that there still was no combination magazine and disk for this
computer, and decided to start one himself.
When Disbrow started his magazine in September 1989, he chose to make
it exclusively for the Apple IIgs, and so named it "GS+". Published
bi-monthly, the byline on the cover of each issue reminded subscribers of
what made HIS magazine unique: "The First Apple IIgs Magazine + Disk
Publication!" He recalled the humor and fun that he had always seen in
80-Micro, and determined to make his magazine fun in a similar way.
Disbrow felt that this was especially important, considering the generally
negative attitude that was prevalent among Apple II users at the time, as
they saw less and less active support from Apple for their computer. Still
in print at the time of this writing, GS+ concentrates on news, software
and hardware reviews, published programs and utilities for the IIgs (some
with source code), and interviews with people who are involved with the
IIgs.<1>
SoftDisk (Sep 1981-Present) / Softdisk G-S (Nov 1988-Present) One of the
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" survivors
in the Apple II magazine world is also unusual in terms of the type of
publication that it is. Rather than using the traditional paper and ink
medium, Softdisk came on the scene as one of the first magazines
distributed in only a machine-readable form. Back in 1981, Jim Mangham, a
programmer at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, felt that the
time was ripe for an Apple II disk-based magazine. It would have the
advantage of providing ready-to-run programs that did not have to be typed
in, yet could still be listed and modified by the "reader" if desired.
Mangham's idea was not unique in the computer world as a whole; "CLOAD" for
the TRS-80 began as a magazine on cassette as far back as 1978, and other
paper publications offered companion disks as an extra, containing programs
from a specific issue. But no one had yet put a whole magazine on disk for
the Apple II, and Mangham decided to fill that gap.
Originally, he planned to call it "The Harbinger Magazette", and
after getting a preliminary first issue prepared, he called Al Tommervik of
Softalk magazine to discuss advertising. Tommervik thought it was a great
idea, and not only did he want to advertise it, but asked to be a partner
in the venture. He suggested that they change the name to "Softdisk"
(since it would be, in essence, a Softalk publication). By the time
Mangham was ready to mail out his first issue, he had fifty subscribers.
Since he needed a minimum of two hundred pieces to qualify for a bulk
postage rate, his father found one hundred and fifty disks in his mailbox
that month.
To create his new "magazette", Mangham chose to use double-sided
disks that were pre-notched on both edges, to ensure that both sides would
be useable. (Recall that the Disk II drive could only use one side of the
disk, and so it was common to conserve money and use the other side by
cutting a notch on edge of the disk opposite the factory one and flipping
the disk over.) These double-sided disks were expensive, costing him three
dollars apiece, and so he set up the subscriptions to require return of the
previous issue in order to get the next one (it was left up to the reader
to make his own copies to keep). When the disk was returned with the five
dollars for the next issue, the reader could also use a simple text editor
on the disk to return any "letters to the editor" he might have, commenting
on the previous issue's contents or asking other questions. This return
disk could also be used for submitting programs, pictures, or articles for
use in future issues of Softdisk. Some of the subscribers that became
prolific contributors of material even ended up WORKING at Softdisk!<2>
Softalk magazine provided free advertising for Softdisk, and the
subscriber base gradually grew. Some of the revenue for the magazine came
from subscription payments, and some came through advertising. Ads for
Softdisk were sold by the disk sector, and provided an advertiser a unique
opportunity; he could give a potential customer a chance to actually SEE
how the program he was selling looked. Some of the ads could be animated
(usually using the text screen to use less disk space), and were actually
entertaining. This was most prominent in the ads Softdisk had for their
own products; by 1983 they had begun a line of software called "Rich And
Famous" (which they said was what the authors wanted to become).
Consisting of programs written by regular Softdisk contributors, these
disks sold for $9.95 apiece, and a $4 royalty on each disk went to the
author. The disks offered various types of games, including hi-res
graphics adventures and card games, office-based utility software, general
Apple II utilities, and disks of music (in Electric Duet format).
Each issue of Softdisk had a "cover", which consisted of a hi-res
picture and the issue number. These eventually were created to look just
like the Softalk logo, except the globe in the upper right corner was
animated. Starting in August 1983, Softdisk expanded to two double-sided
disks, and the two-way subscriptions now requested that only one of the two
had to be returned. One-way subscriptions were also available by now, for
those who didn't want to bother having to return the disks. By January
1984 (issue #27), Softdisk became available through retail stores
(primarily computer stores, but later also through bookstores) at the price
of $12.95 per issue. They also began putting out a disk magazine called
"Loadstar" for the Commodore 64 computer in June 1984, at a price of $9.95
(since it was a single disk per issue it cost less).<3>
As mentioned earlier, Softalk magazine folded after its August 1984
issue, leaving the future of Softdisk somewhat in doubt. In return for
some benefits that Softalk had provided (free full-page ads, space in their
booth at computer shows, and permission to include some programs from the
magazine on Softdisk), it had part-ownership in Softdisk. Since Softalk
was now bankrupt, the possibility existed that Softdisk would be absorbed
into the liquidation of assets. To avoid this outcome and to ensure the
future of the magazine, Softdisk purchased back its shares from Softalk's
creditors (at a price probably higher than what they were worth) and
continued on their own. Although a few ads were placed in remaining Apple
II magazines after that, Softdisk continued primarily on word-of-mouth
referrals (which didn't increase circulation by much). Sales of some side
items (primarily blank disks) helped keep the company going during this
difficult time.<4>
In May 1985, the two-way disk subscriptions were discontinued, and Al
Tommervik started a brief tenure as editor-in-chief. He helped develop a
more professional appearance for the magazine (and for Loadstar), through
higher quality graphics and cover design. When Greg Malone began as
editor-in-chief in late 1985, he continued the improvements by starting a
graphics-based presentation in favor of the older text-based method they
had used from the beginning.<4>
Softdisk, Inc. added a disk magazine in 1986 for the IBM PC, called
"Big Blue Disk".<5> At this time Softdisk magazine itself began including
re-releases of older commercial software whose publishers were willing to
inexpensively release publishing rights; they also began to publish some
newer shareware programs. The first series of "reprints" were games
previously released by Polarware/Penguin Software.<6>
By 1987, Softdisk began again advertising itself in magazines, a
practice that has been continued up to the present time. This began a
large expansion in circulation for the Softdisk magazette and their other
disk publications.<6> Later that year saw the changeover from the older
DOS 3.3 operating system exclusively to ProDOS (beginning with issue #73).
This issue also saw the start of a more attractive graphic user interface
that supported use of a mouse (as well as the keyboard), and had pulldown
menus and animated graphics. Within the next year or so, retail
distribution of their publications was discontinued (booksellers were not
leaving the products on the shelf long enough to allow them to sell) and
distribution returned exclusively to a subscription basis.<7>
In November 1988, the first issue of Softdisk G-S was released,
supporting the standard IIgs desktop interface standards. This publication
has maintained a high quality standard and has done well. At the time of
this writing, Softdisk, Inc. continues to put out the following monthly
disk magazines: Softdisk for 8-bit Apple II's; Softdisk G-S for the IIgs;
On Disk Monthly (formerly Big Blue Disk) for the IBM PC; Gamer's Edge, also
for the IBM PC; and Diskworld for the Macintosh. Loadstar for the
Commodore 64/128 is still available, but only on a quarterly basis.
II Alive (Mar 1993-Present) Joe Gleason was the president of Quality
""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Computers, an Apple II mail order company
based in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. He observed with considerable concern
the gradual erosion of Apple II-specific information through the format of
the traditional slick magazine. When inCider/A+ added Macintosh coverage,
this began the gradual decline in the fortunes of that magazine, which was
Quality's major advertising outlet. Quality had begun a combination
magazine and catalog called Enhance, with a focus towards educators (where
the Apple II was still fairly strong). But Gleason wanted something more.
Jerry Kindall, who worked at Quality and was a frequent presence on
the online services, made this announcement in October 1992: "When
inCider/A+ decided to switch over to a primarily Macintosh focus, we
decided the time was right for us to start our own Apple II publication to
fill the void. II Alive will begin publication in...1993. Every single
article will discuss the Apple II. Every single ad will promote Apple II
products. The Mac will be mentioned only in connection with the Apple II
(as will the IBM)--for example, in articles on networking or file
exchange."<10>
They planned to initially offer the magazine on a bi-monthly basis,
and for people who subscribed before December 31, 1992 they offered a free
video tape that highlighted new Apple II products.<10> A sample issue of
the magazine was mailed out to everyone on Quality's mailing list in early
1993, and the first official issue appeared in March 1993. The logo on the
cover had a circle around the title announcing the flavor of the magazine,
"Celebrating The Apple II". Kindall was named as editor-in-chief, and
eventually had some other staff hired to help him: Ellen Rosenberg, as
managing editor (formerly editor of A2-Central); Doug Cuff as consulting
editor (also editor of the online magazine GEnieLamp A2 and writing for
A2-Central); and Tara Dillinger as Interview Editor (who was also in charge
of doing online interviews on the A2 Roundtable on GEnie).
Regular columns featured in II Alive included Test Drives (reviews of
new products), Ask Mr. Tech (technical questions and answers), Head Of The
Class (programs that were of particular interest to educators), AppleWorks
At Large (tips on uses for that program), Macro Exchange (sample
UltraMacros programs for AppleWorks), Modem Nation (information about
telecommunications), Shareware Spy (discussion of freeware and shareware
software), and more.
Compared to inCider, this magazine seemed to be having fun in the
various articles it presented, and attempted to capture a little of the
flavor of Softalk from the old days. Because of Quality's introduction of
AppleWorks 4.0 in the fall of 1993, the November/December issue was not
available until late in December (Kindall also was responsible for writing
the manual for that program); however, after this they worked hard at
returning to their correct bi-monthly schedule. At this time, II Alive is
the only glossy magazine that deals with both the 8-bit and 16-bit versions
of the Apple II.
Shareware Solutions II (1993-Present) Joe Kohn had been writing articles
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" and a regular column called
"Shareware Solutions" for inCider for quite a while, when the rug got
pulled out from under him by the demise of the magazine. He had taken
extra efforts to make disks available to readers who didn't have modems,
disks that contained some of the best available shareware and freeware
programs he could find. To continue in these efforts, in mid-1993 he
decided to begin a self-published newsletter called Shareware Solutions II.
He posted on GEnie that his newsletter would "take Apple II users on an
exciting journey into the future. Each month, I plan to write articles
about freeware/shareware (of course) and will continue to provide low cost
freeware/shareware disks to subscribers via the mail. There will also be
Apple II oriented reviews and articles that focus on low cost solutions to
common Apple II problems. There will be columns geared to novices and new
modem owners; techies, hackers, teens, senior citizens and educators alike
should find lots to interest them.... Subscribers will learn how to tame
their Apple II computer, and will learn what it will take to make their
Apple II a powerful computer solution well into the next century and
beyond.
"I believed it when Apple proclaimed 'Apple II Forever', and
Shareware Solutions II will help to make that more than just an empty
slogan!"<11>
Rather than to try to stick to a specific publishing schedule, Kohn
decided to sell his subscriptions on the basis of the number of issues,
rather than by the year. As his bi-monthly schedule fell behind at times
this plan turned out to be wise. And the content of his newsletter
reflected the extra care that could be taken when a deadline didn't have to
be rigidly adhered to; his first few issues have been excellent, including
some special offers of commercial software for readers. It is to be hoped
that Shareware Solutions II will be around for a long time.
Foreign Apple II Magazines The Apple II not only got press in the United
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" States, but has also been on the newsstands in
Europe in various forms, though most are no longer being published. One
that began as "Windfall" (later changing its name to "Apple User") was the
biggest magazine for some time. "Peeker" was published in Germany, and
carried articles similar to those found in Nibble. In the Netherlands
there are still a few hobbyist magazines that cater to the Apple II crowd,
including "Klokhuis" (which means "Apple-Core"), "Pro-2" and "Het
AppleDossier".<8>
In Britain there was at one time a magazine called "Orchard
Computing", published by a company named Argus Specialist Publications.
Some of the issues were primarily reprints from Nibble, but they also
accepted articles from local readers.<9>
[*][*][*]
NEXT INSTALLMENT: Telecommunications
""""""""""""""""
NOTES
"""""
<1> Disbrow, Steven. "Old Timers: Magazines", 1992 A2 CENTRAL SUMMER
CONFERENCE (tapes), July 1992.
<2> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Part 1", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Oct 1987.
<3> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Part 2", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Nov 1987.
<4> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Part 3", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Dec 1987.
<5> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Part 4", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Jan 1988.
<6> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Part V", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Feb 1988.
<7> -----. "The History of Softdisk: Conclusion", SOFT TALK (company
newsletter), Mar 1988.
<8> Crouzen, Alex. GEnie, A2 ROUNDTABLE, Oct 1991, Category 2, Topic
16.
<9> Alfter, Scott. GEnie, A2 ROUNDTABLE, Oct 1991, Category 2, Topic
16.
<10> Weyhrich, Steven. "But New Apple II Magazines Are Coming!", A2
NEWS DIGEST, Nov 1992.
<11> Weyhrich, Steven. "Joe Kohn Plans Shareware Newsletter", A2
NEWS DIGEST, May 1992.
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ /
/ Why is it that only drug dealers and computer dealers /
/ refer to their customers as "users"? /
/ /
//////////////////////////////////////////////// J.KOHN ////
[EOA]
[LOG]//////////////////////////////
LOG OFF /
/////////////////////////////////
GEnieLamp Information
"""""""""""""""""""""
o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnieLamp
o GEnieLamp STAFF: Who Are We?
GEnieLamp Information GEnieLamp is published on the 1st of every month
""""""""""""""""""""" on GEnie page 515. You can also find GEnieLamp on
the main menus in the following computing RoundTables.
RoundTable Keyword GEnie Page RoundTable Keyword GEnie Page
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
DigiPub DIGIPUB 1395 Atari ST ST 475
Macintosh MAC 605 IBM PC IBMPC 615
Apple II A2 645 Apple II Dev. A2PRO 530
Macintosh Dev. MACPRO 480 Geoworks GEOWORKS 1050
BBS BBS 610 CE Software CESOFTWARE 1005
Mini/Mainframe MAINFRAME 1145 Programming PROGRAMMING 1445
Data Comm. DATACOMM 1450 (Windows Coming Soon!)
GEnieLamp is also distributed on CrossNet, Internet, America Online,
Delphi and many public and commercial BBS systems worldwide.
o To reach GEnieLamp on Internet send mail to genielamp@genie.geis.com
OR jpeters@sosi.com
o Our Internet anonymous FTP address is: sosi.com. All current
versions of GEnieLamp are available in the ~/pub/GEnieLamp directory.
Due to the added expense involved, we ask that when you get GEnieLamp
via the anonymous ftp for GEnieLamp, that it _not_ be ftp'd during
the hours of 9AM and 5PM Eastern Standard Time. We appreciate your
cooperation in this matter.
o Current issues of all versions of GEnieLamp as well as back issues of
GEnieLamp IBM are File Requestable (FREQable) via FidoNet (Zones 1
through 6) from 1:128/51 and via OURNet (Zone 65) from 65:8130/3.
SysOps should use the following "magic names" to request the current
issue of the indicated GEnieLamp platform (FREQ FILES for names of
back issues of GEnieLamp IBM):
Platform Magic Name To Use
"""""""" """""""""""""""""
GEnieLamp IBM .................. GLIBM
GEnieLamp ST ................... GLST
GEnieLamp A2Pro ................ GLA2PRO
GEnieLamp Macintosh ............ GLMAC
GEnieLamp TX2 .................. GLTX2
GEnieLamp A2 ................... GLA2
o Back issues of GEnieLamp are available in the DigiPub RoundTable
Library #2 on page 1395. M1395;3
o GEnieLamp pays for articles submitted and published with online GEnie
credit time. Upload submissions in ASCII format to library #42 in
the DigiPub RoundTable on page 1395 (M1395;3) or Email it to
GENIELAMP. On Internet send it to: genielamp@genie.geis.com
o We welcome and respond to all E-Mail. To leave comments, suggestions
or just to say hi, you can contact us in the DigiPub RoundTable
(M1395) or send GE Mail to John Peters at [GENIELAMP] on page 200.
o If you would like to meet us "live" talk to us every Wednesday night
in the Digi*Pub Real-Time Conference, 9:00 EDT. M1395;2
o The Digital Publishing RoundTable is for people who are interested in
pursuing publication of their work electronically on GEnie or via
disk-based media. For those looking for online publications, the
DigiPub Software Libraries offer online magazines, newsletters,
short-stories, poetry and other various text oriented articles for
downloading to your computer. Also available are writers' tools and
'Hyper-utilties' for text presentation on most computer systems. In
the DigiPub Bulletin Board you can converse with people in the
digital publishing industry, meet editors from some of the top
electronic publications and get hints and tips on how to go about
publishing your own digital book. The DigiPub RoundTable is the
official online service for the Digital Publishing Association. To
get there type DIGIPUB or M1395 at any GEnie prompt.
>>> GEnieLamp STAFF <<<
"""""""""""""""""""""""
GEnieLamp o John Peters [GENIELAMP] Publisher/Editor
"""""""""
IBM o Bob Connors [DR.BOB] EDITOR
""" o David C. Leithauser [D.LEITHAUSER] HyperRead Editor
o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] IBM Staff Writer
o Tippy Martinez [WIN.LAMP] IBM Staff Writer
o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] IBM Staff Writer
o Don Lokke [D.LOKKE] Cartoonist
GEnieLamp o Tippy Martinez [WIN.LAMP] EDITOR
Windows o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] Windows Staff Writer
""""""" o John Osarczuk [J.OSARCZUK] Windows Staff Writer
MACINTOSH o Richard Vega
[GELAMP.MAC] EDITOR
""""""""" o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] Mac Staff Writer
o Bret Fledderjohn [FLEDDERJOHN] Mac Staff Writer
o Ricky J. Vega [GELAMP.MAC] Mac Staff Writer
ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [GENIELAMP.ST] ST EDITOR
"""""""" o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer
o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer
o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer
o Al Fasoldt [A.FASOLDT] ST Staff Writer
o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] ST Staff Writer
o Sandy Wolf [S.WOLF4] ST Staff Writer
ATARI ST/TX2 o Cliff Allen [C.ALLEN17] EDITOR/TX2
""""""""""""
ATARI [PR] o Bruce Faulkner [R.FAULKNER4] EDITOR/GEnieLamp [PR]
""""""""""
APPLE II o Doug Cuff [EDITOR.A2] EDITOR
"""""""" o Tara Dillinger [TARA] Co-Editor
o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] A2 Staff Writer
o Darrel Raines [D.RAINES] A2 Staff Writer
o Gina E. Saikin [A2.GENA] A2 Staff Writer
o Steve Weyhrich [S.WEYHRICH] A2 Staff Writer
o Charlie Hartley [C.HARTLEY3] A2 Staff Writer
A2Pro o Nate C. Trost [A2PRO.GELAMP] EDITOR
""""" o Tim Buchheim [T.BUCHHEIM] Co-Editor
ETC. o Jim Lubin [J.LUBIN] Add Aladdin/Scripts
"""" o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] Search-ME!
o Bruce Maples [B.MAPLES] Copy Editor
o Mike White [MWHITE] (oo) / DigiPub SysOp
o Susie Oviatt [SUSIE] ASCII Artist
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
Bulletin board messages are reprinted verbatim, and are included in
this publication with permission from GEnie and the source RoundTable.
GEnie, GEnieLamp Online Magazines, and T/TalkNet Online Publishing do
not guarantee the accuracy or suitability of any information included
herein. Opinions expressed are those of the individual, and do not
represent opinions of GEnie, GEnielamp Online Magazines, or T/TalkNet
Online Publishing.
Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the follow-
ing terms only. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted,
to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications.
All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and
author at the top of each article reprinted. Opinions present herein
are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect
those of the publisher or staff of GEnieLamp. We reserve the right to
edit all letters and copy. Please include the following at the end or
the beginning of all reprints:
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
(c) Copyright 1993 T/TalkNET Online Publishing and GEnie. To join
GEnie, set your modem to 2400 baud (or less) and half duplex (local
echo). Have the modem dial 1-800-638-8369. When you get a CONNECT
message, type HHH. At the U#= prompt, type: JOINGENIE and hit the
[return] key. When you get the prompt asking for the signup code, type
DSD524 and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your
information. Call (voice) 1-800-638-9636 for more information.
////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
[EOF]
