|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| || || ||| || || || || ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your || || || || ||| || || |||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnie Lamp Apple ][ || |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable || || || ||| ||| || || || |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE! || || || || || || || ||||| || || || || || ~ APPLE RELEASES NEW SYSTEM SOFTWARE! ~ ~ YOUR APPLE NEEDS A QUICKIE! ~ ~ IIGS MULTITASKING? YES! ~ ~ HOT FILES/HOT MESSAGES ~ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// GEnie Lamp Apple ][ ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol. 1, Issue 1 Publisher/Editor.......................................John Peters Co-Editor............................................Tom Schmitz GEnie Lamp ST ~ GEnie Lamp MAC ~ GEnie Lamp IBM ~ GEnie Lamp Apple ][ ////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ >>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE COMPUTER ROUNDTABLES ON GEnie? <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ April 1, 1992 ~ FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] Notes From The Editors. Is That A Letter For Me? HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM] FOCUS ON... ............. [FOC] Taxing Fun! Shareware, Freeware or ???? ONLINE FUNNIES .......... [FUN] HARDWARE VIEWPOINT ...... [HAR] CowTOONS! Your Apple ][ Needs a Quickie! HARDWARE VIEWPOINT ...... [HII] TELETALK ONLINE ......... [TEL] Don't Touch That Keyboard! Telecomm Power! HIDDEN TREASURES ........ [HID] SOFTVIEW ][ ............. [SOF] Computer Keyboarding. Making A Point. F.Y.I. .................. [FYI] PRINT ME! ............... [PRT] Alliance On GEnie. GEnie Lamp Template. LOG OFF ................. [LOG] GEnie Lamp Information. [IDX] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" READING GEnie Lamp GEnie Lamp has incorporated a unique indexing """""""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier. To utilize this system, load GEnie Lamp 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 GEnie Lamp, 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} [EOA] """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" /////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "There seems to be a potential problem with an Apple II stamp. / / The post office won't enshrine a person on a stamp until they / / are dead. If the same goes for machines, the Apple II can't / / be put on a stamp for a long, long time. :) " / //////////////////////////////////////////////// BYTEWORKS ///// [EOA] [FRM]////////////////////////////// FROM MY DESKTOP / ///////////////////////////////// Notes From The Editor """"""""""""""""""""" By John Peters [GENIELAMP] TOP OF THE PAGE Talk about changes! GEnie Lamp has divided into four """"""""""""""" separate issues. Along with the original Atari ST GEnie Lamp, we now offer the magazine for the IBM, Macintosh and Apple ][ RoundTables as well. From now on you will be able to find GEnie Lamp as an online readable file in each of the respective RoundTable's main menu. Better yet, access to the GEnie Lamp magazines is now available as part of your GEnie*Basic package! That is, when you capture GEnie Lamp from the RoundTable's main menu, the GEnie clock will be off. Cool! (Note that this applies _only_ to the version that is found on the ST RoundTable main menu, _not_ the libraries.) But wait, there's more! GEnie Lamp now has a new home. The GEnie Lamp RoundTable is located on page 515. Here, you will find all the latest issues and back issues of GEnie Lamp Online magazine. Although we have split into four issues, I think you'll find that very little has changed in terms of context. There are several new people on the GEnie Lamp staff and all of them are excited about bringing to you all the latest news, hot messages, latest files and information about your favorite RoundTable. If you like to hang out in the ST, IBM, Macintosh or Apple ][ RoundTable, there's something for you in GEnie Lamp! >>> ROUNDTABLE NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" NEW SHRINKIT IS FINALLY HERE! Can it be? Yes! Bugs in the old """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" versions of ShrinkIt have been found and obliterated. A new version of ShrinkIt is here for EVERY machine! Don't skip this one, the fix is an important one, so update your version right away! Download whichever of the following files is for your machine and unpack with your old version! 18064 IIPLUS21.BXY Apple ][+ UnShrinkIt v2.1 18062 AUTO11.BXY Auto-UnshrinkIt v1.1, big bug fix 18060 SHRINKIT34.BXY ShrinkIt 3.4 -- Big bug fix 18058 GSHK105.BXY New GS-ShrinkIt! Many bug fixes! GEnie APPLE II PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS If the Apple II Achievement """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Awards are the Oscars for the Apple II, here's your chance to be Siskel and/or Ebert! Are you dissatisfied in any way with the 1991 Apple II Achievement Awards? Do you want to get YOUR vote in? Well, then, check out Topic 9 of Category 5 in the A2 Bulletin Board, the GEnie Apple II People's Choice Awards, and make your own picks for the winners! Vote by March 30th! THE ONLINE LIBRARY Check out these excellent files recently uploaded """""""""""""""""" to our library! 18014 ASPHYXIA.3.BXY Great Freeware Apple II magazine! 18054 APPOINTS.BXY V1.1 Print out ProSel-16 appointments! 18011 EAMON.204.BXY One of the best text adventures ever 17999 NOISETRACKR.BXY V1.0 v1.0 of FTA's hot music program 17998 SENSEI.DOX.BXY English docs for Sensei in AWGS format 17976 PROSEL.BXY ProSel-16 version 8.71 17974 DEARC2E.BXY V2.01 Original Dearc2e, for un-ARCing files 17962 THE.DRAGON.BXY Nice shareware clone of Shanghai GS 17960 FLOORTILES.BXY Nifty new IIgs strategy game DESKTOP PUBLISHING If you're into desktop publishing, on Tuesday, """""""""""""""""" April 14 the DTP RoundTable will feature a question and answer session on scanning, using halftones and producing photography for print beginning at 9:30 PM EST. This is a discussion for anyone interested in going beyond type. April 7, the DTP RoundTable will be featuring a special conference on color publishing with Macintosh and PC compatible computers beginning at 9:30 PM EST. This discussion is also open to users of other publishing platforms that allow color publishing. The DTP RT bulletin board category 1 invites all members to tell us what they like most about using computers for printing and publishing. We're collecting opinions that will guide us in selecting the topics of future RTCs. -Timothy Piazza LAPTOPS ROUNDTABLE On April 7, Michael Fracisca, Vice President for """""""""""""""""" Marketing, Altima Systems will guest in Real Time Conference. Mike will talk about one of the leading notebooks, the Altima LSX, as well as new visions on the horizon, or here! Monday, 10:30 p.m. Eastern -Dave Thomas [*][*][*] Watch this area of the magazine in future issues for all the latest information and news from the Computing RoundTables. That's about it for this month.... Take care! John Peters [GENIELAMP] TOP OF THE PAGE II Well folks, welcome to the first issue of the """""""""""""""""" Apple II GEnie Lamp. Those of us who have been working on this are quite excited and eager to share our efforts with you. The most important aspect of GEnie Lamp is that it is _your_ online magazine. GEnie Lamp ][ is a monthly round-up of the RT's events and postings. As such, much of it will be taken right from your postings. Who knows? Chances are you will get quoted in an issue real soon. We are actively seeking your involvement too. Remember, every GEnie Lamp article published means free time in the A2 RT. And even if you do not need the free time, you will want to get involved to support the Apple II community you love... or just do it for the fun of it! Tom Schmitz [TOM.SCHMITZ] IT CAN'T WAIT! Wednesday, March 25, will be my last day as head sysop """""""""""""" of the Apple II RoundTables. On Thursday, March 26, I shall move east in GEnie to a new job--as manager of the Religion and Ethic RT (p.390). I want to publically thank everyone on the A2 and A2PRO staff for what has been four years of working pleasure. In particular, I bow in gratitude to Tom Weishaar, who gave me the room to do what I could to build the Apple II RoundTables into THE place to be for fun and solid information for Apple II computers. I also want to thank each of you who have visited A2 and A2PRO over the years. Many of you have become long-distance friends, and I value our relationships. Thanks to everyone for four good years. (A2.CHET, CAT2, TOP18, MSG:1/M645) [EOA]a [HEY]////////////////////////////// HEY MISTER POSTMAN / ///////////////////////////////// Is That A Letter For Me? """""""""""""""""""""""" By Tom Schmitz [T.SCHMITZ] o BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS. o WHAT'S NEW? o THE GRAPEVINE. o HOT TOPICS! o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT. >>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" [*] Category 5, Topic 2..........Confirmed News [*] Category 5, Topic 3..........Rumor mill and basic Apple chit-chat [*] Category 5, Topic 4..........Beagle Bros and new support policy [*] Category 5, Topic 6..........1991 Apple II Achievement Awards! [*] Category 5, Topic 7..........The Alliance International Inc. (AII) [*] Category 6, Topic 6..........Sensei, that martial arts game. [*] Category 6, Topic 8..........Your Money Matters [*] Category 9, Topic 6..........GS/OS 6.00 Questions & Comments [*] Category 11, Topic 10.........Recommended hard drives [*] Category 28, Topic 2..........Letters to the editors [*] Category 37, Topic 4..........Pointless-GS outline fonts (TrueType) >>> HOT! <<< """""""""""" NEW SYSTEM SOFTWARE/HYPERCARD RELEASED! """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" CUPERTINO, California--March 24, 1992--Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced new system software and an upgraded version of HyperCard IIGS for the Apple IIGS personal computer. Apple IIGS System 6 software offers an enhanced user interface, greater speed and performance, and data exchange capabilities not available on current Apple IIGS operating systems. HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 has been upgraded to include a Media Control stack for operating CD ROMs and videodisk players, and new HyperTalk scripting capabilities. "Apple IIGS System 6 encompasses the most robust and feature-rich system software offered since the introduction of the Apple IIGS in 1986, bringing Apple II customers much of the same ease-of-use and functionality now available on the System 7 Finder for the Macintosh," said John Santoro, Apple II product manager. "The extensive development of System 6 and HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 underline Apple's continuing support of the Apple II line." FEATURES & BENEFITS Apple IIGS System 6 features three new File """"""""""""""""""" System Translators that provide easy access to Macintosh disks, Pascal disks, Apple II DOS 3.3 disks. In addition, Apple IIGS System 6 offers users significant feature enhancements to control panel and desk accessory functionality, providing an enhanced new "look and feel" to the Apple IIGS. Control panels can be opened directly from the desktop and Find File and Calculator desk accessories have been incorporated. Finder Help on Apple IIGS System 6 can be accessed through pop-up menus and kept on screen while users step through procedures. Window handling and window appearance have also been enhanced, making it easier to move between and manage multiple windows on a single screen. Apple IIGS System 6 offers two new applications--Teach and Archiver. Teach is a desktop text processor that enables the user to jot down notes, read disk files and create formatted or unformatted text documents. Teach also provides file import capability from ASCII, AppleWorks version 3.0, AppleWorks GS, MacWrite version 5.0 formats and AppleWriter. Archiver offers flexible hard disk backup functions to save and restore either individual files or entire volumes. The Apple IIGS System 6 Media Control toolset is a new tool/driver/control panel/desk accessory combination that allows users to integrate, configure and manage highly sophisticated multimedia effects. The performance of this toolset is optimized when used in conjunction with HyperCard IIGS version 1.1. The Universal Access suite (also available on Macintosh System 7 software) opens the Apple IIGS to disabled users via Video Keyboard, Easy Access and Closeview programs, simplifying system use for the visually or physically impaired. As with the System 5 series, Apple IIGS System 6 users can network their Apple IIGS computers with each other and with Apple IIe, Macintosh and MS-DOS computers. However, System 6 improves networking functionality via EasyMount, a new feature which allows users to mount a network server with a simple double-click command. Apple IIGS System 6 replaces Apple IIGS System 5.0.4 for the stand-alone Apple IIGS, providing a consistent graphical interface and high performance for both the individual and networked user. SPEED & FEATURE ENHANCEMENTS HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 features a """""""""""""""""""""""""""" Media Control Stack for the control of external media devices such as Laserdisk players and CD- ROM drives from within the stack. Control is provided to the user through a common interface to two external devices by using standard "Play", "Fast Fwd", etc., buttons or floating control panels. A Tune Builder stack allows the user to create short original tunes by simply clicking the mouse on the stack's music staff. Notes can be played in variable time and with the voices of a large collection of instruments. These tunes can then be used as enhancements to other original stacks by cutting and pasting. HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 has incorporated features from Macintosh HyperCard version 2.0 and 2.1, such as HyperTalk extensions and X Windows. As with original HyperCard IIGS, version 1.1 is also in color. The Apple IIGS SuperDrive Controller card is also available for the enhanced Apple IIE and Apple IIGS, allowing users to utilize Apple's SuperDrive which permits the use of 1.4MB floppy disks. The SuperDrive card also operates all other Apple II 3.5 disk drives. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Stand-alone Apple IIGS System 6 software requires """"""""""""""""""" an Apple IIGS personal computer with at least 1MB of RAM, ROM version 01 or 03 and one 3.5-inch disk drive, although configurations of 2MB of RAM and a hard drive is recommended for optimal performance. Networked systems require Apple IIGS computers with at least 768K RAM, ROM version 01 or 03 and appropriate LocalTalk cables. HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 requires an Apple IIGS personal computer with 1.5MB RAM, one 800K disk drive and hard disk or connection to a networked environment, and system software 5.0.3 or subsequent version. PRICE & AVAILABILITY The Apple IIGS System 6 package includes six """""""""""""""""""" 3.5-inch disks containing system and set-up software and system tools, as well as the Apple IIGS System Software User's Guide. The package will be available in early April from authorized Apple dealers, Apple Educations Sales Consultants, and Resource Central, Inc. (913) 469-6502) for a suggested retail price of $39 in the United States. Apple is also making Apple IIGS System 6 software available from licensed user groups and licensed on-line services. HyperCard IIGS version 1.1 will be available in early April from authorized Apple Dealers and Resource Central, Inc. for a suggested retail price of $69. HyperCard IIGS 1.0 owners can purchase an upgrade to version 1.1 from Resource Central, Inc. MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:30 AM EST, TUESDAY, MARCH 24, 1992. Apple Press Releases Contact: PR Express Bill Keegan News Break Apple Computer, Inc. 3/24/92 (408) 974-5460 Apple, the Apple logo, HyperCard, Apple IIGS, HyperTalk, AppleTalk, Macintosh and LocalTalk are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. System 7, Finder, SuperDrive, and AppleWriter are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. AppleWorks is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., licensed to Claris Corporation. Claris MacWrite is a registered trademark of Claris Corporation. SYSTEM 6.0 NOW AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOADING! The Apple II RoundTable is """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" pleased to announce that System 6.0 is now available for downloading in the A2 libraries! To get in on this hot new operating system, which brings untold levels of power and flexibility to your IIgs, check out the following files in the A2 libraries (page 645, option #3): 18176 ABOUT.SYS6.TXT IMPORTANT info on System 6.0! Read! 18145 S6.SYSDISK.BXY Main SYSTEM DISK for IIgs System 6.0 18144 S6.SYNTHLAB.BXY SYNTHLAB disk for IIgs System 6.0 18143 S6.FONTS.BXY FONTS disk for IIgs System 6.0 18142 S6.TOOLS2.BXY SYSTEM TOOLS disk #2 for System 6.0 18141 S6.TOOLS1.BXY SYSTEM TOOLS disk #1 for System 6.0 18140 S6.INSTALL.BXY INSTALL disk for IIgs System 6.0 System 6.0 for the IIgs comes on six disks. It's a long download but well worth your time. But you don't have to download all six disks! But be sure to first check out file #18176, ABOUT.SYS6.TXT for more details on what you'll need to get this amazing new software for your IIgs. To find out more about the new System 6.0, or for help installing it, check out Category 8, Topic 9 of the A2 bulletin board! ENHANCED APPLE IIE AND IIC USERS ALSO BENEFIT FROM NEW SYSTEM SOFTWARE! If you don't have a IIgs, you're still in luck. The new versions of ProDOS 8 and Basic.System are also available now in the A2 library. They include a number of bug fixes and enhancements over previous versions. Probably the most exciting feature of the new PRODOS 8 version 2.01 is the ability to access more than two drive/devices per slot, something many Apple II users have been begging for for ages! ProDOS 8 version 2.01 requires an enhanced Apple IIe or IIc. It will not work on the un-enhanced IIe or the II+. Here are the files you'll need to access this new system software for 8-bit systems (it's included automatically with System 6.0 for the IIgs, so if you have a IIgs you don't need to download these): 18169 BASIC.1.5.BXY BASIC.SYSTEM version 1.5.1 18168 PRODOS.2.01.BXY ProDOS 8 version 2.01 THANKS, APPLE! Our thanks goes out to Apple Computer, Inc. for """""""""""""" providing these fantastic enhancements to the Apple II line and for allowing GEnie users to be among the first in the country to get them. -Dean Esmay >>> APPLE ][ ODDS & ENDS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""" GOING BUGGY! In the A2 RT, Category 9, Topic 5 an amusing off-topic """""""""""" discussion has arisen. I thought it would be fun to select a few of these messages and share them with you -- even though they have nothing to do with the Apple II: >>>>> I do remember the first computer VIRUS that I saw. On the 1401, """"" the program was kept as an object (machine language), self loading deck of punched cards. We wrote, in machine language (not assembly language), a one card program that would fill memory with "THE PHANTOM STRIKES AGAIN". That is what the programmer saw when he crashed and printed a memory dump. He would have to find the card in the object deck and remove the virus. #Ken Lessing >>>>> Wasn't the first bug a moth that got trapped in a relay, thus """"" killing the computer until they found the "bug", and coining #the term. #HangTime [Script-Central] B-)> >>>>> Actually, the term "bug" was in use in engineering for a long """"" time before the first computer bug was discovered. That's why they labeled the moth they found in the relays "first actual bug found" -- because it was the first glitch in the system that could literally be traced to an insect. #Jerry >>>>> I can probably out geezer most. I was at MIT when the first """"" timesharing system was developed and Dec systems were on racks in the Research Lab as we tried to put the first one ever together. The MIT/IBM story I remember is when they were trying to reach agreement on royalties for the development of "core" memory. At one time MIT turned down an offer from IBM of 1 cent per bit of core (I assume some people still k? ow what core was). MIT turned it down - and took a couple of 7094's and $7 million instead. If MIT had taken it, they would now own IBM. Later on, I actually worked on a project whose software development methodology was reviewed by Grace Hopper. I got to do a presentation to her. Talk about sweat! She was tough. But fair and very smart. Did anyone use mylar tape? We used that for archives (before Andy Nichols). About 5 years ago I was a consultant for a job a JPL. I studied network traffic in Europe. We discovered one Army network with strange characteristics. Further investigation showed that the network consisted of a large warehouse with many model 35 ASR teletypes with paper tape readers and punches. When a message came in it was punched on paper tape. An army corporal would then carry it from teletype to teletype to forward the message to other nodes. (was that you Gary?) The speed of a message depended on the relative positions of the teletypes!!! There was one anomaly in the speed characteristics - the owner of the building got the message first. - #Bill Mosier >>>>> I don't know about the first "bug", but I can relate a "bird" """"" story. When I was working at Continental Bank in Chicago, my analyst boss told me about when he worked for a super-secret military computer center - with IBM 1440 CPUs. The trouble was, that it didn't have air conditioning, so they made-do by leaving the windows open. This kept the machines cool, but it had an interesting side effect. It seemed that the _BIRDS_ liked the warmth, especially the pigeons. They would fly in and _roost_ on the cpu, dropping their you-know-what into the innards of the machines. (and you thought that YOU worked for a chicken-sh*t company!). After a while, the s**t dried out, and piled up. On the power supply. Eventually, it hit combustion temperature and the cpu caught on fire! The first thing they did was to call the fire department. Then they realized that the card decks contained super-secret data, so...they locked the door. They could not secure the cards, so they decided to destroy them. And the quickest way to destroy them was to throw them on the fire! They didn't let the fire department in until all the secret cards had been destroyed! This _is_ a true story! #Ken Lessing >>>>> Here's the entry on "bug" from _The New Hacker's Dictionary_, """"" edited by Eric S. Raymond: "Historical note: Some have said this term came from telephone company usage, in which 'bugs in a telephone cable' were blamed for noisy lines, but this appears to be an incorrect folk etymology. Admiral Grace Hopper (an early computing pioneer better known for inventing COBOL) liked to tell a story in which a technician solved a persistent glitch in the Harvard Mark II machine by pulling an actual insect out from between the contacts of one of its relays, and she subsequently promulgated bug in its hackish sense as a joke about the incident (though, as she was careful to admit, she was not there when it happened). For many years the logbook associated with the incident and the actual bug in question (a moth) sat in a display case at the Naval Surface Warfare Center. The entire story, with a picture of the logbook and the moth taped into it, is recorded in the _Annals of the History of Computing_, Vol. 3, No. 3 (July 1981), pp. 285-286. "The text of the log entry (from September 9, 1945), reads '1545 Relay 70 Panel F (moth) in relay. First actual case of bug being found'. This wording seems to establish that the term was already in use at the time in its current specific sense. Indeed, the use of bug to mean an industrial defect was already established in Edison's time, and bug in the sense of a disruptive event goes back to Shakespeare! In the first edition of Samuel Johnson's dictionary one meaning of bug is 'A frightful object; a walking spectre'; this is traced to 'bugbear', a Welsh term for a variety of mythological monster which (to complete the circle) has recently been reintroduced into the popular lexicon through fantasy role-playing games." Jeff >>> WHAT'S NEW? <<< """"""""""""""""""" IIGS MULTITASKING? Multitasking for the IIGS? What once was a foolish """""""""""""""""" dream for those suffering Mac envy has become reality. While it may take some time before any real applications are available, the operating environment is here today thanks to Procyon: >>>>> Procyon, Inc. announced today the release of the GNO """"" Multitasking Environment (or GNO/ME) for the Apple IIgs microcomputer. GNO/ME brings all the power of the Unix operating system to the IIgs for the first time. "GNO/ME is a programmer's dream," said Jawaid Bazyar, head of the project. "So many things are possible now that just weren't before." Jawaid is referring to GNO/ME's multitasking ability: many programs may be run simultaneously, either interactively with the user or in the background, where the program does it's processing (printing, compiling a program, searching files, etc) while allowing the user to seamlessly move on to other tasks. Another GNO/ME feature is multiple terminals; more than one person can use the same IIgs at a time. Such programs as multi-user BBS systems are now possible. Matt Gudermuth, President of Procyon Inc., tells about the company. "We founded Procyon to bring high-quality products to the badly neglected Apple IIgs market. It makes no sense that no one is developing for this machine which is still far from it's capabilities, and among all the PC brands in existence has the most loyal and supportive user base." "This is something we've all been waiting for for a long time", says Tim Meekins, the other principal programmer. "GNO gives me the ability to do things I only used to be able to do on the $10,000 workstations in the labs at school. When the IIgs was released, it was the most technologically advanced PC in the world. GNO brings the IIgs once again to the forefront of the home computer world." GNO comes with almost 40 utilities tailored specifically for the GNO environment, and also comes with the C and assembly _source code_ for these programs, to allow budding programmers to see how it's done. GNO also comes with a large library of Unix subroutines, to make porting Unix software to run on the IIgs easier than ever. The powerful libraries include curses and termcap flexible screen manipulation for any terminal type, and all the C library routines your IIgs C compiler forgot about! For those of you out there who like Unix, and don't want to spend the thousands of dollars needed for a Unix computer or even for Unix for DOS machines, GNO is an unbeatable value. The price for the GNO system (3 disks and full printed manuals) is $80 US plus shipping. Shipping is by USMail First Class ($3), or International Airmail ($5). GNO/ME can be ordered directly from the publisher: Procyon, Inc. 1005 N. Kingshighway, Suite 309 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (314) 334-7078 Mastercard and Visa accepted. February 17, 1992 (Cape Girardeau, MO) (press release by Mike Horwath) See A2PRO, Category 19 (Programming Shells) for more information on GNO/ME, including a feature by feature breakdown of the software. MONEY MATTERS For those who want to put their home finances in order """"""""""""" or those running a small business, Software Solutions has released Your Money Matters. As you can see in their media release, this may be the single most important piece of management software ever developed for the Apple IIGS. Normally business programs do not turn heads, but this one really shines. >>>>> I am happy to announce a new IIgs software package called Your """"" Money Matters. It is a complete home and small business financial package which is very fast, flexible and easy to use. Your Money Matters provides a wide range of features while at the same time keeping it as easy to use as possible by using the Apple Human Interface guidelines. A demo version of Your Money Matters (file #17966) has been uploaded into the A2 Library and should be available in a few days. If you prefer you can get a demo disk in the mail for $5.00 (check/money order). The demo version is complete except it will not let you save any changes you made to the file. Some highlights of Your Money Matters are: o The only full featured IIgs Financial Program. o The only financial program which will print on your own personal checks. You can move the fields of the check around by just clicking on it and dragging it wherever you would like. o Supports having as many windows open as you would like and you can move and resize almost all of the windows. o You can paste the results of a NDA calculator into any YMM field. o You can define up to 256 Tax Indicators, not just Yes/No o You can sort on up to twenty fields and specify which of the sort fields will generate subtotals (for reports). o You can specify and unlimited number of selection criteria on any of the fields used in the report/ window. o You can search across all accounts (i.e. all transactions in all checkbooks/savings accounts/etc which meet your selection criteria. o It has Online Help Screens for each menu item. o You can split a transaction up to 20 times. o You can enter recurring transactions with just a few keystrokes. o It comes with thirteen different reports and three graphs with many containing various additional options. o You can print to either individual checks or continuous form computer checks. o Your Money Matters has a payee file with payee names and addresses for automatic inclusion on your checks. o For each account you can enter account address, number, and description information. o For any account you can put in the original value and original purchase date and Your Money Matters will tell you what the annual rate of return is on this investment. o You can budget accounts weekly, biweekly, monthly, semi-monthly, bimonthly, annually, or semiannually and you can have the budget amount increase/decrease a set percentage and/or amount each budget period. o You can balance/reconcile any account including chargecards, loans, IRA, savings accounts, checkbooks, etc. o Your Money Matters keeps track of not only this years actual dollar amounts, but last years, and this years budget amounts. Your Money Matters is the only Apple IIgs financial program which provides you with all of the features and ease of use of Apple's User Interface. It allows you to have multiple windows open at one time, to resize your windows, and to select multiple records with the mouse and then copy or delete them. Your Money Matters contains many features which allow you to quickly track your finances as well as features which allow you to customize it to fit your specific situation. Your Money Matters is the only financial program which allows you to print checks on your own personal checks instead of the relatively expensive preprinted continuous form checks. With any NDA or CDA calculator which will paste the results into the clipboard (System 6.0 comes with a such a NDA calculator) you can even paste the results of the calculation directly into any field in Your Money Matters. Requirements/Limitations Your Money Matters requires a IIgs with at """""""""""""""""""""""" least 1 meg of memory and one 3.5 inch disk drive. It is compatible with and runs on any GS/OS (Prodos) hard disk drive. Your Money Matters is not copy protected. Transactions: 16,000 Accounts: 4,000 Tax Indicators: 255 Account Types: 255 Transaction Types: 255 Payee Addresses: 1,000 Recurring Transactions: 4,000 To Order Your Money Matters Send Check, Money Order, or VISA/MC number and expiration date to: Software Solutions 5516 Merritt Circle Edina, MN 55436 The list price of Your Money Matters is $99, but until April 15th 1992, Your Money Matters is just $69 plus $5 shipping and handling. If you send in the first page from another financial program or the original disk you can get Your Money Matters for just $59 plus $5 shipping and handling. In addition, while supplies last you will also receive a 3.5 inch disk full of useful and fun shareware and public domain GS games and utilities. Visa and MC orders will be filled and shipped by A2-Central. Guarantee If you are not completely satisfied with Your Money Matters """"""""" return it within 60 days in good condition for a no questions asked full refund of the purchase price (does not include shipping). >>> ...ON THE GRAPEVINE <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""" (Facts, Fiction & Maybe) HERE WE GO AGAIN Will Apple Inc. discontinue the II line? These """""""""""""""" rumors have been with the Apple II community for many years now. There are as many good reasons for Apple Inc. to drop the line as there are to maintain it and this balance has created an atmosphere where such rumors grow like tumors. Obviously, only the top brass at Apple Inc. knows for sure: >>>>> According to the latest 'Scarlett', Big Red Apple Club says that """"" Apple will announce on April 1st, (no fooling) that they are stopping the production and distribution of the entire Apple II product line. This is the reason that the Apple Expo East thing due to happen the first week of April was cancelled. I know, this is the latest in a long list of lets-kill-the-II dates, but sooner or later, it's going to be the real thing. Any rumblings? (P.JONES7, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:49/M645) >>>>> Personally, I think it is nonsense. Apple is still making money """"" off these things, and they are not going to STOP making them until they need the manufacturing capacity for something that is going to make them MORE money. No matter how much they might denigrate the II, Macs don't have a big enough profit margin that shutting down the II production lines to ship Macs out of them is cost effective. Gary R. Utter OffLine Productions (GARY.UTTER, CAT5, TOP3, MSG:68/M645) APPLE II HORROR STORY This is an RT member's account of his elusive """"""""""""""""""""" search for the Apple II. It is a horror story which is taking place all over the country and which can be found on many local BBS's. I wanted to share this one with you since it is so through and includes a response from Apple Inc: Here is a letter I sent to Apple Computer and their reply: [*][*][*] December 27, 1991 RE: Sales of Apple II Line and Apple dealers I have a question about the way your authorized Apple dealers are doing business. I have now spoken to five different Apple salesmen about information on and the purchasing of an Apple IIGS. Here is what they have said: EXPERIENCE #1 Salesman #1: "May I help you?" Me: "Yes, I'm interested """"""""""""" in buying an Apple IIGS, but I don't see one here in your store." Salesman #1: "Is this for a school or personal use?" Me: "Personal use." Salesman #1: "You know, the IIGS has a very short life. After next year, Apple is no longer making it." Me: "Is that a rumor, or a fact?" Salesman #1: "It's a fact. APPLE HAS NOT YET INFORMED THE GENERAL PUBLIC, BUT THEY HAVE LET DEALERS KNOW THAT LATE IN 1992, THE IIGS WILL NO LONGER BE MANUFACTURED. I'm sorry to tell you this, but it is the truth." Me: "Why is Apple discontinuing the IIGS?" Salesman #1: "Because Apple believes the Mac can do so much more in terms of high end software." Me: "But I'm not at all interested in a Mac - I'd have to buy all new software." Salesman #1: "Yes, that's what all the educators are telling us too. But we do have the Mac LC, which has a //e emulation card." Me: "I understand there are some problems with the emulation." Salesman #1: "Yes, especially with the system 7 software. That's why we sell it bundled with system 6 software, but Apple is working on a fix for it." At this point I walked over to the Mac LC, which had the //e card up and running, but I couldn't make it do much. It appears that it cannot use the Mac hard drive, there is no way of using //e interface cards (such as the //e scanner), it will not run IIGS software, and it is not up to the speed of my real //e which uses a ZIP chip. EXPERIENCE #2 Same store, a week later. """"""""""""" Me: "I'd like to look at an Apple IIGS, please." Salesman #2: "I'm sorry, we don't have one anymore. Perhaps there's one in for repair you could look at." Me: "I'd like to see a working IIGS." Salesman #2: "Oh, no, that wouldn't work. We would have to special order one if you really wanted one. We don't normally carry it." Me: "Why not?" Salesman #2: "It isn't selling well enough - that's why we don't have one to show to people." EXPERIENCE #3 A different authorized Apple reseller: """"""""""""" Salesman #3: "Apple II is no longer made." Me: "Which Apple II are you talking about?" Salesman #3: "Apple is no longer making ANY of the II line." Me: "Who told you that?" Salesman #3: "We know that because we are an authorized Apple dealer. We should know." EXPERIENCE #4 Same store, a different salesman: """"""""""""" Salesman #4: "Apple II is no longer manufactured." Me: "Is that a rumor, a way to sell Mac's, or what?" Salesman #4: "It's a fact." Me: "I don't believe it. Our school just bought a brand new Apple IIGS." Salesman #4: "Apple is selling from their stock. But they are no longer manufacturing the IIGS." Me: "Can you show me some documentation from Apple?" Salesman #4: "Well no, Apple has not come right out and said it, but we know the Apple II has been discontinued because none of the II's show up on the price list." At this point I asked to talk with the manager of the store, who told me the same thing. Asking for documentation, he phoned his manager and asked how they knew that Apple II's were no longer made. After the call he said, "Well, well, well. The Apple IIGS and the //e are still on the price list after all. But we feel that they will probably be discontinued next year." Is this how to sell Apple computers!!!??? I was ready to spend the money to buy a IIGS because I have used Apple for many years. I started on a II+, then purchased two //e's, which I use in my ministry, one at home, the other at the office. I'm interested in staying with the II family. I do not want a Mac. I would have to buy all new software as well as throw away my interface cards. A IIGS at the office would allow me to continue using what I have at home, as well as my software. But I can't find a dealer who will even show me one. And after talking with these five authorized Apple dealers who have told me that it is or soon will be no longer made, I'm not even sure if I want one anymore. Who wants to buy an orphan? So I've begun looking at IBM compatibles. Everyone else at the office uses IBM compatibles. I'm looking at a 16 MHz 386SX system made by BSR with a .28 dot pitch super VGA monitor, 40 MB HD, both 5 1/4" and 3 1/2" disk drives, 1 MB Ram, 101-key extended keyboard, for under $1300. (There are systems selling for a lot less, but they may be junk.) But I'd really like to stay with Apple. But not with the sort of trash the dealers are telling me. Or are they telling the truth? Can you tell me something to help me stay with Apple? Are you planning on discontinuing the Apple II line next year? I have heard a rumor from two people now (not Apple dealers) that you are working on a new II line computer - is this true? I would suggest that in order to stop the rumor mill, Apple come right out and say what you plan to do. Is the Apple II dead (dying within the year), or is there something new on the horizon? I'd appreciate an answer. Thanks. Sincerely, Terrell Smith APPLE RESPONDS """""""""""""" January 20, 1992 Dear Mr. Smith: Thank you for your recent questions about future plans for the Apple II product line. Apple will continue to sell, support, and service the Apple II product line as long as customer demand warrants it. We plan to continue to enhance the existing product line through updates to system software and peripheral add-ons and we fully expect Apple II computers to continue to serve our customers satisfactorily for many years to come. We are pleased to send you the enclosed The Apple II Guide, a comprehensive resource for Apple II products. Designed to help the millions of Apple II owners identify and locate Apple II support resources, this guide includes hardware and software information, answers to commonly-asked technical questions, and more. The Apple II computer will remain a viable and productive tool for years to come. We believe The Apple II Guide, and its future editions will serve as a valuable resource for you and other Apple II users. (The letter went on to give info on users groups, free 800 line for area support, and an invitation to use the Apple Customer Assistance Center line at 1-800-776-2333 between 6 am and 5 pm Pacific time.) Signed, Henry Sohn (Apple Customer Assistance) [*][*][*] So folks, that's the official word from Apple. It looks like their DEALERS need to hear it as well! Apple is NOT ready to close down the II line. Let's stop grousing and support the official Apple II Line "line", give any ignorant dealers in our area the word, and maybe things will pick up again for Apple. It's up to us. And by the way, The Apple II Guide from Apple is 231 pages. It contains a long letter from John Sculley about his support of Apple II, a history of the Apple II, and other information. -Terrell Smith >>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" Apple II RoundTable Category 5, Topic 7 Message 31 Tue Mar 24, 1992 BYTEWORKS at 12:56 EST Actually, the Apple II is still a pretty good market for us smaller publishers. The fact that Apple has stopped supporting the machine doesn't mean you've stopped using it -- or buying software. The big companies can't make enough money from GS products to make it worth while. (I hear MicroSoft would like to dump their Mac BASIC because it _only_ sells 1000 or so copies a month! I have fantasy dreams of sales like that. :) That makes the GS a great market for new or small niche market publishers. As for finding someone to release GS or Apple II programs that are no longer in print, that's being done. Beagle Bros. has done that with several programs, Big Red Apple has bought up a lot of stock, and I'm trying to find the current address for whoever owns Pecan's copyrights to swing a deal. All you have to do to keep a program in print -- assuming it's one that can still sell several hundred copies -- is find out who owns the copyright and which current Apple II publisher does that sort of program and make sure they know about each other. The Apple II isn't dead, and won't be for a long time. The kind of market has just changed -- a lot! :) Mike Westerfield P.S. We made more from the II in 1991 than in 1990, and more in 1990 than in 1989, etc. We expect to make more in 1992 than in 1991. We'll be here for a while, guys. :) [*][*][*] 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 GEnie Lamp 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 //// / "Hai, the word we shout when performing karate is "kiyai." / / It's supposed to frighten our opponents; but I've found / / that it's not nearly as effective as "ka gun" or "tire iron." / /////////////////////////////////////////////////// R.ARP1 //// [EOA] [HUM]////////////////////////////// HUMOR ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Tax Time! """"""""" Compiled by Terry Quinn [TQUINN] >>> COOK'N WITH TAXES <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""" ~ Chocolate Layer Cake 1040 ~ Line 1. Butter, a minimum of half a pound <8 oz.>, but not to exceed 1 pound . Line 2. Sugar, light brown or white, unless you or your spouse had a financial account in a foreign country in 1988, in which case dark brown sugar must be used. Do not substitute molasses or honey. Use 1 cup and adjust to taste. Line 3. Eggs, six or half a dozen, whichever is greater. Line 4. Semisweet chocolate, 6 oz. Nonfarm families may choose the optional method of using cocoa powder. If you elect the Cocoa Method, add 1/2 oz. <1 Tablespoon> of butter to each 3 table- spoons of cocoa. Multiply by .9897 per ounce of substitution. For adjustments to sugar, see p. 29. Add total to additional butter to Line 1 . Sugar adjustments should be reflected in final total of Line 2. For additional details on cocoa conversion, see Form 551. Line 6a. Flour, white. If you were a federal, state or local government employed, you may be eligible for an excess flour tax credit. Measure 2 cups, sifting is optional. Line 6b. Flour, whole wheat, 1 2/3 cups. Line 6c. Alternative mixture: 1 cup white flour plus 3/4 cup whole wheat flour. Line 7. Vanilla, 1 teaspoon. See Schedule ZE for reporting use of imitation vanilla flavoring. You may be able to deduct the cost of real vanilla extract in 1991 if you itemize deductions. Line 8. Salt, 1/3 teaspoon . If you are a head of household with dependents and were born during a leap year, you must add salt. Line 9. Baking powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons. Use of baking soda will result in a penalty. See form W-Q. Line 9a. Walnuts, 8 oz., chopped. You may be eligible to use pecans or almonds. See Part III of Schedule PE, Itemized Substitutions. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F <375 if altitude exceeds 5,500 feet>. Be sure that you have turned the oven on before you begin assembling the ingredients. In a bowl <2 quart capacity> cream butter and sugar for 3 minutes, or until well blended, whichever occurs first. Next incorporate eggs, one egg at a time, into creamed mixture. If the eggs are from a farm of which you are the sole owner, you may be eligible for a Fowl Credit. See Form 9871m "For the Birds". Add vanilla. In a double boiler, melt chocolate at low heat. If you are using the nonfarm Cocoa Method, disregard the preceding instruction and stir in flour from Line 6a, 6b, or 6c, add salt and baking powder. Add nuts, which should be chopped, regardless of type . Pour batter into greased and floured cake pans, which you should have prepared earlier. After removing cake pan , cool for 10 minutes <12 for 9x13 pan> and turn cake out on wire racks. When cake is completely cool, frost it. See Form 873 for details on appropriate frostings. Note: If you weigh 20 percent more than your ideal weight, ignore this recipe and complete Schedule F, "Fresh Fruit Desserts." (S.MEASE, CAT2, TOP14, MSG:313/MXXX) [EOA] [FOC]////////////////////////////// FOCUS ON... / ///////////////////////////////// Shareware, Freeware or ??? """""""""""""""""""""""""" By Richard Vega [R.VEGA] >>> SHAREWARE, FREEWARE OR? CONFUSED? <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" SO WHAT IS IT? In putting together the PD_Quickview article for the """""""""""""" first issue of the GEnie Lamp Mac I noticed that the application was shareware, not public domain. I then started to ask around to see how many people really knew the difference between them was. I even watch a news shows where the anchorman was using the wrong definitions. This article is going to attempt to address that, along with some of the other terms we use for the files found in the public libraries. The basic terms used for files are public domain, shareware, copyrighted and freeware. The first thing to understand about these terms is that they are not mutually exclusive. That will be explained more as I explain each one. If you are going to download files from a BBS then it is important to have at least a working knowledge of these terms. Please note that when I use the word file, I am talking about an application, graphic or anything that is the result of someone's work. In fact it doesn't even have to be computer related. PUBLIC DOMAIN The most common term used is public domain. Most people """"""""""""" believe that if you can share the file with your friend then it is in public domain. There was a time when this was true. It is not true now. Public domain means that the author gives up any rights to what happens to the file. It can be used, copied changed or treated in any way. It can even be included in a commercial product. This last point is important when we are talking about computer program code. The issue came to a head on the MS-DOS platform with the ARC compression format. To those who may not know, ARC on the MS-DOS machines is the standard for compressing files together for transferring over a modem. It is the equivalent to the Stuffit format on the Macintosh. What happen is that a company came out with a compatible PKARC program for sale. The author of the ARC code, which was freely distributed claimed that the ARC format was not public domain. Therefore even though anyone could get a copy of ARC, the author of PKARC could not use the code in the commercial program. The result of this disagreement is not as important as the basis for the disagreement. If the ARC code was in public domain the the author had no basis for his objection. The PKARC author could use the code in his commercial program. If the ARC program was not in public domain, even though it was free, then the PKARC author did not have the right to use it, or alter it, without first receiving permission from the ARC author. SHAREWARE The most common files found on public BBS systems are """"""""" shareware. This sprang up due to the fact that many users where complaining that software was becoming to expensive and the you could not return it if it did not live up to the claims made by the publishers. People wanted to be able to "try before you buy!" With shareware you can get a copy off a BBS or from a friend, try out the program for a while, and then decide if you want to pay for it or not. Sounds simple enough, doesn't it? Almost immediately people started to confuse shareware with public domain. It was understandable since up to that time anything found open to the public was public domain. Shareware authors have their hands full. They first have to make the public understand that the files they release as shareware may not be freely used, changed or altered. Second, they are trying to find a way to get people to pay the money asked for, if and when they decided to use the files. The results of the "shareware wars" have been interesting. Some have chosen to just place the files in public with clear messages about what they want. Others have released crippled versions of applications, or sample files. When you pay the "THE RESULTS OF THE 'SHAREWARE fee you then receive the full WARS' HAVE BEEN INTERESTING." working copies of the files with documentation. To date I am not sure what has been the result of any of these efforts. I have been in on many discussions that often become heated. The bottom line I see is many people don't understand that the author of shareware files have retained all rights to that file. We have seen some files move from shareware to becoming commercially packaged and distributed. Some have done very well for the authors on the dealers shelf. As shareware they didn't bring in a penny. The files' rights were always owned by the author. What changed was the way the author choose to distributed it. COPYRIGHTED Copyright for software hold the same rights, and same """""""""""" muddled clarity, that it does for any other area of creative work. Simply stated, any creative work is under the control of it's author unless legally given to another. What has caused confusion is twofold. First, in the beginning, computer programers worked mostly in a club atmosphere. Code and programing style was freely passed around. With the onset of the personal computer came the software marketplace and the need of protecting you code under the copyright laws. The concept of passing around code, ideas, programing style and even full working application has hung on, especially in schools and "hacker" user groups. The ethics of "a fair wage for fair labor" is slowly making it's way in the computer users circles. As computers become an everyday items in peoples houses the understanding of copyrighted software should become clearer. The other confusion lies in the fact that some software is free for the taking. This leads many to think that the author has given up the rights to the file (be it code, "THIS WAS CLEARLY SHOWN WHEN application or data). What needs APPLE DECIDED TO GIVE AWAY to be made clear is that the MACWRITE AND MACPAINT WITH author of any work has the right EACH MACINTOSH. THEN THEY to what happens to that work. DECIDED TO SELL IT SEPARATELY. That means the right to say if, MANY PEOPLE DISAGREED WITH when, where and how the creative THIS MOVE BUT IT WAS WITHIN work is distributed. If some is APPLE'S LEGAL RIGHTS. given freely away and then sold to others, it is within the copyright owners right to do that. The only action that removes that right is a legal written release of those rights. This was clearly shown when Apple decided to give away Macwrite and MacPaint with each Macintosh. Then they decided to sell it separately. Many people disagreed with this move but it was within Apple's legal rights. FREEWARE The newest term being used is Freeware. This term was coined """""""" in an attempt to clear up the confusion mentioned above. There are many files given away freely but still not in public domain. These files often come with restrictions about how they are to be distributed. Some are very specific about how they are _not_ to be distributed, such as through "pay per disk" shareware companies. The author doesn't want any money for their work and doesn't want anyone else making money from their work. As stated above, they have the right to make that limitation, even if we do not agree with them. When you get a copy of an application look for the copyright screen. This will tell you if the author is keeping the copyrights. If the screen _does not_ clearly place the file into the public domain then the rights are retained. Look also in any documentation files that come with the file. These often contain directions as to how the file may be shared. Be careful, for these sometime contain very restrictive directions. Many distribution rights are restricted to GEnie or other on-line BBS systems. SUMMARY Some people believe that the copyright laws are unclear about """"""" computer software and data. In some areas that many be true. In the world that most of us work and play, the copyright laws are very clear. Our rights to use and share any creative work, be it on the computer, on canvas or in any other form are limited by the copyright holder of that work (usually the creator). The copyright owner then has the responsibility to make those limits clear to us in a manner that we can understand. ///////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "Every once in a while, this topic really enters / / the Twilight Zone. " / //////////////////////////////// J.EIDSVOOG1 ///// [EOA] [FUN]////////////////////////////// ONLINE FUNNIES / ///////////////////////////////// CowTOONS! """"""""" By "Hawk" /\ __ / \ || (__) (__) \ / (_||_) SooS (oo) \/ (oo) /------S\/S /-------\/ /S /-------\/ / | || / | || / S / | || * ||----|| * ||----||___/ S * ||----|| ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ This cow belonged Ben Franklin owned Abe Lincoln's cow. to George Washington. this cow. [EOA]a [HAR]////////////////////////////// HARDWARE VIEWPOINT / ///////////////////////////////// Your Apple II Needs A Quickie """"""""""""""""""""""""""""" By Larry Faust [L.FAUST2] THE QUICKIE SCANNER The Quickie scanner by Vitesse promises to be one """"""""""""""""""" of the new products that can breathe new life into the Apple II. It is a hand-held half page black & white scanner with up to 400 dpi (dots per inch) resolution. Although I have mine installed on my IIgs, the Quickie will work just as well on the IIe, the II+, or the Laser 128. The scanner comes with a 6 foot cord, bootable GS/OS and ProDOS versions of it's software on both 3.5" and 5.25" disks, and an interface card. The installation "THE QUICKIE SCANNER BY VITESSE procedure is adequately PROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE NEW documented in the 46 page PRODUCTS THAT CAN BREATHE manual. Basically, installation NEW LIFE INTO THE APPLE II." takes less than 5 minutes and boils down to plugging the card in a slot, attaching the card's socket to the backplane of the computer and plugging the scanner into it. Although the manual claims that the card can be installed and operates "invisibly" in any slot, the short cable that goes from the socket to the card doesn't allow for placement in any other slots other than 1 or 2 on the GS. It also fails to give any alternative to the "short access hole" (next to slot 2 on the GS) into which the card's mini-DIN socket is fastened. Mine was occupied with my ProGrappler cable, and after thinking about the problem for a little while, I chose to move the ProGrappler cable and "modify" one of the removable plastic covers for the longer slots for it. The software is equally as simple as the normal installation. The GS/OS version comes with a run-time version of "Wings", another Vitesse product, which further simplifies the process, and presents the ever-familiar desktop interface. One particularly nice touch to the GS version is the inclusion of a condensed version of the program that can be installed as an New Desk Accessory (NDA) which can be invoked from within virtually any GS application. (Another documentation failure: the manual fails to point out that not only "Quickie.NDA" must be in the Desk.Accs folder, but the file "Quickie.Prefs" must be as well!). The choices on the pull down menus in the GS version (both stand-alone and NDA) have keyboard equivalents. However, the scanning options in the NDA version are limited as compared with those of the application itself. By contrast, the ProDOS version is simply menu driven. The real fun begins with the actual operation of the scanner. Once you set the appropriate method of scaling the grey tones, proper use of the Letter/Photo switch and the "THE REAL FUN BEGINS WITH THE contrast thumbwheel takes a bit ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE of practice (A minor complaint: SCANNER." the infinitely-adjustable thumb- wheel is positioned right where one's hand would grasp the unit for scanning, and therefore is very easy to move unintentionally). Scanning takes a steady movement of the scan head- the software constantly "clicks" as you move the head during a scan, letting you know when you're going too fast. My own experience with the scanner has led me to a somewhat surprising solution for getting consistently straight and smooth scans- use a "Rolling Ruler" held firmly against the top edge of the scan head. The ruler's "wheelbase" is wider than that of the scan head, and the straightedge provides an ideal method of making sure the material to be scanned is lined up correctly. Once you finish the scan, the scanned image is processed according to your settings and displayed on the screen. The processing time is dependent on your settings as well as the size of the scan itself. The "Save As..." command gives the user the option of saving the scan in either: o Screen Format (65 blocks long), o Paint Format (compressed), o Apple Preferred Format (compressed), o Print Shop GS format (a non-standard format used only for that program), o Hi-Res format (standard format used by Publish It!, among other programs), or o Double Hi-Res Format. The software is very forgiving if the scan does not turn just out the way you intended and you want to try again. Just discard the old scan, and scan again. Uses for the Quickie are only limited by your imagination. True, the scans are in greyscale, but they can be imported into and "colorized" with any paint program. Line "USES FOR THE QUICKIE ARE drawings, photographs and even ONLY LIMITED BY YOUR paintings can become clip-art IMAGINATION." for your desktop publishing applications or "slides" for your slide show presentations or even the bases for your own unique computer art. In summary, the Quickie scanner is simple to install in any Apple II, is nearly flawless in operation (with practice), and is a fast and easy way to add clip-art, photographs, and artwork to all of your Apple II applications. [EOA]a [HII]////////////////////////////// HARDWARE VIEWPOINT II / ///////////////////////////////// Don't Touch That Keyboard! """""""""""""""""""""""""" By Larry Faust [L.FAUST2] >>> DON'T TOUCH THAT KEYBOARD! <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" NEW LIFE FOR APPLE II In my article about the Quickie hand-held """"""""""""""""""""" scanner, I sang praises about how it could breathe new life into the Apple II. Well, folks, when the Quickie hand scanner is used in conjunction with Westcode's InWords OCR (optical character recognition) software, the Apple II not only gets new life breathed into it, but actually allows Apple users to tap the raw power that up until now was reserved for those, ahem, "sophisticated" machines. And it does so for a fraction of the cost!! Using InWords, virtually any printed information can be scanned and imported into: o a classic AppleWorks or Appleworks GS word processor document, spreadsheet, or database, o a BeagleWrite GS (MultiScribe GS) document, o a GraphicWriter III document, or o a text file for inclusion into HyperStudio (and theoretically, HyperCard GS) A user should even be able to "scan in" a program listing that has been published in a magazine, instead of typing it! This powerful program was written by our good friend, Alan Bird. Mr. Bird was responsible for a lot of the Beagle Bros AppleWorks enhancements. In this program, he hasn't forgotten his roots. InWords has the familiar AppleWorks filecard interface, and hence is extremely simple to use. It comes on non copy-protected, bootable 5.25" and 3.5" disks. The documentation is well-written and indexed. It even walks the user through several OCR sample sessions. InWords presents the user with THREE different ways to scan printed material: o Standard scan- used when the column of text is narrower than the scanner's head, o Merge scan- used when the column of text is wider than the scanner's head, as in a hardback book, and o Column scan- used when the are two or more columns of text, as in a newspaper or magazine. InWords comes with an extensive standard font table plus specific font tables for many popular magazines (I was gratified to see A2-Central and NAUG as two of the specific fonts recognized). Once the Letter switch on the scanner is set and a resolution of 300 dpi (dots per inch) is selected, the user is all set to scan down the page (portrait mode). Again, as when using the Quickie alone, there is the option of audio feedback to monitor the speed of your scan. After the scan, and Return is pressed, then the magic takes over. This is called the recognition process, and, yes, InWords actually analyzes your scan, compares it to the font table that you've selected, and quickly recognizes the text which it then deposits into an AppleWorks-like editor for proof-reading and correction by the user. All unrecognized characters are denoted by a user-definable character (the manual suggests one such as " ~ " which can be easily detected by a spell-checking program). Don't worry if InWords doesn't recognize some particular text because it's in a unique font. If the "Font training" option is selected, InWords will "step through" each of the scanned characters and ask the user to tell the program what letter or number that the character represents. As more characters are "defined", the process gets faster. The program gives the user the option of saving this information in a font table which can be saved and used again. The user is given the choice of THREE methods of saving the recognized text: o as a straight text or ASCII file, o as a text file with a placed after each line, or o as an AppleWorks word processor file. What you intend to do with the recognized text afterwards should govern how you save it to disk. For instance, if you want to import the recognized text to a AppleWorks database, it is important to save it with a after each line, as these will define the fields and records. Version 1.0 of the program (released in mid January, 1991) is the current version of InWords, and there are the inevitable but, in this case, relatively minor "undocumented features" or peculiarities to deal with. Four of the most egregious: 1) if you have a RAMdisk set up as part of your system's configuration, InWords doesn't like anything to be on it, 2) if the document you are trying to scan has any blank lines, such as signature lines, in it, InWords will not be able to recognize them and will crash, 3) the program tends to take all available memory (it shares this peculiarity with Classic AppleWorks pre-version 3), 4) InWords tends to confuse similar looking characters, such as "O" and "0", "l" and "1", and "S" and "5", 5) InWords doesn't allow for landscape scanning (scanning across the page instead of straight down it), and 6) Although InWords supports Quickie and other Apple II hand-held scanners, it doesn't support flatbed scanners. I have it on good authority that version 1.1, which should be shipping to registered users and available for sale by the time you read this, corrects ALL of these shortcomings, except landscape scanning an the flatbed scanner support. Despite these peculiarities, InWords allows the Apple user to become even more productive- productivity that, again, is only limited by the imagination- unleashing yet another part of the Apple II's power at a very reasonable cost. [EOA] [TEL]////////////////////////////// TELETALK ONLINE / ///////////////////////////////// Telecomm Power! """"""""""""""" By Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] >>> FLAT-RATE TELECOMMUNICATION <<< """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ A Landmark Event in the History of Human Communications ~ Throughout the history of human communications, there has always been a monetary fee associated with long distance communication. From the pony express to the U.S. mail to the telegraph to the telephone to the fax, every long distance communication medium has charged a "per unit" message fee. The underlying rule has been that the more you communicate, the more you pay. Enter flat-rate telecom. For the first time in the history of civilization, human beings are offered the opportunity to communicate long distance at a flat-rate. The upshot of this is that the MORE you communicate, the LESS you pay per message. Human beings are so accustomed to being charged "per-message" fees for long distance communication that they fail to fully appreciate the revolutionary nature of flat-rate telecom. Homo sapiens are creatures of habit, and the habit to keep long distance communication to a brief minimum is one that is hard to break. But take a minute to think about this. The United States Postal Service charges you a communication fee by the ounce. Your long distance phone carrier charges you by the minute. Western Union charges you by the word, for telegrams. But GEnie charges you a flat-rate --- by the month --- for unlimited usage. Not only that. Unlike other national information services, GEnie doesn't place a cap on how many e-mail messages you can send per month. At no time do you have to stop and consider, "AT NO TIME DO YOU HAVE TO "Gee, I wonder if I've exceeded STOP AND CONSIDER, 'GEE, I my 60 messages per month limit? WONDER IF IT IS WORTH MY I wonder if it is worth my MY WHILE TO SEND THIS NEXT while to send this next MESSAGE?'" message?" GEnie also goes beyond other information services by allowing lengthy text file uploads via GE Mail. (While GEnie does not explicitly state a size limit for text file uploads into the GE Mail editor, a recent test upload of a 25K text file received no complaints from the GE Mail editor.) Other information services limit text file uploads to 5K or less, per e-mail message. This effectively forces you to send larger files via other methods, rather than as e-mail. As we enter the Information Age, anthropologists have come to appreciate that communication lies at the very core of our social structure. It's no exaggeration to say that civilization as a whole advances in direct proportion to the quantity and quality of communication taking place. Businesses grow through communication. Children learn through communication. Social fabric is formed through communication between human beings. When the per-unit fee for long distance communication is kept to a bare bones monthly minimum, society as a whole becomes the ultimate beneficiary. When people freely exchange ideas, society as a whole moves forward. The full significance of flat-rate telecom becomes apparent when you consider it as a better bargain than even flat-rate local phone service. Just as nobody thinks twice about picking up the phone to call a local friend, in time nobody will think twice about making the best use of flat-rate telecom. True, e-mail does not offer the equivalent communication experience as a real-time phone conversation. But e-mail does offer two distinct advantages over phone communication: 1) It is non-disruptive, and, 2) It is easy to "publish" or "broadcast" a message by courtesy copying two, four, eight, or twenty-eight other persons. Whatever advances in communication occur in the next 50 to 100 years, historians will look back on the early 1990's as being a pivotal turning point in the history of human communications. Those were the first days that the human animal communicated long distance without having to pay a per-message fee. You don't have to be Johann Gutenberg to realize the full significance of this development. And the doorways it opens up. [*][*][*] Phil Shapiro (The author is the founder of Balloons Software, a new Apple II educational software company. Phil Shapiro is a resident of Washington D.C., uses GEMail to communicate with friends and business colleagues in Honolulu, Hawaii; British Columbia, Canada; and Moscow (via Finland). He can be reached at 5201 Chevy Chase Parkway, NW, Washington, DC 20015-1747. Or via electronic mail on GEnie: P.Shapiro1 ////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ///// / "It's very nice to be able to ask some esoteric question / / like the TONE structure for a touchtone phone... and get / / TWO detailed postings!!!! Thanks for sharing the info!!!" / //////////////////////////////////////////// RHFACTOR ///// [EOA] [HID]////////////////////////////// HIDDEN TREASURES / ///////////////////////////////// Computer Keyboarding """""""""""""""""""" By Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] Program Name : Computer Keyboarding Filename : TYPING.INST.BXY Library Area : 51 Program Number : 17526 File Size : 117376 Program Type : Typing Tutorial Author : Charles Hartley [C.HARTLEY3] Version Reviewed: File Type : Freeware [*][*][*] >>> HIDDEN TREASURES <<< """""""""""""""""""""""" ~ The "Computer Keyboarding" Freeware Disk ~ Every once in a while a program is uploaded to the Apple II Round- Table library that has all the polish and refinement of a commercial software program. Two months "EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE A ago Charles Hartley, a middle PROGRAM IS UPLOADED TO THE school computer teacher from APPLE II ROUNDTABLE LIBRARY Kentucky, uploaded a disk he THAT HAS ALL THE POLISH AND made called "Computer REFINEMENT OF A COMMERCIAL Keyboarding." If you missed SOFTWARE PROGRAM." seeing the freeware notice on the opening screen, you could easily mistake this program for being a commercially produced product. Computer Keyboarding is a touch typing tutor that thoroughly and carefully drills you on touch typing skills. The program takes you right from the beginning, even giving you a short lesson in proper body posture and hand-positioning. Beyond that, the program keeps careful track of your progress, so that you can easily pick up where you last left off. Best of all, Computer Keyboarding runs on any 64K Apple II, and does not require an 80 column card. (Presumably, therefore, it could be used on a 64K Apple II+ or an unenhanced, 64K Apple IIe.) Naturally, it should also run fine on any Apple IIc, IIGS, IIc+, and Laser 128 series computer. Before describing this program any further, let me quote from the documentation that comes along with the disk, describing the author's motivation for making it: "I wrote this program because I could not find a decent and afford- able typing instruction program that taught typing the way I thought it should be taught. This program is unique in that it puts greater emphasis on accuracy, not speed. Other programs that I have seen or used seem to have a fixation with speed. The program is highly structured in the sense that users must attain a degree of mastery with one set of keys before they proceed with the next set. At the same time there is a degree of flexibility built into it. Users who have difficulty with a set of lines are presented with the same set again and/or are presented additional lines to type. Also, users have the opportunity to practice lessons a second time voluntarily if they wish." When I took this program out for a test drive I was happy to see that the author included three cute little typing games. But the only way to get to these games is to progress methodically through the lessons. Should you wish to download and use this program, here are some tips and suggestions: The name of the shrunk file is: "Typing.Inst.BXY". You can down- load it to either a 5.25 or 3.5 inch disk. The program itself is quite large, and therefore needs to be unpacked to two 5.25 or one 3.5 inch disk. Instructions for unpacking to two 5.25 inch disks is contained in the AppleWorks file titled: "Read.Me.First". First you format the two 5.25 disks using the given volume names. Then you can unpack the shrunk files to the two disks by following the given directions. As with most downloadable programs, the final step is to copy ProDOS and BASIC.SYSTEM onto your bootup disk. But before you boot this disk, WAIT! Make a backup copy first. Put the original aside. Because after you register your name to the disk, the disk will not allow someone else to register under a different name. The whole idea is that each person gets their own typing disk, where the program keeps careful track of your progress. Since the software is freeware, there is no reason why you can't easily make ten, twenty, or as many copies of the disk as you need. But if you register your name on the disk before making the copy, you'll have to go through the whole unshrinking procedure to produce a virgin "unregistered" disk. One final note: the documentation in the "Read.Me.First" file is contained in an AppleWorks 3.0 word processing file. Even if you don't own AppleWorks 3.0, you can still display this file on your screen by using the "Type" command on ShrinkIt. You may want to take some written notes if you plan on unshrinking the file to two 5.25 inch floppies. If you're an adult who is still doing the "hunt-and-peck" routine, now you have no excuse for not learning to type with ten fingers. If you know of any teenagers who have some spare time this coming summer, learning to type with Computer Keyboarding could be one of the best uses they could make of their free time. Charles Hartley, the talented programmer who made Computer Key- boarding, invested months of work in producing this disk. The fact that he is willing to share this program as freeware is a testament to his generous and caring spirit. We are fortunate to have such a creative, sharing soul as an active members of the GEnie Apple II community. [EOA] [SOF]////////////////////////////// SOFTVIEW ][ / ///////////////////////////////// Making A Point """""""""""""" By "Rainy" [L.WILSON6] >>> A USER'S REVIEW OF POINTLESS <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ~ by WestCode Software ~ I'll try to hold the Pointless jokes to a minimum. TrueType for the Apple IIGS is the name of the game here, and Pointless is an excellent rendition of it. This program begs for your abuse. You can store fonts in any online drive, load and unload available fonts from the control panel, and read Macintosh TrueType fonts directly from a Mac formatted disk. (Reading Mac disks will be allowed with the arrival of GS/OS 6.00) Alan Bird knew what we needed, and gave it to us in spades. Pointless works invisibly, on screen and out the printer. In short, this is good stuff: 1) Smaller system size for those with a lot of font sizes -- a TrueType font family can be a lot smaller than the bit mapped equivalent; bitmapped Courier font in 8 sizes (9,10,12,14,18,20,24,28) takes 61K and prints jagged characters in the larger point sizes. Courier bold adds another 63K for a 124K total. If you use a printer driver that reduces larger point sizes for higher quality (The Imagewriter II uses 2 times the screen font, Imagewriter LQ uses 3 times the screen font, Deskjet uses 4 times the screen font) you'll have used a lot of disk space for fonts. TrueType Courier, with bold , takes 113K, and prints smoothly at all sizes. And the TrueType fonts will load from any online disk -- not just the boot volume. 2) Better print for most printers -- Pointless generates the correct size when asked by your printer driver, so you always have that larger font size to reduce for smoother print. 3) Better screen print -- I haven't noticed THAT much difference on the screen, except I can now read the font used in the AWGS communications module. The online talk is that many people do notice 4) The manual is quite good. 5) It's from WestCode, home of Inwords digital scanning software. These guys deserve our support! Bad Stuff! """""""""" 1) Eats system RAM if you are not careful -- Generating fonts is so painless, you will not notice them piling up. At 4 megs I can play pretty hard. But with five or six fonts in three sizes on the screen, I better not try to print. Pointless will generate bit maps for each of font and point size that are 4 times the screen size when Harmonie asks it to. I will run out of memory. I had the same problem before, with the bitmapped fonts, but Pointless is so much fun, it happens more often. 2) Time for font generation may be a factor -- With a ZipGS 10 mhz, 64K cache, font generation time is always less than 5 seconds. But I am impatient, so I load some bit mapped fonts. 3) Genie bills will go up -- As you download more fonts (the cost of improvement) or you brag about the improved output, or some obscure font. All in all, It's Pointless to use TruType fonts on the GS! So What? """""""" 1) You need this program if you have Harmonie or Independence, and a high quality printer. 2) LaserWriters are a special problem, and this won't help. You don't need this if you have a "basic" system, unless you like to play with fonts. Note: If you use a Mac, Metamorphisis will convert most any PostScript type1 font to TrueType, then use Stuffit (not Deluxe) and transfer to a Prodos disk with APFE, unShrinkit it with the GS, and you have a new font for your GS. Send abuse to: L.Wilson6 Post accolades and discussion in A2 Cat 37 Topic 4, WestCode's support category [EOA] [FYI]////////////////////////////// F.Y.I. / ///////////////////////////////// Alliance International On GEnie """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ON GEnie New on the marketing side of the """"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" Apple II world is the Alliance International Inc. In its simplest form, the AII is a national Apple II user group, determined to bring the lonely Apple II user into the interactive Apple II community. But AII plans on doing much more. The following two posts can be found in AII's new topic, Category 5, Topic 7. The first explains the formation of AII and the groups goals. The second tells about AII's current status. >>> WHAT IS THE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL INC. (AII)? <<< """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" The Alliance came about as a result of discussions between a group of Apple II developers, users and Apple engineers on America Online's "Across The Boards" area. One of the developers/users involved in those discussions, John Majka, of Louisville, KY, decided to form a "support group" for the Apple II based on the premise that since Apple Computer, Inc. apparently is not going to support Apple II owners, Apple II owners should get together and support each other. In late 1991, AII was incorporated in the state of Kentucky. It is currently a "for-profit" corporation because a "non-profit" company is somewhat more complicated to set up and there are complex state and federal laws about tracking donations, costs, reporting, etc. So it is simpler and cheaper to go "for-profit", at least for a while. The mission of The Alliance is to promote and advance the use of the Apple II computer in home, business, education and other markets. We intend to accomplish that mission by... 1. Notifying Apple II users through national media (newspapers, radio, TV) that they can get support for their computer from The Alliance. 2. Providing an "800" support number. 3. Offering a subscription to a quarterly publication which lists available Apple II software, hardware and services and where to purchase it or find it. 4. Encouraging existing developers of Apple II software to continue development. 5. Encouraging developers of software for other computers (Borland, Aston-Tate, Lotus, etc.) for home and small businesses to develop software for the Apple II. 6. Talking to, lobbying, pressuring Apple Computer, Inc. to devote more resources to the Apple II line. In order to accomplish these goals we are asking individuals and Users Groups to become members of the Alliance. The dues for individuals are $20 and for Users Groups, $50. Your membership will tell us that YOU want the Apple II to live and grow. It will tells us, and the developers that you want more software and hardware. It will tell us if we are right or if Apple Computer, Inc. is right, that Apple II users don't care, and that we are just whistling in the grave yard of the Apple II. It will let us know if we are wasting our time, efforts and money or not. If you decide to support us in supporting the Apple II, please send your $20 or $50 check and any ideas and suggestions you may have to: THE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED P.O. Box 20756 Louisville, KY 40250. For more information about the Alliance's activities and goals, please continue to read the messages in this topic. We invite any questions, comments or discussion of the Alliance's goals and purposes. The Alliance International Incorporated P.O. Box 20756 Louisville, Kentucky 40250 (502) 491-6828 Contact: John R. Majka (502) 491-6828 MORE ALLIANCE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 16, 1992 """"""""""""" THE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL INC. REACHES INITIAL MEMBERSHIP TARGET, WILL BEGIN APPLE II PROMOTIONS The Alliance International Incorporated announced today that it has reached its initial target of 150 paid members. Alliance officials say this early success means that The AII will soon be able to begin actively promoting the Apple II computer through advertisements in national magazines or newspapers. The ads will be aimed at current Apple II owners who do not belong to a local users' group or subscribe to Apple II publications. The advertising campaign also will target new computer buyers with the message that an Apple II computer is still an excellent buy in the current computer market. The Alliance, incorporated in October, 1991, is an organization of Apple II users and software developers who want to promote the Apple II computer. Although such promotional activity would normally be done by the computer's manufacturer, Apple Computer Inc.'s marketing efforts have been focused almost exclusively on its Macintosh line of computers in recent years, resulting in a significant decline in consumer awareness of the Apple II. The Alliance is not affiliated in any way with Apple Computer Inc. In January, 1992, The Alliance's board of directors had established a minimum target of acquiring 150 dues-paying members ($20 per year for individual memberships, $50 for user group membership) by April 1, 1992. The board believed that achieving this goal would show that there is sufficient user support for the goals of The Alliance. The fact that the goal was reached two weeks ahead of schedule is especially encouraging. As support for the Alliance continues to grow, convincing software developers to stay with the Apple II and to create new products for it should become easier. Another goal of The Alliance is to provide greater support for current Apple II owners by increasing the number of programs available for the computer. The AII intends to accomplish this goal by encouraging current Apple II software developers to write new programs and by persuading IBM PC and Macintosh software developers to "port" or re-write current applications to run on the Apple IIe and Apple IIGS. "If Lotus 1-2-3 could run on a 40 kilobyte IBM PC, then it could easily run on a 1 megabyte Apple IIe," said John Majka, secretary of The Alliance. "And there is a great deal of similarity between the operating system and tools of the Macintosh computer and the Apple IIGS computer. If a program runs well on a Macintosh, re-writing it for the Apple IIGS would be very simple. By opening up the Apple II market, software developers could increase their sales and profits." APPLE ALLIANCE THOUGHTS Allow me to post my own thoughts on the """"""""""""""""""""""" Alliance and its goals. I speak here as a member of the Alliance (I sent my $20 check last week), a friend of John Majka's (he's in my local Apple users' group) and a longtime and still-committed Apple II user. I opened this topic because John asked me -- and I agreed -- to serve as the unofficial GEnie representative for AII. I support the Alliance for the same reasons that I supported an effort that began more than a year ago here on GEnie. For those of you who followed that discussion, there was an attempt to accumulate enough money to place an Apple II ad (or series of ads) in inCider or some other national publication. As I recall, nearly 100 GEnie subscribers pledged money to the cause, but in the end the person who had agreed to lead the effort abandoned it for lack of time. It was evident then that any such effort would engender, at the least, a fair amount of dissension. Everyone seemed to have his or her own idea about what the ad should say and where it should be placed and why we should adopt one strategy over another. The Alliance undoubtedly will face the same problems. Lots of us would like to support the Apple II in some way or another, but we want to do it OUR way. We would all love to see Apple Inc. step up and actually try to persuade people to BUY the computer they make (and software developers to write programs for it), but we also all know that that just isn't going to happen. So what are our choices? We can gripe a lot at users group meetings or in BBS messages; we can send poison pen letters to John Sculley, or we can join the Alliance and try to pool our resources to create an effective, organized voice of support for the Apple II. The Alliance may not be the organization that YOU would have created, or you may not agree with all of its goals or strategies, but it is the ONLY group I know of that is actively working to create a national (indeed, international) coalition to support and promote the Apple II. Its long-term goals include advertising the Apple II in national magazines and newspapers, encouraging developers to write or port software for the Apple II and, in general, increasing consumer awareness of the Apple II. If you agree with these goals (and especially if you were willing to pledge to the earlier effort here on GEnie) I hope you will support the Alliance by sending your $20 membership fee to the address listed in previous messages in this topic. If you have ideas, suggestions, comments for AII, or disagreements or whatever, please post them here (or send me e-mail) and I will pass them on to John and the other Alliance directors. --Dan (via TCXpress) (D.CRUTCHER, CAT5, TOP7, MSG:8/M645) ALLIANCE RESPONDS (D.CRUTCHER: John Majka asked me to post the """"""""""""""""" following response to previous messages in this topic: First, all comments and criticisms and advice are well taken. Some of us have said many of the same things. We are NOT thin-skinned. If you don't agree, fire away! We don't claim to know everything nor have a corner on the good idea market. The Stamp Well, its worth a shot! The worse they can do is say "No" """"""""" and we're no worse off than before. If we get it, it's great publicity for a great computer. Support One of the biggest, if not the biggest gripes I've heard from """"""" users is that there isn't enough software for the Apple II. We aim to change that. The Alliance is trying to support existing Apple II users! One way is that we're encouraging current Apple II developers, publishers, etc. to stay with the Apple II or, if they've left, to come back. Another way is that we are going to try to get Mac & MS-DOS software people into the Apple II market. Both mean more products and support for the Apple II and it's users. Marketing The Apple II is a great computer but the world doesn't know """"""""" about it. It's time it did! That's why we're trying to advertise it. Then, maybe, people will stop saying that the II is technologically obsolete or a kid's toy and say nice things about it. That will encourage Apple II users and developers. It may also bring in new computer sales. Remember that Apple said that they would support the II as long as people wanted to buy it. If new users aren't buying, Apple will drop it. So new sales are as important as existing users. We will NOT be advertising in Apple II publications. That's preaching to the choir! That's also the responsibility of companies that make and sell Apple II stuff. If we're selling anything, it's the computer and the Apple II Dream that seems to have died at Apple Computer Inc. Just a few of the mags we're putting ads in are National Review, New Woman, Sports Afield, Inc. Magazine and Nation's Business. Our ads will start out small but as The Alliance grows, so will the ads and our effectiveness. We probably won't be advertising in other computer mags either. That's preaching to the devil! The readers already have their computer and are not about to toss it out. (Although, an IBM PC clone user here in Louisville recently got his hands on a IIGS. His PC clone is now for sale. Any offers?) Coming out of the closet As for pulling the Apple II out of the """""""""""""""""""""""" closet, if that's what they have, then we'll encourage them to do so. In addition to my IIGS, I still have and use a II+! It's even connected to my HP LaserJet IIP. The Alliance has also received letters with membership checks from a number of Apple II+ owners. One was a lawyer who still uses Applewriter and is very happy. If the user is happy and it meets his needs, fine and dandy. If not, maybe we can convince him to upgrade to an Apple IIGS instead of a clone. Education We've not forgotten the educational wing even though most """"""""" software and hardware sales are not to educational institutions. (A recent, non-scientific survey of a few Apple II developers showed that less than 5% of their sales went to the education market.) One of our members is writing up his experiences in helping a local school make their Apple IIs more effective. When finished, we plan on giving it to educational computing magazines and member user groups as an article or series of articles depending on the length. Another member already has written a couple of books on the subject and is writing another. We are going to see if we can sell them. T-Shirt Thanks to A2 Sysops for putting The AII on your mailing list. """"""" We appreciate it and especially appreciate the article mentioning The Alliance. If the topic of my article was not suitable, well, I can't be perfect all the time and can't please everybody. But if it was my writing style, let me know and I'll change or get somebody to do it better. Of course, you're free to edit it too. The T-Shirt was done before but it might be worthwhile to do again. My idea is a picture of an Apple II on the front of the T-shirt with the words "One more time: This is your brain." On the back, a picture of an MS-DOS computer with the words, "This is your brain on drugs. Any questions?" We could sell the T-shirt and use the funds for additional activities. One person wrote in and suggested jewelry like a tie tack or pin. Good idea though, contests are always good at generating publicity. That's why radio stations use them so much. Let's get these ads rolling first. If you're in the business of supporting the Apple II, expect to be getting a letter in the next week to 10 days. If you haven't received it by April, 15th (TAX DAY), let us know. We're going to need something to send to the people who respond to our ads. We think brochures of Apple II software & hardware are perfect to let them know that the II hasn't been abandoned! We've been up to our eye balls with processing new memberships, getting advertising info, developing the ads, figuring out where to put them, getting developers & publishers & others involved and getting info for the National Apple II Day at the Mall and answering questions. Then there's KansasFest and Boston Applefest coming up. Once this stuff is out of the way, we can concentrate on other things. Joining I can understand reluctance to join on the part of Apple II """"""" users. One fellow sent in a membership check and said that he'd put an article about The AII in his user group newsletter if we were still around in 30 days. There have been a number of ad hoc campaigns that just petered out. I assure you that this one won't! We know that we have to prove it to you and we will! Besides, have I ever lied to you before? :) We've been officially around since October 22, 1991, the incorporation date. That's more than 30 days right there! It's taken a while for word to spread and get stuff in the Apple II magazines because of publishing schedules. But we're in here for the long haul. I'm of 100% Polish blood. There seems to be something about Poles that doesn't let them give up. Face it, any country whose national anthem begins "Poland isn't lost while we are still alive..." is going to produce fighters. As far as The AII is concerned, "The Apple II isn't lost while we are still alive." We may still lose the fight but there will be a fight! -John Majka (D.CRUTCHER, CAT5, TOP7, MSG:34/M645) [EOA] [PRT]////////////////////////////// PRINT ME! / ///////////////////////////////// GEnie Lamp Template """"""""""""""""""" PRINT ME! Are you a new member on GEnie? If so, this GEnie Lamp """"""""" template can come in handy when exploring the Computing RoundTables. To make your GEnie Lamp template, "clip" the following chart and print it on your printer, cut to size, then tape it to a heavy piece of paper or thin cardboard. ~ cut here ~ ______________________________________________________________________________ GEnie Lamp Template M515 """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" - Bye, logoff the system. ommand - Toggles command/menu mode eedback - Send FEEDBACK to GE elp - Help ocate m - Locate member m ove xxx - Move to Page xxx ove xxx;y - Move to Page xxx;y otify m n - Send a notice n to member m otify - Toggle No Notify

revious - Move to Previous Page ssword - Change your password one - Information on GEnie access #s rt - Display the Port Number ead - Read your new mail end - Send a new letter ime - Print the current time and date .............................................................................. ~ Fold Here ~ ______________________________________________________________________________ ~ Cut Here ~ ////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE //// / "Well, years later when we look back into our lives from the / / future and ask ourselves "What is the most memorable thing / / that you've done?". I believe most of us will say "I bought / / an Apple //". / //////////////////////////////////////////////////// Ryan //// [EOA] [LOG]////////////////////////////// LOG OFF / ///////////////////////////////// GEnie Lamp Information """""""""""""""""""""" o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnie Lamp o GENIE LAMP STAFF: Who Are We? o CONTRIBUTORS: This Issue GEnie LAMP GEnie Lamp is monthly online magazine published in the """""""""" GEnie Lamp RoundTable on page 515. You can also find GEnie Lamp in the ST (475), the Macintosh (605), the IBM (615) and Apple II (645) RoundTables. If you would like to ask a question, leave a comment or just drop in and say hi. You can contact us at the following addresses: o John F. Peters [GENIELAMP] Publisher/Editor o Kent Fillmore [DRACO] GEnie Product Manager U.S. MAIL """"""""" GEnie Lamp Online Magazine % John Peters 5102 Galley Rd. #115/B Colorado Springs, CO 80915 GEnie LAMP STAFF """""""""""""""" ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] ST Editor """""""" o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] ST TX2 Editor o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] GEnie LAMP[PR] Editor o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer o Terry Quinn [TQUINN] ST Staff Writer o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer IBM o Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] IBM Editor """ o Mark Quinn [M.QUINN3] IBM Co-Editor o Mark Dodge [M.DODGE2] Staff Writer MACINTOSH o James Flanagan [J.FLANAGAN4] MAC Editor """"""""" o Richard Vega [R.VEGA] MAC Co-Editor o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] MAC Staff Writer APPLE II o Tom Schmitz [TOM.SCHMITZ] AII Editor """""""" o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] AII Co-Editor GEnie LAMP CONTRIBUTORS """"""""""""""""""""""" o Alan Weston [A.WESTON] o John Cram [J.CRAM2] o Robert Wolf [AIR.WOLF] o Gann Matsuda [G.MATSUDA] o Larry Faust [L.FAUST2] o Lorraine Wilson [L.WILSON6] \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and include the issue number and author at the top of each article reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to registered computer user groups and not for profit publications. Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or staff of GEnie Lamp. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy. Material published in this edition may be reprinted only with the following notice intact: \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// (c) Copyright 1992 T/TalkNET OnLine Publishing, GEnie, and the GEnie Computing RoundTables. To sign up for GEnie service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH. Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99368,GENIE and hit RETURN. The system will then prompt you for your information. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\//////////////////////////////////// [EOF]a "" anything in time (other than a seek to read the code), and reliability of the code is greater. Reduced Dev