Vol 3, #1
The time has come
by Al Martin
For the past three years or so, Apple IIe, IIc and GS owners have put
up empty promises from Apple, Inc. We have seen our beloved computers relegated
to the dark corners of the retailers; we have endured the ignominy of an
advertising campaign that simultaneously elevated the Macintosh and suppressed
the Apple II line; we have witnessed the departure of talented developers
who can longer work under the bazaar conditions imposed by Apple, Inc.;
we have been deceived and have had tons of disinformation dumped upon us
in an attempt to keep us quiet and passive. No more! Many of us are mad
as hell and we're going to do something about it.
It's time to dump Sculley. He's the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman
of the Board of Apple, Inc. and the man solely responsible for the current
state of affairs. Time and time again he's promised support for the Apple
II and time and time again we see no results, only continued submergence.
He publicly blames the sour track record of Apple, Inc.'s profits on the
consumers rather than where it belongs, within his policy of not giving
the consumers what they want (See the Wall Street Journal, 19 Jan. '90,
Section B). His love of the Macintosh, at least the high priced ones, and
fear of the competition from the II line, much less expensive and potentially
very powerful, have dictated a corporate policy that looks like restraint
of trade in drag.
What I can't understand the short-term vision of the stockholders. Immediate
profits are desirable, but the rape and ruin attitude of 19th century business
robber barons just will not do today. It's the long run that counts and
dumping such a profitable line as the Apple II is just plain stupid, crazy
and nuts. Attempting to "force" Apple II owners to give up their
machines in favor of the Macintosh just will not work. We are an independent
and stubborn lot who know a good machine when we use one. Angry Apple II
owners will not jump to the Mac; they will either keep their Apple II or,
after retiring several thousands of dollars worth of hard- and software,
go out and buy an IBM clone. "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice,
shame on me."
There is absolutely no legitimate reason why Apple, Inc. cannot maintain
two or more competitive lines of computers just as General Motors does in
the automobile business. In case Sculley hasn't noticed, GM has been around
a bit longer than Apple, Inc. As was pointed out so succinctly on the Apple
Echo of Feb. 9th, "If it wasn't for the 'old' technology Apple ][ line,
the Mac wouldn't exist."
The Wall St. article details the results of Sculley's policies and his
excuses. He flatly stated that "We don't know how long it (the PC industry)
will last." Of course not if you are actively out there trying to spike
the sale of low cost entry-level machines that can be upgraded almost without
limit. Also, "...Apple (Sculley) said its performance was hurt by weak
demand for its lowest-priced computers and its inability to build enough
of its new portable Macintosh." Weak demand?! Of course the demand
is weak when you advertise, if ever, that the II line is for elementary
school students and the dealers bait and switch you to the Macs. And, what
about this not enough Mac portables nonsense? Later in the article, "Sales
of Apple's first portable, introduced last fall, have been disappointing."
Whaaat? "Inability to build enough" and "disappointing sales"?
Another oxymoron, John. Mr. Sculley is trying to have it both ways in his
boundless search for excuses. Perhaps he should take a hard look at the
Mac portable and realize that it's dog, a large, heavy, shaggy dog. The
luggable Lisa. Again, more of the marketing strategy of "Ready, Fire,
Aim!" I fear that Mr. Sculley has made his own data base and now he
must lie in it for he has surely stepped in it.
The latest actions by dear John suggest that the captain is willing to
go down with the ship but only after he has fed a few officers to the sharks.
It's a good old American business and political tradition to fix the blame
when something goes wrong. Just look how Nixon fed his cronies to the sharks
during the Watergate fiasco.
The latest, but surely not the last, scapegoat to meet this ignominious
end is our dear "friend," Jean-Louis "Loose Lips Louie"
Gassee, according to an article printed in the Feb. 8, '90 edition of The
(Portland) Oregonian. Now this is not all that bad. Gassee was a real pain
and one of the most abrasive spokesman ever to hit the American corporate
scene. (See the AppleFest '89 edition of The Road Apple.) Many of us will
miss him like a bad habit.
However, in the context of "better a devil known than a devil unknown,"
we have the promotion of replacement Michael ("hard-nosed") Spindler
as Chief Operating Officer. According to the same article, this is expected
to "...heighten uneasiness within employee ranks and could stall critical
product-development [sic] efforts..." Sigh.
What's in store for Apple's Product Development Department? Who knows?
I suppose we're in for more "Know-Knothing Knavigator" stuff or
an "entry-level" color Mac for $5,000+.
The point is that Apple, Inc. has got to get back on track and return
to its original philosophy of being a consumer driven company. Apple, Inc.
must listen to its customers and respond positively and truthfully. It must
find leaders who are in tune with reality. Sure, let them play around with
super gee-whiz stuff, but, for crying out loud, keep the Apple II cash cow
alive.
We Apple II owners have, for the most part, been passive and quiet. There
was a brouhaha at the A-2 Developers' Conference last July that resulted
in ripping a new rectal opening in the collective Apple, Inc. body by shredding
the Apple, Inc. reps during their presentation of, "Wow! Just look
at what we have done for you lately." From that came a couple of meetings
between the developers and Apple, Inc. types during the late summer and
early fall and the shotgun wedding at AppleFest, '89 in San Fran. Actually,
I think the honeymoon was over before the ink was dry.
The fall gal was Apple, Inc. employee Nancy Stark, who was designated
as the collector of all of what was wrong with the Apple II development
and marketing and was supposed to relay the needs to the very top of the
corporation for positive action. The result so far? Not a single advertisement
anywhere for any Apple II computers during the month of January, 1990. This
is in no way a criticism of Nancy; she has the unenviable task of somehow
bringing the angry, frustrated and weary Apple II owners and prospective
owners face-to-face with entrenched Apple, Inc. execs who have a track record
of active resistance to the II line and its improvements.
And, I agree with the conventional wisdom that flooding her with hate
mail or "... trite complaints and incomplete suggestions ..."
is picking on her unnecessarily. Send her some good ideas for technical
and marketing improvements, obvious though they may be. Let her do her job.
What needs to happen is to open up a two-pronged offensive. The new Apple
II Developers' Association is continuing its meetings with Apple, Inc. this
month and the quiet negotiations need to continue inside. Meanwhile, as
we have seen in Eastern Europe and other locations, the ordinary folks need
to take to the streets in organized protest. All this pent-up energy and
frustration can and should be channeled into an organized effort of action.
All this predicated on the contunued lack of support for the Apple II
from Sculley. If, for instance he comes out within the next three months
with a strong position of support for our computers, then we support him.
If the support from Sculley does not happen or is vaporware or short-lived,
then we begin the campaign for replacement.
Dana Carlton, (805) 496-6292, in California has been in contact with
similarly enraged Apple II owners around the country. He has suggested that
a center, called The Core, be established for coordination of effort and
has proposed the following:
-Write newspaper articles coordinated through user groups promoting the
advantages of the Apple II line.
-Activate the User Group Information Network with 800 numbers, BBS, fax
machines and modems.
-User groups support retailers and mail order companies that provide Apple
II products.
-User groups boycott retailers and mail order companies that only advertise
the Mac and not the Apple II line.
-At every user group meeting, spend the first 30 minutes writing letters
promoting the Apple II line and request more hardware and software development;
the target would be that each person write five short notes to five companies.
-Target Apple, Inc. employees who report negative comments about the Apple
II line and encourage their departure.
-Enlist the assistance of attorneys who would be willing to carry this cause
to some adjudication.
-Boycott and protest trade magazines repeating unfounded rumors about the
demise of the Apple II line; encourage advertisers to withdraw ads.
-Get to Apple, Inc. stockholders who are favorable to the Apple II line
and line up proxies to (1) vote out execs who are killing the line, (2)
increase the advertising budget for the Apple II line and (3) improve product
development for the Apple II.
-Encourage Mac user groups to join with us for what is happening to us is
also happening to them with the planned demise of the Mac+ and SE.
What are the specific improvements Dana and other Apple II users want?
-An active ad campaign like Commodore's of last December promoting the Apple
II as a reasonably priced computer that can do most anything.
-Integrate the Apple II with the Macintosh.
-Upgrade the Apple II to 12-40 mHz, a 32-bit processor and bus with a minimum
of 640 x 400 resolution, scanner, laser writer and business software.
-Color hypercard GS software and an improved GS/OS.
-Connect the Apple II with the MS-DOS world a la Macintosh.
-Advertising support for Apple II magazines like inCider/A+.
-Find something else for Sculley to do.
Wait and see? Docile and passive? Hope and pray? No sir! Enough is enough
and it's time to take action. Remember, so far from Apple, Inc. we've gotten
nothing and that's what we have to lose by taking action.
Vaporware dept.
by Al Martin
***There is absolutely no truth to the "'ROM 04' rumor," a new
GS that was currently being tested at beta sites. Several people researched
such sites nation-wide and came up zilch even though it was reported in
a recent trade magazine.
***The March, '90 inCider/A+, delivered to me on Feb. 9th, featured an ad
from TimeWorks that upgrades from Publish It! 2.0 to 3.0 could be ordered.
I called and found that, yes, you could order it, but it won't be shipped
until "sometime in March, maybe."
***Those of you who made or are making plans for the '90 AppleFest in Boston
can scrub that one. AppleFest, as such, is dead. Instead you can hot-foot
it over to Somerset, New Jersey (New Jersey!), May 4-6 and attend ComputerFest
in the Garden State Convention Center sponsored by Exposition Management,
Inc. The Apple section will be part of a larger display of competing equipment.
As far as I can tell, Apple, Inc. and few top enhancement developers have
no plans to attend.
Some of the old AppleFest faces are still with Exposition Management
like Mike Dodge and Vidar Jorgensen. For details, call Exposition Management
at 1-800-262-FEST.
***Is IBM planning a low-end unit that will run Apple II software? Possible,
according to a Jan. 15th article in InfoWorld. We'll see.
***And, where, oh where, is the long-promised Flight Simulator GS from Sub
Logic? Reps have been mumbling about this for nearly three years now. C'mon,
guys, we've been in the holding pattern long enough.
And we thought WE had problems...
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
A friend of mine who programs professionally got a job doing some database
work for a guy with Macs in his office.
To make sure they had the most current thing going, my friend got a new
Mac IIci. He had a few problems at first, and then he had a whole slew of
them. It turns out the System 6.02 it uses simply has fits with some different
programs. Such as:
Microsoft Works - Won't run.
Broderbund copy protected disks - Won't run.
Accolade protected disks - Won't run.
MacinTalk - Won't run, or keeps crashing.
Some CDEVs such as MacFish - Won't run.
Manx Aztec C, his tool of the trade - Won't run.
A few other problems: Since you can't slow down the speed, some games
are useless. But, hey, this isn't a game machine, now is it? StuffIt, the
BLU of the Mac world, can't seem to work consistently; the compiling speed
on this machine was virtually identical to the SE-30 had traded in for this.
Then why not keep it? After compiling, the object files wouldn't run.
After all the noise about maintaining compatibility within the Mac line,
Apple, Inc. seems to have messed up not only themselves, but a group of
users. High paying users, nonetheless.
It was mentioned that at the developers' meeting at the West Coast AppleFest,
not a person in sight among all the developers would switch from the II
line to Macintosh. Here's a statement by Tom VanDerPool, who wasn't in attendance,
but mirrored the message in a posting on the Apple Echo on Fidonet:
"If ever I do 'get out of the Apple business', as in owning them,
I will certainly NOT go with another of the Apple brand computers. If they
can desert me once, why not twice (or more if you let them)?"
Seems the trend is starting already. First we were stratified as Apples
and serious computers, now even the serious computers are being forced into
a class structure.
The Road Apple goes international
by Al Martin
During at 18-day computer business trip to the Soviet Union, I added
computer whiz Vladimir Fedorov to The Road Apple company of crazies. You'll
find his address and phone numbers in the masthead. Vladimir will handle
all Road Apple business in the Soviet Union and will contribute articles.
By the way, if you call the Soviet Union, be prepared to spend about $2.00
per minute of connect time and the call can be cut off at any moment without
warning.
The Road Apple in the Soviet Union
by Al Martin
On January 1st, I left the comfort of my home and the convenience of
the United States for my first visit to the Soviet Union. My hosts were
Vladimir Fedorov and the International Computer Club. For 18 days I was
shepherded through a good portion of LeninLand --- Moscow, Tashkent and
Samarkand. Did I enjoy it? You betcha. Would I go back? In a second, but
not in the winter again if I could help it.
The purpose of my visit was to see the Soviet version of the Apple II,
meet the locals, make some contacts, learn about the country and do a bit
of sightseeing. Mission accomplished in spades.
The Apple IIe clone, developed by the Bulgarians and assembled by the
Soviets, is more than alive and well in the USSR. The machine, called the
Pravetz 8C, is put together in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from parts imported
from Bulgaria and sent off in lots of 10 to schools in the USSR. I had the
opportunity to see the operation all the way from separate parts, to software
development, to actual student use. For the complete story, read my article
and pictures to be published in the May, 1990 issue of inCider/A+. It's
quite a story.
I.C.C. conference
The International Computer Club is planning a huge computer forum at
the Moscow World Trade Center, June 14-17. Companies from a number of countries
including the U.S. have made commitments to attend. This could be a great
opportunity for those of you who are interested in the expanding Soviet
market and perhaps take advantage of the rapid and dramatic changes happening
in the Soviet Union. I think the opportunities for computer business in
both directions are limitless.
Since travel arrangements to the Soviet Union are complicated, I urge
you to make your plans as soon as possible.
Contact: 101813 USSR, Moscow Center, Proyezd, 4, International Computer
Club, tel.: 011-7-095 (country and city prefix from the U.S.) 921-09-02,
telex: 411630, fax: (15:00-05:00, GMT) 011-7-095-921-09-02 or AreaNove Soluzioni
Informatiche S.r.l., Sede-C.so Concordia, 16-20129 Milano, Italy, tel.:
02/798988-791471, fax: 02/6555144.
If you are planning your first trip to the Soviet Union for business
or pleasure or both, you might want to profit from my hard-learned experiences.
I have written a 6-page hints and tips sheet for Soviet travel. This report
can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary expenses and hours of frustration.
The cost is $3.00, U.S. funds, delivered in North America or $4.00, U.S.
funds, delivered overseas. Send your request and a check or money order
drawn on U.S. funds to: Al Martin, The Road Apple, 1121 NE 177th, Suite
B, Portland, OR 97230, USA. Ask for Soviet Union Trip Sheet.
A-2 Central rides again
In a phone conversation with Tom Weishaar on Feb. 2nd, he confirmed that
there will indeed be another A-2 Central Developers' Conference in Kansas
City. No firm dates yet, but look for it sometime in July. The Road Apple
plans to be there as does Vladimir Fedorov from the Soviet Union. This should
be a dandy.
Senior Editor braves the wild Northwest
by Al Martin
Road Apple Senior Editor Dennis McClain-Furmanski, a.k.a. "The Head
Techie," arrived in Portland, OR, on Wednesday, Jan. 31 aboard a storm
delayed Eastern Airline flight from Atlanta via Seattle. This was his second
visit to the Land of Constant Rain (RainLand) and, except for a sudden surge
in the generators of Bonneville Dam resulting in a brief strange and brilliant
light in the sky, he began to rust like the rest of us Oregon residents.
We did have some brief respites from the rain when it snowed. However, his
evaluation of Oregon was mostly positive, despite the efforts of the Chamber
of Non-Commerce, a division of the Department of Redundancy Department.
Dennis took the time to educate (a losing effort) The Road Apple publisher
in the finer points of ModemMessing and I have logged on to two, count 'em,
two local boards that carry Apple Echo. I also took the plunge and signed
up for GEnie, the retirement program for Tom "Uncle DOS" Weishaar.
By my best estimates, I have managed to spend something closely approximating
the National Debt and received a message telling me that my koala needs
more loving attention and that 1990 has more or less 365 days in it. Ain't
technology great (grate)? Anyhow, The Road Apple can be yelled at via the
phone lines; reach out and bash us.
We did some of the tourist things like visiting a small section of the
Oregon coast --- Lincoln City, Depoe Bay and Newport. Newport is really
wild this time of year. You can spend hours watching the traffic light change
from stripes, to plaid to polka-dots or study the psychological effects
of the concept of sea level or listen to the chorus of sea lions expressing
their territoriality on temporarily abandoned sports fishing boat docks.
I did introduce Dennis to the gastronomic specialty of the Oregon coast:
Moe's clam chowder, a rich, traditional bowl of delectability done in the
New England style and served with garlic toast that stays with you for days
and days.
I also drug him up the Columbia River Scenic Highway to Crown Point and
the impressive vista it affords. We continued to Multnomah Falls, over 600
feet in height, and on up to Cascade Locks, the location of the fabled Bridge
of the Gods, for a great meal topped off with a generous wedge of pecan
pie at the Char-Burger restaurant, an institution and landmark for knowledgeable
folks.
I declined to take him to Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood since we have
been having record snowfalls, 14 feet in as many days, and I felt not like
chaining up my Chevy and battling the hoards of skiers and fellow travelers
who infest this historic structure at the 6,000 level. Besides, Timberline
is best visited in the summer when the brief visitor can do so many things
without freezing to death.
Dennis left for home on the morning of February 7th during a snow storm
sufficient enough to close some of the schools in the area and giving me
a welcome day off to jot down some notes, pester some friends and generally
"kick back."
Mr. McClain-Furmanski is an excellent guest of quiet habits and limited
appetite. He does, however, relish coffee heavily laced with milk and sugar
at all hours and in vast quantities, a habit which is well ahead of others
I could think of. The Road Apple purchased several tons of beans which were
brewed non-stop. We ran out only twice.
It was a real pleasure to have him as a guest and I look forward to his
return in the very near future. I am very proud to add his name to my most
prized list, that of my friends.
GEOStuff
by John Hicks
Geos, or Graphic Environment Operating System, has been around for the
Apple II family for about two years now. It has undergone quite a few changes,
the most prominent being the removal of copy protection which makes the
2.1 version (on Geopublish boot disks) at least four times as fast as the
2.0 version.
I will hit on the main programs and what they can and can't do. GeoWrite
2.1, this is a WYSIWYG word processor with features such as point and click
menus, import graphics into your document using the Photomanager, 12 different
fonts and 7 Typeface styles. The one problem with GeoWrite is you cannot
import it's files into other word processors such as AppleWorks. All Geos
files must run under their own system (Geoload.System). There is a Text
Grabber that will import AppleWorks and other popular word processors into
Geos. Be warned though, if you'rer using AppleWorks 3.0, the Text Grabber
will put ??? in where you have set your paragraph indents. So you're better
off to make the changes after importing your documents. However, the Text
Grabber does work quite well with all 2.0 versions and below of AppleWorks.
GeoPaint is a full featured paint program that will make a artist out
of you (with practice), it includes the ability to save your masterpieces
to the photo manager (a flip through album) and has the same fonts and styles
that GeoWrite has. It is in Double HiRes and has no colors, one of the downfalls.
With the System Merge Utility, you can move documents from GeoWrite or from
the Text Manager (kind of like a permanent clipboard) into GeoPaint and
add some personal touches to your documents. I am waiting for the next version
of GeoWrite to come out and hope it will include the color option. Other
than those minor downfalls, GeoPaint is a good paint program with all the
tools you need to become a real artist.
GeoPublish is a full featured publisher with more goodies than I have
room to write about. Import graphics from Newsroom, Dazzledraw, Print Shop,
Printmaster. Stretch, squeeze and anything you like, because it's as easy
as clicking the mouse button. Another feature I like it the ability to smooth
out a graphic and also large lettering; when you stretch an object you can
choose "smoothing" from the import menu and GeoPublish will smooth
out all those rough lines and print them out just as they appear on the
screen. The one thing Geopublish does not have in the tool box is an eraser.
This can cause problems, as you will have to delete the addition in whole,
such as a circle that you only want a section of. If it's too big or small,
you can just click on the corner button and change the size or the pattern,
but if you want to take out just a piece of your graphic, it isn't possible.
GeoPublish is only limited to your imagination and your ability to learn
the manuals (there are 4 of them). After a little practice, you'll be printing
out newsletters like a mad man. The disk also comes with a demo program,
I suggest you watch these and they are self running so no work is involved
(that's what computers are for right?).
Berkeley Softworks recommends that you use a ram card to make running
Geos Applications much faster. You can load the programs onto your ram card
by using a ram driver that shows up on the desktop. You just double click
on the Application and dump it on the ram drive icon. So if your local Apple
club has a copy for rent, check it out and I am sure you'll enjoy what you
see.
The Dialogue Box
Computer(Apple)Fest
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Where have all the Apples gone? It seems the orchard is being overrun
by the clones.
AppleFest has been the traditional show and gathering for Apple, it's
third party developers, and loyal customers for many years now. But it seems
things are changing. For better or worse remains to be seen, and is the
subject of our dialogue in this article.
Starting with the upcoming show in May, AppleFest will be held in conjunction
with a larger show, called ComputerFest. The show's organizer, previously
Cambridge Marketing, now called Exposition Management, has put together
a show designed as follows:
May 4th through 6th, at the Garden State Convention Center, Somerset,
NJ. The main floor will be divided into all Apple on one side, MS-DOS compatibles
on the other, and the center section for those who cater to both operating
systems. All the traditional seminars will be offered for AppleFest, as
will similar seminars for MS-DOS and general interest subjects. One ticket
gives the bearer entrance to all exhibits, and seminar priced tickets makes
all subjects available. Tickets are $10.00 for exhibits only, conferences
admission is $45.00, and special half-day intensive workshop tickets are
$99.00. Information can be had from Expo. Management at their new address,
1601 Trapelo Rd., Waltham, MA. 02154, the phone number 1-800-262-FEST remains
unchanged.
Mike Dodge, AppleFest Conference Director, explained their reasons for
moving the show from Boston:Eight times the number of people within driving
distance, reaching a new set of attendees rather than the same ones in the
metro Boston area and costs to all are projected to be half what they were
as New Jersey, and the Somerset area in particular, are more centrally located
and therefore more competitive.
One major factor in combining the show with other computer types is the
developers. Many have been pulling out of AppleFest because it's only a
share of their market. They develop for many machines now, and want to reach
a wider audience. Adding the shows together gives those developers a chance
to present their goods to the Apple world, as well as others.
But will this be a good thing for the Apple world? Let's explore...
Arise, ye Apple faithful
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Ever since Apple, Inc. started eliminating competition by cutting off
the sources for mail order sales of their computers, they've been building
a wall around themselves. This is fine for the quarterly profit reports.
A captive market pays what it must for what it desires. But that's an unhealthy
attitude when taken to extreme. And I think that's what Apple, Inc. has
done.
This separatist view, copied from IBM's habit of completely ignoring
the fact that competitors exist, clears the road and speeds the way for
pursuing a direction of choice. It also removes the feedback from the marketplace
as to whether this is the direction the consumers are moving.
Apple, Inc. has done this so effectively that they now have a computer
they don't have to advertise to sell. It sells no matter what they do. But
the common cry among the users is that the company doesn't offer enough
support. And why should they? You're on their turf.
Placing the Apple on the floor with many other computers will place a
burden on the company that they're not accustom to an longer. They'll have
to compete with all the others. Whether it's intended this way or not, it
will happen. I work for a commercial computer network that has all computer
types represented. One of the major problems we face in the messages is
computer bashing; the old "mine is better, yours is junk" stuff.
And this from professional developers, system analysts, programmers and
computer science professors. The juxtaposition of disparate computer types
seems to bring out a competitiveness. The choice of computer gets identified
with the person, and the ego involvement can become a cause of dissension.
Apple will be in the ring with the others for the first time in many
years. Will they come up lacking? Quite possibly. A solid fortress can become
first an ivory tower, and soon after, a hole in the sand for the corporate
head. And who will be to blame? Certainly not the users. They've been rightfully
demanding for more and better all along. Not the developers. They've gone
so far as to organize their own union to provide Apple, Inc. with the information
on what they need to keep the market viable for themselves and the company.
So who's left?
Apple, Inc.'s long standing attitude of ignoring all but their own ideas
has built a feeling of helplessness and apathy into much of the market.
Many people don't bother to even complain anymore. They just go out and
buy something deferent. And NOT a Mac. If Apple, Inc. can dump on one of
their lines, they're able to do it to another.
Perhaps this will be the showdown. Can enough Apple loyalists attend
to show the company what they want? They could, but will they? With 70%
of the market being MS-DOS, it would only take a gaggle of casual observers
from that arena to outnumber the Apple users and add further insult to injury.
Or, a concerted effort could be made for all of us who really care, to show
up and tell everybody there that we came for APPLEFEST(!), not a menage
of machines.
So far, Apple, Inc. has not signed to show up. Perhaps they've just rolled
over and died. Or perhaps they've already buried a live body. What can you
expect from a company whose chairman sells off his stock?
I will suggest that, in the face of the opposition, the show being half
the other computers, and half our own Apple mater, we all make the effort
to attend. Bring yourself and your loyal Apple friends. Show the company
that we care enough to keep things going. Show them that we aren't afraid
to put our machines against all comers. And most of all, show them that
we want them to follow us back to the forefront of the computer users, by
providing the finest technology possible for us to expand our minds with.
If the Apple comes up lacking in this show, it may in fact be the fault
of the company. But, if the interest in the machine is lacking, they'll
use that as just another reason why they should dump it. We owe it to ourselves
to show Apple, Inc. how much we really care. If we don't, then that's our
fault. The responsibility for the results can be shared by all of us.
IMSAI IBM
Commodore 64 Compaq
Atari 800 Kaypro
Osborne NEC
Texas Instrument Toshiba
Which column would you like to add Apple II to? I truly believe we can
make the choice.
Runnin' with the Devil
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Every so often you might find that there's something you want or need
to do with your computer, and it just isn't available as a software package.
One alternative is to write it. But programming is quite a job, and requires
an enormous investment in time. Another is to find a computer that does
have the software you need. Unfortunately, that requires another investment;
the green stuff that's in such short supply.
I had a chance to work with a friend, programming custom databases. The
development package, TAS Professional, runs only on MS-DOS machines. I had
to either travel to his computer every time I wanted to work, or else get
my own machine.
I looked at the current market of MS-DOS machines, and I was depressed.
The base machine start out well below a thousand dollars, but the extra
equipment I needed would have doubled the price or more. The people I would
have to buy from were generally merchandisers who were great at quoting
specs, but couldn't unravel the acronyms they spouted to save their invoices.
And those bottom end machines were made by companies that weren't likely
to be around next year. I had the same feeling about some of the stores.
The vision of Mel himself, perched on a ladder, hanging a sign that said
MEL'S COMPUTERS over the sign that said MEL'S STEREOS which already covered
the MEL'S VACUUM CLEANERS occurred to me. Having just received my new GS,
I wasn't prepared to invest in another machine, particularly in the midst
of a blue light special economy. Besides, I couldn't afford the names on
the better machines.
Having been a fan of Applied Engineering, I trusted their work implicitly.
So to give myself the ability to work in the foreign environment, I ordered
their PC/Transporter. When I received it and started to use it, I
found I'd made a good choice. Now that I've used it, I am truly impressed.
This device with its attendant software ranks as one of the consummate hacks
in all of the Apple's history. Changing the name to Miracle Engineering
wouldn't be out of line.
Techie junk on the PC/T goes like this:
A V-30 CPU (8086 compatible processor) with a 16 bit data bus running
at 7.14 MHz clock speed. 768K RAM, 640K for the computer and 128K for system
use, which includes the "Portware" that allows the use of virtually
all the Apple peripherals already connected. This RAM is dual ported so
the PC/T can reach into the Apple, and the Apple can use the PC/T for a
RAMdisk or AppleWorks desktop space. On board MFM floppy disk controller,
the writing format used by MS-DOS machines. Hard disk is accessed separately,
but the portware only allows 8 drives total. This includes logical drives
and RAM from the Apple side as extended/expanded. The drive control is NEC
765 compatible, a standard for MS-DOS drives. It can also revert to GCR
encoding (the writing format used by Apple drives) while in Apple mode.
Video output is CGA, either digital or analog, provided through the same
port, switched in software, and also an NTSC standard monochrome output
available separately, and running concurrently.
Use of the V-30-80, Z-80 compatible cpu is not yet supported.
Physical size is 10" X 3" with a separate 2" X 3"
board for the switchable video output/connector. RAM chips are 256 X 4 DRAMs.
Also on board is an IBM style keyboard connector. The II GS and IIe keyboards
are remapped for all functions usually found on extended keyboards, including
function keys through F10 and left/right/both shift keys as used in some
software.
Disk files created on hard drives (an 800K Apple drive can be used as
a removable media drive with this!) appear as text files to ProDOS, so are
able to be manipulated from the Apple side as a whole. When created, these
files can be "preallocated" to a definite size, or made to expand
and contract with the amount of software tucked away inside the artificial
text file. This slinky approach may cause some problems with knowing exactly
how much space is still available on the drive, if it's used for both formats.
But due to preallocating the space, you'd have to back up an entire drive,
no matter how full. It's a trade off, and I opted for the space hungry but
safer preallocation. Because these files always look full from ProDOS, BACKUP/RESTORE
is much more efficient from the PC/T side. Apple 3.5 disks can be used to
store MS-DOS as MFM files, and are then 720K drives (when connected to the
PC/T directly), or they can be used as though little removable hard disks
using GCR encoding, and are then 800K.
The 16 MB limit on ProDOS volumes has been overcome by putting a utility
in the PC/T software allowing you to merge 2 ProDOS made logical drive files
into a concurrent MS-DOS volume. This will allow you to use the entire 32
MB limit of MS-DOS for one device.
The TRANSFER program included with the PC/T disk will move ASCII text
files back and forth between the systems and alter them enroute by stripping
or adding linefeeds, etc. as needed.
I ran some tests on my PCTransporter, and this is how it did.
I used a program called CPU2 that runs benchmark tests, and compares
the speed of execution to the same tests run on a 4.77 MHz IBM PC AT with
an 8088 in it. The first test is a mixed instruction set repeated and written
to take exactly 10.00 seconds on the base machine. The second performs 10
repetitions on a Sieve of Eratosthenese and compares the speed again.
In the first test, the PC/T came out at an effective speed of 11.14 MHz
and in the second at 10.33 MHz. The latter could be increased by the addition
of an 8087-2 to the PC/T.
I also tried the two speed up programs, SPEEDO and MHZ. In every case,
the PC/T either ran at the same speed, or slower than without these additions.
I can only conclude that the PC/T was well optimized in design. It also
communicates well with the Apple side. There are several utilities with
it's system disk for IBM peripheral emulation.
The only problem I'd had with it was the drives being hooked up through
the PC/T were constantly polled while in Apple mode, slowing things down.
There was a program listed in an Addendum to the manual that fixes this,
giving me a 768K RAM disk, and lets me use my Apple 3.5 drive as either
format without the drive polling slowing down the Finder. I also found a
patch on America Online that allows me to switch off some of the drives
from software, so that the PC/T doesn't see it, and therefore doesn't poll
them at all.
I'm extremely satisfied with this device, and would recommend it heartily
to anyone in the Apple world needing to work in MS-DOS. But be prepared
for a learning experience, both with hardware and software. If you already
know MS-DOS, you're halfway home. If you know CP/M, you've got a head start.
If you're just starting though, you're in foreign territory, and the going
can get rough. Get a copy of MS-DOS, preferably MS-DOS 3.3, or else PC-DOS.
Use the standard versions, as some written for specific machines may not
work right. The documentation is notoriously bad, so you'll probably also
want to get a third party book. There's enough in the PC/T manual to get
you started though.
READ the entire PC/T manual, ALL of it, before you do anything. When
you start to work on it, follow the manual word for word. We hackers disdain
this process, but we also end up on the phone with tech support regularly.
Spend the time, and save the long distance dollars; A.E. doesn't have an
800 number for tech support. I didn't read the manual, and I think I just
put an MCI executive's children through college.
Consider, you can get a PC/T with the required one 5.25" drive for
about $600. You can get a clone for the same. But if you have a modem, printer,
other drives, including hard drive and color monitor already on your Apple,
compare prices again. The cost of the PC/T is well worth it. It's truly
a good value. And then add the fact that you get .75 MB of RAM for you Apple,
you can't find a better deal.
=====
Vol 3, #2
Ad rates --- $10 business card size (2 x 3 1/3) $20 1/4 page (4"x5"),
1/2 page (8"x5"), 1 page 8"x10")
II Infinitum
by Rick Diffley
To the Members of the Apple II Community:
This year could mark a historic turning point for the Apple II... if
you help. We are asking you to voice your support for the Apple II, to convince
Apple Computer that the Apple II is worth further investment.
Despite all the rumors regarding its imminent death, the Apple II remains
with us, alive and improving. The Apple II community has, in many respects,
been thrust backward into the days of semi-obscurity and grassroots survival...
however, Apple Computer is currently revitalizing its Apple II marketing
and development strategies. With this effort comes the hope of a grand rebirth
for the Apple II platform.
II Infinitum is a letter-writing campaign encouraging members of the
Apple II community to speak out now! We want you to write not only to John
Sculley at Apple Computer, Inc., but also to the Wall Street Journal. We
hope that if the Journal receives enough letters, they will be motivated
to publish an article on our efforts. This will allow us to then reach Apple
stockholders, who have the clout that we need to support our efforts.
In addition, we urge you to distribute this letter to other members of
the Apple II community, so that even more voices will be added to this cause.
Listed on the following page are some guidelines that we recommended using
when writing your letter. The addresses of John Sculley and the Wall Street
Journal, as well as others we encourage you to contact, are listed after
that.
Please take this opportunity to support the Apple II...only by combining
our efforts can we achieve success.
Recommended Guidelines:
- Keep your letter businesslike and to the point - no more than one neatly
typed or laser-printed page if possible.
- Avoid form letters or petitions; individual, personal letters have a
much greater impact. Of course, you can write a single letter, then personalize
it for each person you send it to.
- Include relevant personal information: perhaps discuss how long you have
used the Apple II, the types of applications you use now or would like to
use in the future, the direction you would like to see Apple take in developing,
marketing and supporting the line, etc.
- Avoid negative or derogatory remarks. Focus on the positive and look
toward the future.
- Be sure to close your letters by thanking the reader for his time.
- Mail your letters in a standard legal-size envelope which looks businesslike.
- Mail your letters with a return receipt requested if you can afford it.
Names and Addresses:
John Sculley
President and CEO
Apple Computer Inc.
20525 Mariani Avenue
Cupertino CA 95014
Robert L Bartley Editor
The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty Street
New York NY 10281
inCider/A+ Magazine
80 Elm Street
Peterborough NH 03458
Nibble Magazine
52 Domino Drive
Concord MA 01742
Letters Editor
Byte Magazine
One Phoenix Mill Lane
Peterborough NH 03458
Customer Relations
Apple Computer Inc.
20525 Mariani Ave.
Cupertino, CA 95014
The following are individuals at Apple Computer, Inc. to whom you may
consider writing for greater effect (Write to them at the same address as
John Sculley.):
* Michael H. Spindler, Senior VP and President, Apple USA
* Bernard Gifford, Vice President, Education, Apple USA
* Randall S. Battat, Vice President, Product Marketing, Apple Products
* David Hancock, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Apple USA
* Morris Taradalsky, Vice President, Customer Service and Information Technology,
Apple USA
* Ian Diery, Senior Vice President, and President, Apple Pacific.
NOTE: Since there's been so-o-o many folks asking: "Well, what can
I do?", in regards to various posts and reactions to my sharing of
the Wall Street Journal article, thought I'd reproduce this material. This
writing effort is sort of like the drug awareness commercial on TV where
you see the frying pan cooking the egg. The last statement, which also applies
here, is: Now, any questions?
Sculley Duggery?
by Al Martin
Rick Diffley sent, via the Apple II Echo to "All", a copy of
a memo from John Sculley to Barney Stone about the then upcoming Feb. 26th
meeting of Apple II Developers and Apple, Inc. Part of the memo reads: "I
assure you we are working to address many of these (Barney's) concerns (about
the Apple II line) while at the same time planning for a strong future for
Apple Computer, Inc."
What Sculley gives, he takes away. What does "...address these concerns..."
mean in light of the "...planning for a strong future for Apple Computer,
Inc."? If history is any judge, the concerns will be given lip service
while the company chuggs merrily on its future Macintosh direction. There
is little doubt that the statement comes by way of the legal department
in its weasel phrasing. Yeah, we will "address" the concerns,
but not do anything if we, in our mighty judgment, think positive Apple
II action could in any way jeopardize the "strong future."
Further, "We (Apple, Inc.) will continue to sell, service and support
the Apple II. We are committed to supporting our large installed base of
Apple II users."
Really? Since when did Apple, Inc. "sell" or "service"
an Apple II computer? I recall that every Apple II computer I purchased
(about a dozen), I did so at an independent dealer. Ditto for service. Can
anyone recall having work done on their IIe, IIc or GS in Cupertino or at
a regional Apple, Inc. office?
As for support, what's this "continue" business? Is Sculley
saying that the current scene from Apple, Inc. is an example of the sort
of support the II line will "continue" to receive in the future?
Don't do me no favors, John.
And what's this "...committed to supporting our large installed
base of Apple II users."? How about supporting a larger base of new
Apple II users with an advertising blitz extolling the virtues of the line?
If Apple, Inc. isn't up to the task, how about satisfied users writing the
copy? It's certainly strange that Apple IIs still keep selling with no advertising
at all. Hmmmm, I wonder why.
Now just compare the points in Sculley's February 9th memo to Barney
(above) to following March 1st message posted on the Apple II Echo by Dale
Barker of Bangor, Maine.
"Today at school, I received a flyer from Apple Computer, Inc.'s
Marlborough, Mass regional office (several dozen other teachers in my school
system received this flyer as well - probably every teacher in New England
received one).
"The flyer proclaims that Apple and teachers are 'Partners In Education'
and offers special low prices on Macs for educators (even lower than the
usual educator rate). Special prices apply to the Mac Plus ($899), SE20
with HD ($1852) and SE30 with HD40 ($2930). The flyer claims that the Macintosh
is the computer for the classroom and for teachers. There is no mention
of the Apple II line at all.
"When John Sculley says that Apple will SUPPORT the large Apple
II user base, he apparently means just that - supporting (or servicing)
those that already own Apple IIs. He apparently has no intention of trying
to promote the II line any further."
Then on March 17th, Rick Diffley again sent a message to "ALL"
relating the results of the meeting mentioned above as reported by Barney
Stone.
"Most, if not all, of the issues that have been raised by Apple
II owners and developers were discussed including marketing (including
advertising, dealers, Apple reps, etc.), Apple's attitude towards the Apple
II, the need for new hardware and software, the state of the "third
party community", relations with developers and end-users, and un-tapped
potential markets for the Apple II.
"The big picture, however, was a forgone conclusion. We didn't have
anything to say that Apple had not heard before, and hearing it once again
was not going to convince anybody at Apple that they had made any wrong
decisions. (...it should be emphasized that this is my own personal opinion.
- Barney)"
"The good news is that Apple is not about to drop the Apple II from
its product line.
"(Please read that again. Now memorize it, so you can quote it whenever
some less-informed person tries to convince you otherwise!)"
Barney goes on to say the Apple, Inc. "...is serious about supporting
its installed base, even if their ideas about what that support should include
are not exactly what we... would like to see." He goes on to mention
the new SCSI card, the 1 year warranty and Apple's planned participation
in Apple II related conferences this year as evidence of support.
"The bad news is that there will be no major new push to market
the Apple II. Apple's future is clearly the Macintosh, and you might as
well get used to it. As Dave Hancock said, 'Our (Apple's) whole purpose
in life is to bring the very edge of technology to people.'
"To Apple II users and developers, I (will) make the same point
that I made to Dave Hancock: Not everyone needs 'the very edge of technology'.
(AppleWorks) was never the very edge of technology, yet for vast numbers
of people, it's all the computing power they'll ever need. And, of course,
far more powerful programs have been, and continue to be, available for
the Apple II.
"While the nature of the Apple II market may change over the next
few years, opportunities will continue to be available for hardware and
software developers, particularly in the educational market, and a wide
variety of products will be available to end users if you will continue
to support the companies that support you."
Sigh, ed.
Gain some, lose some
by Al Martin
Everyone, simply everyone, gave rave reviews with the release of AppleWorks
3.0 --- speed, power, flexibility non-fattening and a built-in spelling
checker. No more QuickSpell enhancements to buy, right? Uhhh, not really.
Like a lot of "improved" products (the "new" Coca-Cola
comes to mind), many times there are losses along with the gains.
Fer instance, when I typed "judgement" for "judgment"
and then spell checked the document with AppleWorks 3.0 <OA-V>, the
word "judgement" showed up as a non-recognizable word. I then
asked for suggestions and got the following message: "Unable to find
any suggested spellings." I then manually corrected the word and the
AppleWorks 3.0 dictionary recognized "judgment".
Now "judgement" is not that far off from "judgment"
and I wondered what would happen if I checked that spelling with Beagle
Bros' QuickSpell. Lo and behold, there was "judgment" as a suggestion
along with several others. "How come?," I asked myself. Didn't
the Beagle Boys write the AppleWorks 3.0 and QuickSpell? Not giving suggestions
for such a small error in spelling did not make sense when the old program
did the task very well.
I posed the same question to a friend and long-time AppleWorks-TimeOut
user. His answer, based on information he gleaned from an electronic bulletin
board, was that Claris specifically forbad Beagle to make changes in Claris'
concept of the AppleWorks 3.0 spelling checker. QuickSpell, as he explained,
checks the words phonetically as well as by letters.
After some messing around with all of this, I still use AppleWorks 2.0
with the "old" QuickSpell. I find it much less frustrating than
depending upon what is provided with AppleWorks 3.0. By the way, I like
the "old" QuickSpell better than the latest version with its loading
thermometers and limited suggestions.
One other problem with the AppleWorks 3.0 spelling checker is that the
darned thing stops at alpha-numeric street numbers and ordination like "177th"
or "1st". QuickSpell can be configured to ignore these and I find
that really useful.
Apparently instead of fixing the bugs in AppleWorks 3.0, Claris just
wants us use patches instead. I may be old fashioned, but I don't see any
real improvement in this aspect of AppleWorks 3.0 or the latest QuickSpell
and that's my "judgement".
The Write Stuff
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Of all the things that people do with computers, word processing is probably
what they do the most. Just the time saved in piecing together parts of
documents rather than completely retyping is enough to justify the purchase
for many businesses or anyone who writes seriously.
But typing is only typing. Sometimes we could do just as well for less
money by using a typewriter. Error correction is easier on a computer, and
the result looks better, but what can the computer do to really save time?
There's several useful utilities out that can help you do some things
with your system, things that can save a great deal of time and energy.
I've tried a few of them, and have compiled a listing and description of
them. These are available on America Online. For those of you who don't
telecommunicate, or just aren't on AOL, I can send you these programs on
a disk. If you send me a mailer with a disk in it, and include enough postage
inside to cover the cost of mailing them back, I'll copy the programs onto
it and send them back to you. Make sure you send them to:
Dennis McClain-Furmanski
The Road Apple
2565 Shore Dr., #2
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Some of the following descriptions are taken directly from the documentation
that comes with the programs.
Dogpaw is a powerful added-ProDOS-command program which provides an easy
and convenient method of displaying and/or printing text files from the
BASIC environment. It is primarily intended as a means of presenting on-disk
program documentation, though I'm sure many will find Dogpaw useful for
a variety of other text viewing/printing purposes. Dogpaw is public domain,
and all programmers are welcome to "package" it along with their
own public domain or commercial programs for the purpose of handling documentation
files. Non-programmers will also find Dogpaw a useful thing to have on hand
for displaying documentation (or other text) files.
Dogpaw works with ProDOS TXT (ASCII text) files, AWP (AppleWorks Word
Processor) files and "compressed" files. Compressed files will
be explained later. Dogpaw will work with files of ANY length, to the maximum
allowed by ProDOS. When displaying text on-screen, Dogpaw presents the text
in word wrapped form on either the 40 or 80 column screen. If you were reading
this from your screen, Dogpaw allows you to page forward and backward through
the text, unlike most text-to-screen utilities, which only offer one-way
scrolling. Dogpaw also has a "search" option which allows you
to scan through a file for occurrences of any word or phrase. If Dogpaw
detects that it is running on an Apple II+, the on-screen text will be displayed
in upper case, with lower case a selectable option.
When being used to print text, Dogpaw formats the text for the printed
page, and has the option of printing a header at the top of each page. This
header can be centered if desired, and can include the page number. While
Dogpaw is printing, the number of the page being sent to the printer is
displayed on-screen, and the user can pause or end the printing at page
breaks. This is useful if single sheet paper is being used, and with most
systems, by "printing" to a switched-off printer, this feature
can be used to start (actual) printing at some given page in the text other
than the first. Both the screen-displayed text and the printed text can
be set to either single or double spacing.
Compressor is a ProDOS-based, machine language program which reads an
ASCII text or AppleWorks AWP source file, and converts it into a new file
which is about 30% smaller than the original. This compressed file can then
be displayed or printed by Dogpaw, and will appear the same as the source
file. This will be useful for situations where Dogpaw is being used to display
large amounts of text, and disk space is getting short. Compressor can also
decompress its compressed files, converting them back to ASCII text files.
It requires 80 column display and lower case capability.
To use Compressor, simply BRUN it and enter the pathname of your source
file and the name you want to give the object file at the prompts. If the
source file is ASCII text or an AppleWorks AWP (word processor) file, the
object file that Compressor creates will be compressed. To decompress a
file, just enter the name of the compressed file as your source file. Compressor
will detect that it is a compressed file, and the new object file will be
decompressed standard ASCII text. If the name you enter for the object file
is the name of an existing file, you will be asked if you want this file
to be overwritten. Your source file will be unaffected by Compressor.
The exact amount by which Compressor reduces a file's size will vary.
Source files that include a lot of upper case and/or numeric characters
will not be reduced as much as more ordinary files. A file that consists
entirely of upper case and/or numerics will not be reduced at all. There
is no limit on the size of the source file to be processed by Compressor.
If the source file and object file are on different disks in the same drive,
Compressor will prompt you to swap disks if and when necessary. Just be
sure you have the object file's disk in the drive when you first enter its
pathname.
Columnist is a text file post-processor which takes any TXT (ASCII text)
or AWP (AppleWorks Word Processor) file and converts it into a new file
in which the text is formatted in two or three columns on each page. This
converted file can be then loaded back into your word processor for additional
editing and printing, or can be printed by Columnist. Before converting
a file, you adjust various format settings to control the page layout of
your document. These format settings include such things as: Number of lines
per page, width of left margin, width of each column, amount of space between
the columns, number of columns, and whether the columns will be full justified.
You can add multi-line page headers and/or footers to the formatted file,
and can include printer control-characters.
Columnist is for all Apple II's but the II+, and requires 80 column display.
Although it makes some use of MouseText, it has alternate displays if it
is run on an un-enhanced IIe.
With Columnist you should be able to do simple, newsletter-type desktop
publishing projects. Columnist is text based, rather than graphics based
as most desktop publishing programs are. This has both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages include the following: Columnist is fast; it prints as quickly
as your printer allows. This can mean a savings of HOURS over most IIgs
DTP programs. Columnist works with all types of printers, including daisy-wheel
and other letter-quality printers. Columnist uses the fonts that are built
into your printer; this gives you clearer, better looking text than is available
with most 8-bit graphics based DTP programs. Columnist is simple to use;
most of the formatting options available to you are listed on a single menu
screen. The major disadvantages to Columnist's text-based nature are that
it doesn't allow true WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get), imported computer
graphics, or proportional type fonts.
Columnist can also be used for such things as printing 2-across or 3-across
mailing labels, or columnized data base reports. With an AppleWorks data
base of addresses, you would first "print" a data base report
to disk as an ASCII test file, and then load this file into Columnist to
format and print it.
FPAGE is a shareware program that reformats an imported text file so
that it can be printed on both sides of the paper. After loading a text
file, you're asked what margins you want, and any header/footer material
you want included.
It then prints your file first in alternate pages, such as odd numbered
pages. Then it will prompt you to reverse the paper, and will print the
other pages on the backs of the first. This is a great space saver for all
those long document files that come with some programs (ProSel comes to
mind; great documentation, LOTS of paper).
GEOS CONVERT UTILITY 3/13/89
In order to provide a more robust operating environment for GEOS (tm),
Berkeley Softworks extended the ProDOS (tm) file system. While these extensions
enhance the capabilities of GEOS, there is a trade-off. At this time, only
a few utilities fully recognize GEOS files.
This is of primary concern with telecommunications packages, which allow
users to transmit files across phone lines. Although telecommunications
packages that can transmit GEOS files are in the works, it may be some time
before they are actually brought to market. In the interim, Berkeley Softworks
is providing the GEOS Convert Utility.
The GEOS Convert Utility converts GEOS format files into ProDOS binary
files so that they may be manipulated using standard Apple II ProDOS utilities.
The Convert Utility can also reverse the conversion process, reconstructing
the original GEOS file from the ProDOS file.
The above are all 8 bit applications and should run on the //e, //c,
//c+ and IIGS. The following are two desk accessories that I've found to
be particularly helpful on the GS.
The IW II (ImageWriter II Text Printer Desk Accessory) is for printing
ASCII text only. It is not designed to print graphics, or the fonts used
by any graphics based programs on the Apple IIGS. Instead this desk accessory
gives you complete control over the ImageWriter II printer, allowing you
to print text in Draft, Correspondence, or Near Letter Quality in any of
the typefaces built into your ImageWriter II printer.
Additionally, the IW II will print text as a background task provided
you leave its' window open, and you do not quit the application program
you were using when you started printing.
Paper Saver Desk Accessory
As you know, printing with the ImageWriter II can be a nuisance. After
you have printed your document, you still must get it out of the printer.
To do that, you must scroll it up by hand, or line feed it one line at a
time, to the perforation. This, as you know, means you have to reset the
paper to the TOP OF FORM, before printing another document.
Sometimes when using other programs, the program does an extra form feed,
wasting a whole sheet of paper, or, you must turn it back by hand.
NOW, there is an NDA called Paper Saver that will scroll the paper to
the perforation where it can be torn off, then returned to the proper print
position with the click of the mouse. It will also form feed forward and
form feed backward, so you can form feed back a whole sheet to the starting
position of the paper. You can also use this NDA if the program you are
using does not do a top margin. You can feed the paper up or back one line
at a time to position the paper in the place you like, and then set the
TOF(Top of Form). The last thing you can do is to put the paper in the park
position, (or back to the tractor feed) for using a single sheet, this
saves taking the paper all the way out of the printer. What you do is click
on park paper and the paper will back out to the tractor feeds, at this
time the NDA will remind you to flip the lever from tractor feed to friction
feed. This stops the tractor from feeding the paper to the platen. Then
all you do is quit the NDA and print with single sheets, when you are ready
to go back to tractor feed, flip the lever back to tractor feed and do a
form feed using the printer buttons.
So there you have it, several different useful additions to your software
library. If you use them, don't forget the shareware fees. After all, it's
these fine programmers that make us all able to have the "Write Stuff".
Same problems, different era
by Al Martin
The following is a partial message I received on my local Apple echo.
The phone number has been obliterated for reasons you will see later.
"A WWIV board with all the online games, and even some new really
cool ones you haven't seen yet. We are just starting and want as many new
users as possible. All the online games are free (No Gold system in use).
And new users get an instant 1 1/2 hours access. Call NOW!
"Also, new users get immediate access to 12 different file areas
and we don't have a ratio up, so download all you want. For each 10k you
upload though, you get an additional hour on the BBS. Come join the hottest,
funnest BBS around.. Games 'n Files. Call us Now! Your SysOp: Rosy Pom.
Don't forget: XXX-XXXX."
Being an early riser and a curious sort, I modem dialed the number at
6:30 on a Sunday morning. I got a very sleepy male, "Hullo?" Oooops.
A quick disconnect then a wait for a more reasonable time. Perhaps the sysop
forgot to leave the modem on.
To double check I voice called at 7:45.
This time I got a nice lady who inquired about the time of day as in
"Do you know what time it is?"
I was embarrassed and flustered. I explained the posting on the BBS.
Suddenly she understood and graciously explained the situation.
It seems her teen-age son had set up his own BBS and was using the home
voice phone number to run his board. "No wonder the phone's been ringing
at all hours," she stated. She went on to thank me for taking the time
to call and
tell her what I read including where I saw the posting.
A couple of days later I checked the same board and found the same message
sans phone numbers with a disclaimer that the earlier posting was a fake.
Guess mom permanently disconnected the sysop.
Remember when kids who acted up were "grounded"? The bike was
locked in the garage, the car keys were impounded, no visits or phone calls
to friends, take the bus or walk to and from school and that was it? Well,
today this young man will have his modem taken away!
Same problems, different era.
Predictions
by Al Martin
AppleWorks 3.0 is the end of the line for the finest software package
ever.
Apple II programs will be written on a Mac frame.
More major software companies will be dropping the Apple II.
The present Macintosh line will go the way of the Apple II. The new RISC
Motorola 88000 is the reason. The 68040 will replace the 68030 and maybe
there will be a 68050, but don't count on it. (This, despite a listing of
6 proposed Mac releases listed on page 119 of March 19th's Business Week.
Such planned include the cheaper Mac II "Elsie," a $2,200 color
Mac w/o screen to replace the SE30 and a $1,000 replacement for the SE and
Plus.)
From the Publisher
The printing of this edition of The Road Apple was held up pending the
results of John Sculley's press conference of March 19th. Would there be
a solid commitment to the Apple II? Would Apple, Inc. pump some bucks into
the II advertising coffers? Would there be an improvement in the IIe, IIc
and/or the GS?
Hah! The mountain rumbled and brought forth a mouse (joke intended).
What do we get? Another gee-whiz Macintosh, that's what. This one is
called the "fx", a run and shoot machine that carries an unenhanced
price tag of $8,900 plus change, well within the budget of the average user,
you betcha. Some Mac models have been reduced some 5 to 7%. This may be
the first step in the phasing out of the current Mac line that has been
buzzing around for some time. Oh, yes, there is the new II SCSI card for
$129 with no upgrade plan listed for current owners and the 1 year warranty,
something Apple, Inc. should have had years ago. How about the same guarantee
that the II line will even be in production one year from now?
What do we want from Sculley? Support! What do we get? A bone to gnaw
upon.
I find it interesting that several major newspapers and national magazines
have carried stories lately about the troubles at Apple, Inc., mainly about
the miserable bottom line. They focus on the Macintosh, its poor sales,
the "feel good" management style of Sculley and the firing of
employees. Not one of these articles even mentioned the Apple II line except
for Newsweek, March 26th, which called it "...effectively obsolete...".
While you're writing letters to Apple, Inc. encouraging their continuation
of the II, you might want to drop a line to the major business magazines
and major newspapers telling them of the "ignore the Apple II"
policy from Cupertino and perhaps a few personal war stories. Any company
that fritters away a useful and popular product line without any advertising
support is certainly newsworthy.
Meanwhile, the "MacinTrouble" users are getting testy.
In a Macintosh Echo message from Stephen Rea to "All" titled
"Major problem with IIfx", he stated
"The first major problem with the IIfx has surfaced. In addition
to the different SIMMs you need to use, the accelerated SCSI need a special
terminator. You CAN NOT USE CURRENT TERMINATORS with the IIfx. If you accidentally
attach a hard drive with internal termination, you will fry the IIfx motherboard,
and the drive controller card."
Try this exchange between Macintosh users Mike Cane and Rick Emerson:
MC:" ...(Steve) Jobs created the Mac partly as a price-response
to the 10G Lisa. And he had planned to sell the Mac at a price of around
$1500 or so. But Sculley ... upped that price to about 3Gs or thereabouts.
"I think Wall Street has responded accordingly to the collapse of
the Mac Plus/SE market. They understand that the lack of sales on those
machines does *not* mean people are waiting for a low-end Mac -- they're
likely saying 'screw this' and buying a clone. And that means less $$$ in
Apple's coffers *plus* an erosion of market share."
RE:"I just priced an SE/30 2/40 at $3,299 and, oh, by the way, $99
for a standard keyboard. Given the price of non-Apple memory and non-Apple
hard drives, to say nothing of the absurdity of selling the keyboard as
an add-on, this price is a rude shock to those of us who held on with their
128K's when everyone else shouted 'IBM!' And when I asked if that was the
'best and final offer,' I got a take it or leave it answer.
Another Mac user even went so far as to suggest a "necktie party"
for Mr. Sculley if the rumored Radio Shack deal has any substance.
Finally, why is Apple, Inc. advertising for GS programmers as was done
on the Apple echo?
Editorial
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Generally progress proceeds with the drunkard's walk called serendipity.
This is what keeps it interesting. When it's corralled and made to follow
predetermined tracks, it halts through lack of both interest and results.
Both marketing and science itself proceed with logical steps and only the
illusion of direction. But only those in marketing can convince themselves
they can also choose direction.
Witness: through marketing decisions, companies fold and disappear. It's
exceedingly rare for a company to remain entirely intact, much less in existence,
over the course of years. Science doesn't harbor these illusions, and continues.
"FORWARD!" is a claim uttered after the fact, usually by a
baffled media, and in the tone of a nervous giggle.
When engineers ran NASA, they made it to the moon in the 10 years they
were told to. When marketing ran NASA, things cost twice as much to do in
twice the time, and managed to kill 3.3 times the number of people per instance,
and due to faulty decision, rather than faulty design.
The relevance? Apple became a Fortune 500 company in record time. At
the time, they hopped from one neat idea to another. The long range plans
were to continue having neat ideas. The farthest ahead they thought was
to finish a current project, and usually a new one was started before the
previous was shipped. And then Jobs made his major mistake: He hired a marketing
expert.
In the first 5 of the intervening 6 years, Apple doubled in net worth.
That could and would have happened based on sheer momentum. In the last
year, it has faltered. There are signs now that Apple has begun to lose
its romance with its 'grand plan' and is starting to sidle back towards
the wellspring of its existence, the Apple II series, the computers that
continue to sell and sell WELL no matter what they do, violating their hallowed
tenets of marketing.
If they do not remove the limitations placed upon the company, which
marketing chants like a mantra "Bottom line... Bottom line...",
we may get to see an unprecedented phenomenon, the continuation in the life
of a computer line beyond the existence of its company. In case you miss
the implication, I'll make it explicit: The loss of the II line would be
the death of Apple, both in the financial sense, and in the loss of credibility
in the marketplace among potential buyers of the Macintosh line.
Ray Kroc had enough sense not to pick a direction and try to force its
implementation. Imagine where McDonald's would be if he had decided "5
Million served.... but now we're going to sell 5 course meals for twenty
bucks a shot. And if you want a burger, come in the back door, and don't
speak to me." He was smart enough to know the world would continue
to buy the burgers, and do so long after he was gone.
This is dedicated to all the folks with ][ Infinitum.
Suggested Apple, Inc. corporate motto
"All computers are equal, some computers are more equal than others"
Ode to Apple Owners
You got your modem and CPU.
The printer tests "OK."
The docs are read, it's in your head.
'Tis time to compute today.
The software's here, the monitor glows,
It's time to "boot" and "run."
Mousing through the menu,
Gee, I'm having fun.
New worlds open up and help is there
As you learn this novelty.
Folks drop by and marvel at
Your productivity.
Old friends call, you're too busy to chat,
Can't even recall their names.
You're spending all your leisure time
Playing computer games.
Just one more round of "Super Bash 'em!"
This time I'll give no warning.
I've fought through all the many levels,
Heavens! It's four in the morning.
Sleep evades me, my VISA's drained.
My savings have been spent
For this damned computer stuff
And the time just sort of went.
What's this? Another upgrade
From last month's "newest" version?
My wallet's flat, there is no more
For this latest financial incursion.
Then I hear that Apple, Inc.
May abandon my treasured II
And support no more my computer, for
I've been shafted by a royal screw.
The Mac is now the "only" computer
They tell us and ask for trust.
I wonder what has happened to
The computer for the rest of us.
So to all of you out there,
Be not full of sorrow.
For what's being done to the II today,
They'll do to the Mac tomorrow.
--- Al Martin
=====
Vol 3, #3
Ad rates --- $10 business card size (2 x 3 1/3) $20 1/4 page (4"x5"),
1/2 page (8"x5"), 1 page 8"x10")
Renewals
In response to a call about subscription renewal notices for The Road
Apple, I put a red tag on the last issue you will be getting. The tag says,
"STOP, Last Road Apple unless subscription is paid. Use the form in
this issue. We appreciate your support."
Last issues are calculated at the time of purchase. For instance, if
you purchased a subscription and received Vol. 3, No. 2 as the first issue,
the last issue would be Vol. 4, No. 1 (6 issues or one year later). I search
my data base for any whose subscription are up with the current issue and
tag those copies.
If you get a tagged issue, you have two months to resubscribe before
the next issue comes out.
APPLE(computer)FEST
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Everybody has heard the horror stories, many of them before the fact.
Apple didn't go to AppleFest, which wasn't AppleFest, but only as a subset
of the newer, larger ComputerFest. Applied Engineering didn't show either,
although some of their sales people were working some of the retail booths.
I tried to get in to talk to one of the sales reps I know from A.E., but
he was always so busy selling, I couldn't. They didn't need a booth.
There were two other major manufacturers there, I.B.M. and Commodore.
Both had large areas with lots of machines. Only the Commodore booth had
a significant number of people, and they were always the same ones. I'm
willing to wager Commodore owners already.
The displays were about 90 per cent Apple oriented or Apple inclusive.
The people were about 95 per cent Apple users. So much for the "Computer"
part of the Fest.
So just what is the state of health of the Apple world? Personally, I'm
so tired of the doom messages that I could dump my accumulator. Has Apple's
strength in the market been better? Sure. Has it been worse? Definitely.
These statements are entirely subjective, and you're more than welcome to
disagree. But there's only one major question that's important; it's the
question that The Road Apple was created to demand an answer to.
Are things going to get better?
You're rootin' tootin' they are.
Let's take a look at the show, and some of the results.
I've read messages written by several who watched people at Roger Wagner's
booth. After a thorough demonstration of the capabilities of HyperStudio,
they went and bought GS's.
What was it that did the trick? Besides Roger's obvious dedication, I think
it was because of the new version of HyperStudio. Before, if you wanted
to read a stack, you had to run the program. The new version, 2.1, includes
a run-time module, so that the stacks can be made self running.
I'm still rather awed by the implications. Roger obviously has such faith
in the program, that he's convinced that people will continue to buy it
even when they don't need it to see the results. He's counting on the fact
that after they see the results, and the ease by which they were attained,
they'll want to buy it to create their own.
What happened on the floor at the Fest proved him right. Not only did he
sell an enormous amount of HyperStudios, he also is credited with selling
Apples.
It's been said quite truthfully that Visi-Calc made Apple.
HyperStudio more than any other single program is selling the GS. If
I didn't already own it, I'd buy it now to support such a daring move by
a loyal Apple third party developer.
Beagle Bros was of course there, and they were showing some repackaged
products and some new additions. I didn't have time to go through everything
with them, but I did hear right from Mark Munz that Timeout Telecom 1.2
(the version that will have transfer protocols operating) was at the time
only weeks from release. Actually he said 7 to 10 days, but that 4 to 6
weeks would be a good thing to tell people.
They're working hard at it, so give them the more generous estimate,
eh?
As far as the panel discussions went, all were fairly well attended,
both Apple specific and general interest. But it was still an Apple audience.
In one talk, a person described their company's new products for education.
They'd been a traditionally Apple company. When someone noticed that all
the boxes said IBM compatible, they asked if there was Apple versions. When
the answer was no, their faces said they lost interest. So much for the
bottom line readers.
With all the corporate types that have been dominating the scene for
the last several years, the main issue is pure profit. There's no thought
of loyalty. That makes great sense if you want to make a bundle fast and
move on. Now, it looks like they are moving on, and I'm glad to see it.
There will soon be a lot of room for many new startup third parties.
And there's an enormous amount of talent ready to fill those spots. Rather
like the late 70s and early 80s. And you know what I look forward to? Talent
and loyalty just always seem to stick together.
The health of the Apple world is increasing immensely. And it's all due
to the sloughing off of the corporate leeches.
If any of you, or anyone you know, is interested in being a pro at this
stuff, now's the time. Soon, the money will be back, and so will the three-piecer
crowd. It's time to polish up that shareware and go commercial.
Now wouldn't that just be the neatest thing since doughnuts grew holes?
The people loyal to the Apple market recaptured it from the people who can
only see green.
Another note of interest came from Barney Stone's II At Work. He described
both the fact that people don't want to run MS-DOS at home because they
run MS-DOS at work, they just want transportable software. If there were
similar programs for the Apple, such as Lotus 1-2-3, and there was a translator
program available to convert the data to a form readable by the Apple, they
could use the Apple at home or even at work, for the same things that they
do now. He continued by saying, such a thing does exist. On the IIGS System.Disk
there's a tool called an FST, a File System Translator. This is exactly
what it's for. Also, the new 1.44 MB high density drives for the Mac could
easily be built to work on the GS, making another trasportability statement.
Wouldn't even be a major project.
The tools are in place, why haven't they been used?
More importantly, will they be?
The rumors are brewing. The GS+ is again raising its vapor shrouded head.
A Hypercard for the GS is said to be lurking.
But so what? There's already a fine machine that sells like hotcakes
even when the manufacturer ignores it, plenty of things to beef it up, and
more software available than any one family, business or school would want
to buy.
I heard so many complaints from people at (dare I say it? Why not.) AppleFest,
it reminded me of my military time. No matter where I went, most people
said it was a lousy place.
If I were to believe all of them, everywhere on Earth would be terrible.
The health of the Apple world is fine. It's losing some fat, getting
leaner and ready to make a big jump. It's only the mental health that's
been affected.
I think we can fix that.
Are there any Apple II enthusiasts left?
by Marc Farnum Rendino
(ed. note: I wish I could publish this as a letter to the editor, but it
wasn't addressed to me. I simply had to reprint it though, to show that
there is still Apple Spirit and clear thinking going on in the midst of
the market bog.)
Is there anyone out there that is willing to actually do something?!
Do we have any life left to us, or are we just whining shells of what
used to be the famous Apple II spirit?
Everywhere I go I hear people moaning and groaning.
"Other computers at AppleFest?! Blasphemy! Besides, the Apple II
couldn't possibly compete with IBM machines -- they're real computers!"
"Sure they gave us System Software 5.0, but big deal! I want a zillion
gigaherz CPU."
"If Apple doesn't give me <insert request here> I'm going
to buy an IBM 486-SUX."
Hey folks! Wake up! Would you feel like contributing to a group that
spouted such rubbish? Or would you feel like contributing to a group that
positively sought what it wanted?
"Hmmm... Other computers at AppleFest. Now we can show them what
we Apple II folks can really do! And we can corral all those vendors that
haven't done squat for the Apple II, and show them we've got cash for quality
products!"
"Wow! System Software 5.0 sure is impressive! And Jim Merritt says
we ain't seen nothin' yet!"
"Hey Apple! If you did <insert request here> you would really
make a lot of money because X, Y, and Z."
Moaning, groaning, and whining are entirely negative -- they achieve
the exact opposite of your purpose. If you want to change something, do
something.
Want AppleFest to remain an all Apple II show? Tell Apple, tell EMI,
tell the vendors.
Want more support from Apple? Tell the folks that make the decisions.
Tell John Sculley, tell Allan Loren.
And most importantly, tell them why. A lot of people wanting the same
thing isn't enough. A lot of people with cash in hand is a good reason!
"If you do X, Y, and Z, our group would be very likely to buy your
product."
Come to AppleFest and wave your cash under some MS-DOS vendor's nose.
"Gee, I'd love to buy X, but you only make an MS-DOS version. How about
an Apple II version?"
It's up to you.
Don't buy an Apple II
by Al Martin
Here are 5 reasons not to but any Apple II computer.
1. Old technology. The Apple II technology is at least 12 years old and
who would want to be stuck with that? All you can do is dumb old things
like math calculations, word processing or storing and manipulating data.
Get the latest machine and add useful stuff like lots of graphics, animation,
musical tones, network with people you don't like, jillions of hyperbytes
of RAM necessary and a 12 pound manual that will give you eyestrain, a headache
and a hernia all for one huge price.
2. Too slow. Absolutely! Why when you add up all the milliseconds you
save in an average day of computing with a "modern" machine, you
would have the extra time to do those jobs you've been putting off. Things
like trimming nose hair, reading soup can labels or "quality time"
with the neighbor's kids.
The important thing is that you have to stay glued to your CPU every
second so as not to miss anything.
What with the Apple IIs being so slow, you have idle time on your hands.
You might be able to lean back and rest your eyes or take a sip of coffee
or stand and stretch while it slowly does calculations. What a waste of
valuable computing time!
3. Open architecture. What a mess. You can actually open the top of the
beast and look down inside and see all that messy electronic stuff. You
can even get your hands on it. Ugh! What's worse, you can make changes on
your own. Since we all "know" that the Apple II is solely for
young children, the machines have been designed so that someone with the
mental capacity of a 5-year old can upgrade chips, cards and the like without
hauling it to the dealer and spending next year's mortgage payments.
Having a new, closed system is much better. No ugly gizmoes to mess with.
The experts at the factory have pre-selected what's best for you and they
know. Who do you think you are to even consider the possibility of understand
the workings of a computer? No, the real computers are closed, sealed and
locked up tight.
4. Old and cheap software. The darned software is so old or cheap that
no one is interested in pirating it or adding on a virus for your computing
enjoyment. Also the old software has been used so much that the bugs are
gone. No more wild and wacky machine language on your screen. No more program
crashing in the middle of an important letter or calculation. Besides, isn't
a letter written with a $500 program much better than a letter written with
a $100 program?
5. Lack of prestige. Really, can you face your friends if they knew that
you had an Apple II computer and you actually used it? They all know that
it's just a toy and not fit for important stuff like business and higher
education. Think of the shame of packing in an Apple II and having the neighbors
see you. To save face you could talk your dealer into loaning you a Macintosh
box to pack your Apple II from car to house.
The Price of Piracy
by Al Martin
Software piracy is pure robbery of us all. We pay for it in many ways
--- higher costs for the original product, protection schemes that foil
making back-up copies, viruses that destroy and the loss of developers who
give up in the face of lost income.
It amazes me that some of the most popular and non-protected programs
are still around and making money given the huge number of illegal copies
floating about. I wish I had a dollar for every pirated AppleWorks that
are out there. I'll bet Claris does, too. And don't think that the folks
at Beagle Bros are naive enough to believe that every copy of their programs
in use are strictly legal. They made a pact with us early on. They don't
copy protect; we don't copy.
Early on, I dabbled in a bit of piracy --- not for profit, but to "save"
money. I'd accept a copy of a program and pass on copies to friends. It
was wrong and I knew it. It was illegal and I knew it. Older and maybe a
bit wiser, I no longer pirate in either direction and haven't for a number
of years. My old pirated stuff has been converted to data disks.
It's too bad that some are foolish enough to think that they can get
away with piracy forever. It's not a game. It's a crime. Yeah, I know that
it may appear that I sound like a reformed drunk preaching against drinking,
but too many good people are getting hurt. One way ethics is a dirty game.
It's time to play fair with the developers and producers who play fair with
us. We lose the good developers and you can really kiss the Apple II line
goodbye.
As for the pin-heads who routinely use pirated software and cry on our
shoulders for sympathy because their computer has succumbed to a virus,
the only place you'll find sympathy in my house is in the dictionary.
From the Apple Echo
(The following was posted on the Apple Echo in May, pub.)
Apple has been stupid, and I think they will continue to be.
I know its not really nice to call Apple stupid, but it's really the
truth. They say the average person doesn't read Time or Omni, think advertising
in Apple IIGS Buyers Guide will do something, and admit their mistakes,
but don't correct them. When I was on at the America Online meeting with
Apple marketing heads, I asked why Apple all of a sudden just stopped its
support of the II in late 1988 when the GS's were selling great, the GS
had really surpassed the Amiga in amount of software, etc. They replied
with something like "we blew it". Well, that's nice for them to
admit their mistake (FINALLY!), but now they need to do something about
it besides advertising in GS Buyers Guide and writing an open letter from
Sculley in it. Some people think "Wow! A letter from Sculley!".
However, an open letter from Sculley was printed in MacUser that stated
that the Mac would continue to be Apple's main computer, and that Apple
will continue to release an average of one a year. From what I've heard
and read, Apple was a good company until Jobs and Sculley came along.
Another stupidity from Apple is that they admitted they should have had
someone prevent the "II is dead" rumor from getting around. So,
now that they've admitted it, are they going to do anything about it? It
doesn't seem like it.
The Apple II is not bad, the Apple IIGS is not bad (it's the same speed
as a Mac Plus with windows and the graphics interface, even though it runs
at a lot slower clock speed), Apple Computer is bad. I have already promised
myself that I will not support Apple by buying a Macintosh after the past
few years.
--- David White
Phoenix, AZ -- Greg Schaefer and Jerry Cline have just announced the
formation of InSync(c) Software, a new software publishing company that
will be dedicated to offering Apple computer users quality products and
support, while providing publishing assistance to both new and experienced
software artists.
Schaefer is the author of ProTERM(R), the telecommunications software
for Apple II computers, and Cline is, among other things, author, president
of The Arizona Apple/Mac User Group and User Group Forum Leader for America
OnLine. The duo announced that their first release will be version 2.2 of
Schaefer's ProTERM telecommunications package. ProTERM, recently published
by Checkmate Technology, Inc., has long been considered a standard for Apple
II users.
Schaefer, the prototypical software genius, authored ProTERM at age 19,
as well as GBBS (Greg's Bulletin Board Service), GBBS Pro and other software
goodies. On the other hand, Cline as a user group "Ralph Nader,"
is committed to defending and promoting the cause of Apple II and Macintosh
users. Together the two hope to provide a special understanding of the needs
of the, "most important and often most ignored" players in the
software business - authors and users.
"Starting with an established winner like ProTERM is exciting,"
Cline explained, "it's the solid gold type of product that any new
company would like to use as a launching pad." Cline continued, "It
just serves as proof that we are 'InSync' with the software world, hence,
the name of the company."
"InSync is really a description of our future plans, as well."
added Schaefer. "Soon, we'll be adding some innovations to ProTERM,
and developing and aiding the development of some new applications for
which we, as users, see an immediate need.
Cline first saw ProTERM when he went to visit Schaefer at his offices
during the Denver rollout of the Apple II GS in the fall of '86. While the
pair were involved in some consulting (BBS chatter), Schaefer unveiled his
new
telecommunications package - ProTERM. "As a grudging ASCII Express
user, I saw the magic of ProTERM instantly," stated Cline. "It
was exciting and I wanted to be involved."
Cline's enthusiastic response made a believer of a friend who was with
Cline for the ride, Andy Niemic, then president of Checkmate Technology.
Niemic listening to Cline's remarks, stepped in and snapped up the rights
to publish ProTERM.
"Take a look at the May 1990 issue of A+/inCider magazine,"
Cline said, "ProTERM is ranked first above ALL other Apple II telecom
applications due to its advanced, easy to use features and we have ideas
for the future to make it even better. Now that Greg is really an integral
part of ProTERM again and is just finishing up at CU Boulder, we have plans
that will make InSync Software a recognized company."
"In spite of Checkmate's important part in publishing ProTERM,"
revealed Schaefer, "Jerry has always been its unofficial product manager."
Greg finished stating, "Now with Jerry working as the official product
manager plus handling the day to day business of InSync, we'll be in the
publishing business and free to create which is exactly where I've always
wanted to be. This will be an extremely fruitful and rewarding partnership,
and our goal is, that users and other software artists reap the benefits."
For more information, contact:
Jerry Cline
InSync Software
PO Box 22141
Phoenix, AZ 85028-2141
602/992-5515
--- Mike Dong
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution Fri 11 May 1990 Page C-9
XEROX SUIT AGAINST APPLE IS DISMISSED
San Francisco Chronicle
Xerox Corp. has given up the one remaining claim in its suit against
Apple Computer Inc. over rights to the display technology in the Macintosh
computer.
As a result, U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker dismissed the closely
watched suit. Xerox's decision will allow it to appeal the case more quickly.
The company is studying the matter.
The technology at issue in the case, known as graphical user interface,
helped sell million of Macintoshes and has forced other manufacturers to
offer similar easy-to-use systems.
Xerox had alleged that many features in the Macintosh originated at Xerox's
Palo Alto Research Center in the 1970's. The suit asked $150 million in
damages.
A judge dismissed five of the Xerox's six counts against Apple on procedural
grounds.
--- Jeff Brielmaier
WAY COOL....
by John K. Gibson, Apple II Evangelist
(ed. note: Sometimes things come out that make you feel real good all over.
It makes me think we're winning, slowly but surely. The following is edited
down from a couple different messages on America Online. The author is both
a staff member on AOL, and a sales rep for Apple. I've seen many a message
of his that was very down, particularly after dealing with the Macolytes
he has to work with. This message is different.)
I have been in contact with several people that are major players in
the Apple II world. I have contacts within Apple that I am speaking to on
a regular basis.
The Attitude at Apple is changing... Apple is claiming the Apple II.
I have felt it in the words of the Education Reps and in the people in development
people that I speak with.
At the recent WWDC conference Apple told Macintosh developers that it
is easy to cross develop for the Apple IIgs. That it is easier to program
for the IIgs than they think it is. Get this people...THIS IS APPLE TALKING.
Also Apple stated that it is Socially Respectable to program for the
Apple IIgs but it is also Socially Responsible.
For the last 2 years it felt like a brick wall had been built around
Apple Inc when it came to the Apple II user. I am seeing road blocks swept
away and I see and feel the changes.
Don't expect Changes to happen overnight. These things need time. But
several very positive things are happening. Two of which are:
1) Apple II development funds have been increased by 20%, and
2) Apple II development has been brought together into one group. Whereas
they had been scattered in different areas.
I believe that the these 2 changes are significant signs that the Apple
II isn't dead... and that things will happen.
The signs are right.... The feelings are right....
I HAVE FELT THE FUTURE AND IT IS WAY COOL!!!!!!!!!!
Apple has said that they will make the Apple II and support the Apple
II well into the 1990s. This is a statement that I Believe.
As for Apple being absent at Applefest, plans for Applefest May were
made about 8 months before the major changes took place. Apple had a strong
presence at Naug C' 90 (National Apple Users Group Convention). Also Apple
will have a strong presence at Kansasfest. The A2 Central Apple II developers
Conference.
Yes, Apple wasn't at Applefest. That is the past... We talking about
the future. I have seen and felt changes in the Attitude of Apple Inc.
Apple is claiming the Apple II and Apple will continue to sell and support
the Apple II well into the 1990.
The Mac Apple Bridge... don't get your hopes up too high. There will
be a machine that will have the Ability.... get that... the Ability to run
Apple II software... but I have it from good sources that it is also going
to be an option on the machine, I also hear that it will only run 8 bit
software. The bridge will not supplant the Apple II.
The Future of the Apple II is bright... Just keep the faith..
* * * * *
And this, from the inside. There is hope.
I think all that we at The Road Apple, the folks with II Infinitum, and
all the others who've expressed their feelings towards Apple's previous
policies have done made a difference. I really think we're being heard.
But I also believe this could become another snow job if we let it. If
things are really beginning to go for us, this is not the time to rest and
enjoy a small battle won. This is the time to renew our efforts.
We MUST keep the momentum of change going, else the big wheels at Corporatino
stop turning again.
Write to Apple using the II Infinitum title. Let them know they're headed
in the right direction. But let them know we won't settle for letting them
stop now. The victory will be to the vigilante.
--- Dennis McClain-Furmanski
The Top Ten
It seems that every publication puts out what it considers to be the
best (or the worst) of whatever it deals with. The Road Apple is no exception.
Here are the ten top software programs according to the Publisher.
1. AppleWorks. Absolutely no surprise here. This "do-it-all" word
processor, spreadsheet and data base is the backbone of the Apple II line
and the one against which others are judged and that includes similar programs
for other computers. It is simply amazing what jobs AppleWorks is called
upon to do and how well it does them. After six years (prehistoric by computer
standards), AppleWorks still keeps chugging away tirelessly. It does what
other programs are supposed to do and it is so easy to learn.
2. TimeOut's enhancements for AppleWorks. Again, no surprise. The Beagle
Bros boys consistently churn out quality programs, stand alone and enhancements,
that meet the needs of the consumers and in the case of the TimeOut series,
keep AppleWorks up to date. The documentation is always first rate and the
programs work. Their philosophy of no copy protection has cost them dearly
but the honest consumers appreciate the attitude of trust.
The beauty of the TimeOut series is that you only have to buy what you
need and that keeps the investment cost way down. However, everyone should
have UltraMacros to use their AppleWorks most effectively.
3. ProSel. This is a hard disk owner's dream come true. The disk management
system is comprehensive and easy to use once understood. The documentation
is thorough, though not easy to understand at first reading. It's been said
that author Glen Bredon's sentences read like paragraphs and the paragraphs
read like books. Amen. Once you've tried ProSel, you'll never go to anything
else. Besides, what else is there?
4. ProTerm. A "must" for the modem user. Even a dummy like The
Road Apple Publisher can use it to great effectiveness with just a little
work on the learning curve. It's fast, easy to set up and adaptable.
5. Publish It!. For the Apple II desktop publisher fanatic there is nothing
finer. The ability to import AppleWorks text directly (after checking the
spelling, of course) and graphics from a variety of sources along with a
fine printing output makes this the best of the bunch. It is also the fastest
and most versatile. Just wish they had a full word wrap around.
6. Print Shop and Print Shop GS. This grandaddy graphics program is still
mighty useful for making those special banners, cards and posters. There
are whole libraries of graphics and fonts available for every occasion and
more are always on the way.
7. Labels, Labels, Labels. This "sleeper" from Big Red Computers
is a handy program for creating custom mailing labels directly from an AppleWorks
data base complete with different fonts and graphics and in color, if you
want. Almost any kind of label can be made for disks, video cassettes or
whatever. It's very user friendly.
8. Shrink It. Here is the packing package that does it all. It's menu driven,
easy to learn and operates at good speed. Now that I've had my computer
for a few years, it's time to archive and Shrink It is the program of choice.
9. Shanghai. It's just for the GS but it's got to be the best chewing gum
for the mind game to come along. Absolutely no time limit, coordination
or dexterity problems. You play it at your own pace unless you happen to
choose a timed game. It's a great way to relax between the sheets --- spreadsheets,
that is.
10. Fingerprint. It's not software, but it performs a valuable software
function --- saving whatever is on the screen and printing it out so you
can save it or study it later. This little gem has been very useful in analyzing
fonts and graphics or capturing something important that wouldn't ordinarily
be printable.
I'm sure that some of these are on your top ten also and you could give
me an argument of your favorites. However, I like 'em. They work. They are
cost effective. And they will be around for a long time. By they way, I'll
stack them up against any similar programs for any other computer or system.
Editorial
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
For some months now, something has been burning in me. There was an editorial
in another magazine which basically stated that "they don't direct
the market, they just report it."
To me, this is the epitome of irresponsible journalism. Every single
thing that goes into print is going to affect people. They may agree or
disagree, but they're going to take in that information; it will become
part of their psyche.
Every single mention of a product is an advertisement. It can be good,
bad or indifferent. If the reader sees it, it means something.
This so far only covers the mention of goods manufactured and possibly
advertised. Still more important is the content of the journal itself.
In the case of Apple, many people are quite upset over the past treatment
of the Apple II line. To write on for the dwindling numbers of users on
topics of interest while ignoring the wasteland being created at the retail
level is more than irresponsible, it's suicidal.
An industry magazine lives on that industry. It will only survive as
long as there is sufficient interest for that publication to be viable.
I would think that if the publisher really cared about their subject, they
would take a stand.
Hundreds or thousands of people depend on these publications for their
education and support. This is particularly true in Apple's instance. To
merely report the availability of goods, services and options for productivity
is to turn the collective back of that publication on what these people
need most; a focal point.
In the absence of an organized focus, one generally materializes. This
is what happened with ][ Infinitum. The unwillingness of the major publication
for an industry to take a stand has left them with the image of a tool of
the very company they write about. This is not the type of association I
would put on a resume'. It's sad that those in a position to have the power
to help put momentum into Apple have chosen instead to take a position as
laconic as the non-existent marketing strategy which caused so much unrest.
The invention of the printing press is credited with being the most critical
event in ending the dark ages. The American Revolution would been much less
likely without the writings being circulated, such as "Common Sense".
The saying "The pen is mightier than the sword" is not just a
homily, it is a truism.
To be fair, both the same publication and the same writer have spoken
out about Apple's policies before. But then even that makes you wonder,
as David Letterman says "what goes through their minds."
Apple has been talking out both sides of their mouth for a long time.
It appears the malady is contagious.
If you catch me talking like someone who just stepped out of the main
offices at Corporatino, do me a favor, will you?
Pull my plug.
AppleWriter Patch
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
AppleWriter is one of the most popular word processors ever sold for Apple
computers. The operation of the II GS made a change necessary. If you want
to do it yourself, and run your old IIe version on your GS, you can do the
following.
AppleWriter GS Print Modification
This patch will fix AppleWriter IIe so that it will print to an ImageWriter
via the GS serial port. Use a backup copy of AppleWriter. DO NOT attempt
these changes on your original disk!
1. Set the prefix of the disk containing the Apple Writer system files.
2. UNLOCK AWD.SYS
3. CALL-151
4. BLOAD AWD.SYS,A$2000,E$6020,TSYS
5.
a) Look at $49C7 -- if it is $A0, change it to $60. If it is not $A0
go to part "b". Finish by changing two more bytes:
Change as follows:
Location From To --------- -----
-----
$4F7E $01 $10
$4F85 $31 $13
Go to part "c".
b) Look at $4DB0 -- if it is $A0, change it to $60. If it is not $A0
then you are in deep trouble and own an unidentified version of ProDOS AppleWriter.
Finish by changing two more bytes:
Change as follows:
Location From To
-------- ----- -----
$4F67 $01 $10
$4F6E $31 $13
c) BSAVE AWD.SYS,A$2000,E$6020,TSYS
6. Reboot and test.
7. This patch is courtesy of Don Lancaster.
HyperStuff
By Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Just as GEOS has brought the graphics interface environment to the Apple
II series, and Roger Wagner has produced an improvement of the HyperCard
for the IIGS with his HyperStudio. Techware has made another move in keeping
the 8 bit II series up with the big bit bangers by producing a HyperCard
product for them.
Tutor Tech is a complete and fully interactive HyperStack program, designed
according to the press release as being for educators. But what II series
program doesn't say that now days?
The program also interfaces with the Apple Video Overlay card, the Pioneer
Laser Disk player, will soon interface with CD-ROM, and also will read Mac
HyperCard stacks.
It works with Thunderscan and Computer Eyes digitizers, has a full featured
paint program in it, and interfaces with most other paint programs directly,
or by conversion to ProDOS of the other files, using CONVERT on the SYSTEM.DISK.
Owners of the Video Overlay Card can get $50 off the $195 price tag (less
by mail or store).
If you don't have a mouse, it works with a joystick, Koala Pad or Muppet
Keyboard.
TUTOR-TECH by Techware
PO Box 151085
Altamonte Springs, FL 32715
(407) 695-9000
=====
Vol 3, #4
KansasFest '90
by Al Martin
The A2-Central Developer's Conference was a smash hit again this year.
Tom "Uncle DOS" Weishaar is to be congratulated by the entire
Apple II community for his dedication to the computer line and hard work
in organizing this fine conference. This year Apple, Inc. was well represented,
which is a tribute to the quality of Tom's get-together.
Thanks also to Tom Vanderpool for manning the A2-Central store and taking
such good care of the customers for all those long hours. And to Sally (sorry,
Sally, I didn't get your last name) at the registration desk who got us
in our right rooms and generally held our hands. A personal tip o' the cap
to Dean Esmay who helped this electronic dodo understand the "Dungeons
of Doom" otherwise known as GEnie. The Road Apple's GEnie address is
A.Martin10 if you care to drop me a note.
Sadly, the Soviets were not present this year and they were sorely missed.
They were there is spirit, however. Yours truly did a Pravetz 82 (Soviet
Apple II clone) presentation complete with a working sample (special thanks
to Ron Lewin of Micol Systems who provided it) and slides of the Soviet-Bulgarian
joint venture.
After attending three AppleFests in San Francisco and two A2-Central
conferences, I'm convinced that A2-Central is THE Apple II event. I know
it's primarily for developers, but as an avid, though backward, user, I
find that I get more out of the Kansas gathering than I ever did out of
AppleFest. If at all possible, do plan to attend next year.
As an open suggestion to Tom Weishaar, how about adding another day at
the front end of the conference? With some built-in free time, we'd have
more opportunities for casual conversation, presentations and a shot at
visiting Kansas City along with the Royals game, which, by the way, was
postponed by a heavy rain this year.
And speaking of Kansas City, four of us found the shrine of barbecued
ribs and beef --- Arthur Bryant's place at 17th and Brooklyn. Nowhere have
I had better barbecue. Huge portions of succulent pork ribs or beef brisket
barbecued to perfection and topped with a sauce that is heaven-sent. Backed
by great fries and washed down with pitchers of icy beer, it's an eater's
paradise with reasonable prices. Just a short cab ride from downtown; don't
plan to do much strolling around outside alone, if you get my drift.
What's new and news
By Al Martin
Laser Computers is working on an "all in one" Apple II clone
system that will sell in retail stores like Sears and Penny's for $499.
For the developers, Laser offers free advertising by putting 4-color
ads in every Apple II clone unit they sell. Just send the copy and pictures
to Laser and they will do the rest.
Laser is also working on a true Apple II clone laptop. It will be the
size and shape of the PC portable they currently produce. The problem is
that they are looking for a company to do the engineering. Rollout is a
year or two away depending on development time. Whether or not they beat
Apple, Inc. to the street remains to be seen. The company that does will
have a winner on its hands.
Though not a full blown portable, Laser will release an Apple II compatible
version of its P/C 4 about mid-August. Dubbed the P/C 4 Laser 128/Apple
II, it weighs in at just under two pounds and measures 7.6"x10"x1.3",
and runs on four AA batteries with a life of 45 hours or on an A/C adapter.
The SRAM is 32k with 2meg ROM with programs and dictionary. It moves at
3.58MHz and displays 4 lines with 40 characters.
The beastie has a word processor with a spelling checker, spreadsheet,
phone directory, appointment book, personal file, expense account file,
alarm clock with 16 settings and a phone dialer. There are many other options
you can custom install.
The great thing is that the data can be transferred to an Apple II computer
using AppleWorks with a supplied cord and software. The unit sells for $199.
I've already placed my order.
Sadly, there will be no GS (8/16) clone coming from Laser. The machine
can be produced (a prototype was displayed at the '89 KansasFest). The problem
is that once the changes are made to run GS programs and not violate copyrights,
all Apple, Inc. has to do is to patch their chips and Laser will be forever
playing catch-up. Rumor had
it that an 8/16 will be released in Canada. Could not confirm that.
Version 9 of Copy II+ is the last one Central Point Software will produce.
This is the end of the line for that fine product. There may be an upgrade,
but that's it.
Cirtech is in the final development stages of Duet, a card that will
run Mac programs in the GS. The following is a quote from a Cirtech handout:
"Duet transforms the Apple IIGS into a powerful, low-cost, colour
Mac!
"Duet is an innovative new product that provides a real bridge between
the Apple Macintosh and Apple IIGS computers. For the first time, it is
possible to run both Mac and GS software using the SAME computer.
"Duet comprises a co-processor card and special 'link' software.
The card (which fits into any standard slot in the IIGS) has a 16Mhz 68020
processor with one to eight Megabytes of RAM together with a custom ROM.
The system uses all standard Apple peripherals as 'Mac' ports or drives
and is totally transparent to the computer user and all Mac Applications.
Both the 68020 and the GS 65816 processors operate at the same time. The
65816 handles all input/output tasks while the 68020 is used to run Mac
programs and the main operating system. The system results in amazingly
fast performance (in a 'normal' Mac the processor has to handle almost all
I/O itself, degrading overall performance). The Duet system actually outperforms
the Mac IICX!
"Options
"68882 co-processor chip (fits into socket on Duet card).
"RAM expansion (supplied with 1Meg, expandable to 8 Meg).
"Duet is currently in the final stages of development and is scheduled
for shipping by December, 1990.
"For further information, contact: Catrona McKendrick, Cirtech (UK)
Ltd., on 0835 23898, FAX 0835 22471"
No word on the price except that it will be "less than a Mac".
Apple, Inc. demoed its new HyperCard GS for a three-hour stint. Because
of the Confidentiality Agreement I signed, I can't tell you anything about
it. Besides, it isn't a product that I plan on using and since the presentation
followed lunch, I started nodding off about 10 minutes into the show. I
retired to my room for a well-deserved nap.
There was speculation about the cost. Should be less than Mac's hypercard
or maybe even freeware like GS/OS.
For those of you who might have a P/C somewhere around and/or are not
intrigued with Applied Engineering, take a look at CrossWorks. It's a cable
and software package that allows any Apple II computer to hook directly
up with an IBM, PC, XT, AT, PS/2 or compatible. There is an exchange of
files with MicroSoft Works, WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, dBase and more. It
sells for $99.95 from A2-Central.
From master Apple II user Wade Spafford of Cleveland, here's tip for
those of you who have disks but no labels handy or want a quick label maker
for disks. Get a roll of 3-M's Post-it tape. It comes in a variety of widths
(he uses the 1" for labels). The tape is designed for cover-up and
correction. Its got the Post-it stickum all over the back side and hangs
on really well. It's easily removable whenever you want to change labels.
It comes in three widths: 1 line (#651), 2 lines (#652) and 6 lines [1 inch]
(#658). I've found it to be very handy.
Review: Outline 3.0
by Al Martin
Outline 3.0 by Randy Brandt is a full-featured outline program that resides
inside AppleWorks. If you ever wanted an outline program and slugged your
way through ThinkTank, this is the answer to your prayers. Outline 3.0 runs
with the usual smoothness and bug-free operation I have come to expect from
Randy.
The disk comes with the Installer, Customizer, AppleWorks Patch 1.5 and
sample files. Though this is a JEM software program, the documentation is
in the familiar TimeOut format.
The program is easily installed right off the disk and once in AppleWorks
comes up with an <Open-Apple-+> command. The outline can be created
on the fly and text added as you go. Once you leave Outline 3.0 <Escape>,
all topics and subs are flush left along with the text. If you have written
your entire report, select "Remove outline from file" from the
special Options menu <Open-Apple-O> and you end up with just your
report ready to print. In fact, I'm writing this edition of The Road Apple
using Outline 3.0.
Most of the TimeOut enhancements work inside Outline 3.0 as well as the
usual AppleWorks commands. For those that don't, like TimeOut Thesaurus
or AppleWorks Options, an <Escape> gets you into the edit mode where
those enhancements and commands do work. A quick <Open-Apple-+> and
you're back in Outline.
Outline 3.0 offers the options of the Harvard (I, A, 1, a), Legal (1.0,
1.1, 1.1.1), Symbol (o, *, =, >, #), None or Custom formats. Once a format
is used, choosing another one automatically changes the outline to that
one with no loss of topics and subs. Levels of topics are called "Father",
"Uncle", "Brother" or "Son". Why the male
designations? Randy says, "Since the leading Macintosh outliner, Acta,
uses a female perspective, we're just balancing things."
Writing the complete text in Outline 3.0 is a bit more cumbersome than
in the edit mode of AppleWorks, but if you do just the outline with brief
notes and print the hard copy, it's an excellent road map to keep you on
track.
Outline 3.0 works only in AppleWorks 3.0 and is a writer's dream come
true. If you're a serious writer, casual writer, student or in business,
Outline 3.0 is a "must have". It sells for $44.95 and can be ordered
from:
JEM Software
PO Box 20920
El Cajon, CA 92021
By the way, Randy's 30th birthday is August 26th. Hey gang, let's send
him greetings via snail mail, GEnie <BRANDT>, Pro-APA board <RANDYB>,
Pro-Beagle <RANDYB>, pony express, UPS or whatever. "Old"
geezers like him deserve some recognition in their "sunset" years.
Editorial
Sorry state of Apple
by Al Martin
Apple, Inc. reps attended KansasFest '90 in force. Some 30 folks from
Cupertino registered. You couldn't walk 10 feet without running into one
of them. This comes in the wake of the confrontation last year. Guess Cupertino
decided that reinforcements were needed this time around.
From a consumer's standpoint, products shown or mentioned for the Apple
II line are a ho-hum deal. HyperCard GS and GS/OS 5.0.3 (inadvertently)
were shown. ProDOS System Disk 3.2 was distributed and marked "Not
for distribution". It's still the same old ball game.
The mood at the end of the conference was more positive from the developers
I talked with than it was last year. I had the reverse reaction. Last year
I was encouraged by what I witnessed; this year, I dunno. I came away with
an "oh, well" feeling. Maybe the developers are right and I certainly
hope they are.
Janet Lee from the Apple II department of Apple, Inc. spoke after Friday's
lunch. She indicated that there would be corporate dollars in advertising
the II line. As an example she pulled out an 8-page proof of an upcoming
Mac ad. Happily she pointed to a 1" x 1" graphic of a GS in the
middle of all this and indicated that this was an example of increased corporate
support for the II line. My reaction was that first time readers will look
at that and think it's another Mac.
She said, "We (Apple, Inc.) will continue to provide Apple IIs as
long as the customers demand them." Well, if you don't advertise 'em,
how are they going to know about (and demand) them?
Later in the day, I had a chance to visit with her and took her to task
about the constant references to "Apple II and K-12 education"
and "Mac/business". I added that inCider/A+ will be coming out
in the September issue with an article about large and serious businesses
being run with Apple II computers. "Why," I asked her, "can't
Apple, Inc. accept the fact that Apple IIs are serious computers?"
I do not recall a response.
Following Friday's dinner, Ralph(?) Russo of Apple, Inc., told us "Apple
(Inc) has not addressed the II concerns properly during the past 2 years.
Now we will do a good job."
This, after reading Apple Direct Editor Bill Freais' comment in the July,
1990 issue in the "Editor's Notes" column, "Although Apple
Direct can not predict what the future holds for the Apple II, we can tell
you this: The Apple II is a valuable and robust product, and as such it
still presents plenty of development opportunities. There are more than
5 million of them out there, primarily in the schools, which means lots
of people have a vested interest in the well-being of this machine and its
third-party software. As long as that's the case, Apple will be there to
support it."
If Apple Direct, an Apple, Inc. publication, can't predict the future
of the II line, who or what can? We still have this namby-pamby attitude
of "well, if the customers demand it, I guess we'll sell 'em products."
Where is the courage to forge ahead? Where is the leadership? All there
seems to be is the endless reference, again, to the Apple II in schools
only. No mention of business, research, science, home production, ad nauseam.
Russo continues, "Apple's history has been to empower the individual,
however the ads of the past 2.5 years has been corporate."
"We may see a rethink (of the role of the Apple II) over the next
12 to 15 months," he continued.
Lastly, we listened to Dave Szetela who proudly announced that the Apple
developer's fee has been halved from $600 to $300 from last year to this.
I wonder what would have happened to the fee structure if the verbal battle
of last year had not happened?
In a cover story in the Summer, 1990 issue of The Apple IIGS Buyer's
Guide, Apple, Inc. CEO John Sculley wrote, "Apple's commitment to its
5 million Apple II users is to continue to create products and improve the
functionality and performance of their computers. Apple will sell, service
and support the Apple II line well into the 1990s."
Yeah, how about advertising? How about not only supporting the current
5 million users, but also looking for another 5 million?
Further, "We are currently working on a variety of new 'bridges'
between the Apple II and Macintosh families to make that synergy even better."
Uhhhh, who will do the "talking" and who will do the "listening"?
The point that Sculley misses is that a lot of II users don't give a hoot
about working with the Mac. They want their stand alone machines to be even
better than they are now. This Apple, Inc. fertilizer about replacing your
Apple II with a Mac is falling on more and more deaf ears. Folks have found
out that the only replacement for an Apple II is another Apple II.
And, dear John, why does the article appear in only the GS Buyer's Guide?
How come the article did not come out in the Apple II specific magazine,
inCider/A+?
It is apparent to me that the internal and external battle of the Apple
II vs. Mac has caused major damage to the corporation. While Apple, Inc.
is snubbing its loyal II customers and losing markets with both lines, IBM
and others are hauling money to the bank from markets taken from Apple,
Inc.
And that's a sorry state of affairs.
Interview with Andy Nicholas
by Al Martin
Andy Nicholas, author of the ShrinkIt series of packing programs for
the Apple II line, was again in attendance at the A2-Developer's conference
this year.
Andy, at 22 years old, is a slight, handsome young man, with a very quiet
and unassuming personality which belies his extensive computer knowledge.
Andy is fun to be with and a "nice guy". A non-smoker or drinker,
he was right there with the rest of the "party animals" playing
frisbee football at 2:00 AM.
I was able to catch up with him late Saturday afternoon for a few minutes.
RA: How did you come to write Shrinkit?
AN: The archiving programs available were StuffIt for the Mac and ARC for
the PC. There was no real archiving program for the Apple IIe. I used the
Morvarian College computers and I did some college projects with it. It's
become the standard archiving program on GEnie, America-OnLine and CompuServe.
RA: Did you want to make money with ShrinkIt?
AN: No. But donations are accepted.
RA: Have you graduated from college?
AN: Yes. I have a B.S. degree in computer science with a minor in history,
Slavic history.
RA: Now what?
AN: I'm looking for a job (grin) in computer engineering, software development
only. I prefer utility programs. I've done some animation, but I prefer
utilities.
RA: Just what is Paper Bag Products?
AN: A fictitious company. Used it to become an Apple Partner. Been an Apple
Partner for 2 years.
RA: What equipment do you now use?
AN: I've got a GS with a 60mg hard drive and 4 meg of RAM.
RA: What do you see in your future?
AN: I'd like to write extensions to ShrinkIt. ShrinkIt will evolve toward
a back-up program. I would like to finish my telecom program, ZModem.
RA: Do you have any "dream" programs in mind?
AN: Yes. I'd like to rewrite the Apple GS Finder so that ShrinkIt would
be in the Finder.
RA: What is your "computer passion"?
AN: Seeing people able to solve complex problems with ease. Providing solutions
and making them easy and to give the machine some intelligence.
RA: What do you think of the fate of the Apple II?
AN: It will come closer and closer to a Mac. I wish for a new full-featured
CPU but it most likely will not happen. The future II may not always run
8-bit software. I see a future for the 8/16 computers for some time to come.
RA: Anything you want to add?
AN: Yeah. Something weird happened to me. Went to Jamaica with a college
group to help repair the damage from hurricane Gilbert. Got burned both
inside and out on the same day.
I was up on a roof repairing it with the hot tropical sun beating down
on me all day. That was the outside. Later, I bit into and ate part of a
pepper called the Scotch Bonnet. It is the world's hottest pepper; nine
times hotter than a Jalapeno. I hyperventilated for 20 minutes.
RA: Thank goodness there was no permanent damage.
RA: Are you having fun now?
AN: Yeah, and I hope to have a lot more. I look forward to attempting process
that no one has ever tried. I see success in working with the unknown.
RA: Thanks, Andy Nicholas. You've given the Apple II world great programs
in ShrinkIt and ShrinkIt GS. We look forward to your next project.
Andy and ShrinkIt can be reached at:
8415 Thornberry Drive East
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
Electronic Addresses:
GEnie or AOL: shrinkit
CIS: 70771,2615
What if?
by Al Martin
Going back to Kansas this year reminded me of Dorothy and the Wizard
of Oz (that's Oz, not Woz). Since The Wizard of Oz is an imaginary tale,
I reflected upon this and wondered if yet another imaginary tale could come
out of Kansas. OK, here goes.
What if the Apple IIGS had the same interface and desktop as the Mac?
Would the IIGS be faster than the Mac+ and about the same speed as the MacSE
with color?
What if Jonathon Fader began a move to surreptitiously encourage 3rd
party developers to cease development of Apple II products in favor of Mac
development.
What if Phillip Ivanier, Fader's replacement, continued the same policy?
What if Phillip Ivanier, the leading evangelist for the Apple HyperCard
GS gave some development companies an advanced copy of the card and withheld
it from others? What if these favored companies had the card since, oh say
about last September or so and the others saw it for the first time at KansasFest
'90?
What if late last winter some Apple II software development companies,
on the advice of Apple, Inc., shelved Apple II software development and
were surprised at the demonstration of HyperCard GS at KansasFest?
What if all of this was true instead of a fairy tale, what would be the
impact on the Apple II development world?
Of course we all know that all of this is a figment of my imagination.
Surely, Apple, Inc. would not really do such things. Right?
Dodging the bullet
by Al Martin
The Apple II world came close to losing one of its champions earlier
in July. Dan Muse, Editor in Chief of inCider/A+ was planning to move on
to greener pastures in the publishing business. At almost the 11th hour
he had a change of heart and has decided to remain with inCider/A+. And
that's at least some good new for us.
Surge protection: A common threat
by Chris Bannister
There was a most interesting speaker at the Princeton IBM/PC Users Group's
April meeting. Wendell Laidley, representing Zero Surge (of Bernardsville,
NJ), presented the most thorough discussion I've encountered on the subject
of line surges and related problems.
It was worrisome. It seems that virtually ALL surge protectors rely on
what are called MOVs (Metal Oxide Varistors) to shunt aside spikes and surges,
and they work fine for a while, but they have a finite life and eventually
will fail, often without any indication of failure. We were shown, for example,
Kensington MasterPiece and a Tripp-Lite Isobar units that had failed, yet
all the lights, switches and receptacles still worked. One member said
only a $20,000 special testing device can determine if MOVs are up to specification
and that a 10% reduction in performance is deemed a failure.
MOV surge protectors will SEEM to be working fine, but in fact THEY MAY
BE WORTHLESS. MOVs are almost universally used in protectors, from $3.95
Radio Shack plug-in units, to all Tripp-Lite units (it figures: I bought
an ISOTEL unit not long ago), to expensive units like the American Power
conversion standby battery unit I bought just several weeks ago... they
all employ MOV surge protection circuits, and they all will fail in time!
Wonderful.
The Zero Surge design, however, uses no MOVs or other degrading components.
Instead, it is wired in series, so all incoming electrons must pass through
it; when a surge is detected, excess current is stored temporarily, then
gradually released back into the line, acting much like a spring and shock
absorber. UL tested and approved, Zero Surge protectors can handle repeated
6,000 volt, 3,000 Amp surges at 75 millisecond intervals, maintaining a
steady output to subsequent equipment. Laidley pointed out that standard
wall receptacles act above 6,000 volts like giant spark plugs --every home
thus has its own built-in super-surge protection -- so one need only be
concerned with jolts of 6,000 volts or less. And because MOVs are not used
in their circuits, Zero Surge warrants its products for 10 years, and thereafter
offers to upgrade any unit to new condition for 20% of whatever the unit
then sells for.
The ultimate surge protection, of course, is to remove all electrical
plugs whenever equipment is not in use. The most effective practical set-up,
Laidley said, was first to have a Zero Surge unit, then a simple standby
battery power supply, followed by all line-sensitive computer equipment.
Thus, the Zero Surge unit preempts the standby battery's built-in MOV circuitry.
Any battery unit of sufficient size would suffice. Line conditioners, alas,
also often include MOVs, so aren't worth considering. Not so long ago, I
tried with due diligence to become an informed consumer of surge protectors,
but I found no mention or hint that MOVs were by design sort-lived. Yet
there was universal confirmation at the meeting by various engineer members
that the speaker's claims were correct. Since then I have seen the Service
Life Curves in GE's MOV Design Manual, and I am thoroughly satisfied that
MOVs _do_ wear out; that _all MOVs will eventually fail; and that there
is no practical way to tell when an MOV has failed.
Why haven't these facts been openly reported in the various attendant
magazines? How many computers (and TVs, audio systems, etc.), now plugged
unwittingly into dead MOV units, are awaiting the ultimate fatal surprise
of their electronic lives? That a little indicator light glows red with
reassurance is absolutely no warranty whatever that the protection circuits
are active! So be warned: a ten-cent fuse may be all that's between your
investment and a truly fried circuit.
The problem is compounded for LANs, where the ground wire also serves
as the voltage reference for data lines. MOV protectors, when they're working,
shunt surges to ground, and that, of course, guarantees zapped data.
Zero Surge makes 2 sizes of surge interceptors, a 7.5 Amp model (list
$149), which is right for those of us who_don't_ have laser printers, and
a 15 Amp model ($199) for those who do, plus shipping. I've installed one,
so I won't have to worry again about protecting my equipment.
By the way, much is made of using true UPS (uninterruptable power supply)
equipment, which by definition is a 100% battery fed computer system. But
not only are they extremely expensive, their square-wave output is a less
pleasing diet for the computer's power supply, and a continuously inverter
may well wear out sooner than a standby battery unit whose inverter operates
only when needed. Finally a case where cheaper (standby) may be better!
Because I've had such an unexpected response to my original message on
this subject, I've asked Zero Surge to summarize the features and benefits
of their units. What follows is from Zero Surge Inc., Bernardsville, NJ
(201-766-4220):
"The Zero Surge patented Surge Eliminator is designed to provide
reliable, non-degrading power protection for computers so its owners can
permanently forget about power problems.
"Our units differ in four fundamental ways from ordinary surge protectors:
"1. Zero Surge is a series circuit with zero response time. It intercepts
all surges, including the very fast 5 nanosecond internal surges from current
interruption on the branch circuit (like a car's spark coil), which are
too fast for MOVs to divert.
"2. Zero Surge contains no MOVs and no components are over stressed
by surges of unlimited current up to 6,000 volts (wiring clearance limit
- see Chris' comments above). Zero Surge's service life is equal to the
shelf life of its components.
"3. Critical for networks and modems (BBS users take note), Zero
Surge does not use ground as a surge sink, but instead stores the surge
energy temporarily, then slowly releases it to the neutral. This preserves
the integrity of the ground for its role as voltage reference by all data
line interconnections. Surges diverted to ground by ordinary surge supressors
and UPSs couple directly into data lines through the reference ground. For
modems, internal or external, the computer input signal uses the powerline
ground for reference, and a ground surge will seek the phone line ground
on the output side. This is how most modems are damaged, because surges
are very rare on the high impedance phone line circuit, which is also protected
under 300 volts at the telephone service entrance.
"4. Zero Surge takes the sharp leading edges off surges and noise,
eliminating their ability to couple into computer circuitry. "In summary,
Zero Surge is a comprehensive circuit designed to provide reliable computer
grade protection against the full range of powerline disturbances."
NOTE: Zero Surge is mentioned on page 36 of PC Week (30 April).
Of all the potential sources for electrical damage to a computer, the
act of turning one on and off has got to rank at the all time bottom of
concerns. I mean, what good is anything that you must worry about turning
on or off, right? I forget what wattage is involved in a IIc and monitor,
but it can't amount to much more than turning on or off a 150-watt light
bulb, so what sort of "power surge" are we talking about here?
Forget it.
The kind of surges you DO need to worry about are 1)nearby internal line
surges caused by freezers, air conditioners, furnace blowers, etc., which
do have the potential to cause modest surges; and 2), external line surges
which vary from power company grid switching (maybe as often as once every
few hours), to a car collision with a pole transformer, to a lightening
hit, etc., any one of which can garble data or fry equipment. And THAT,
of course, is where a proper surge protector comes into play.
I've pursued the subject of the Zero Surge protector's circuit design
with Wendell Laidley. Here is his description:
"Briefly, Zero Surge employs a current limiting inductor, followed
by a voltage limiting bridge. The bridge contains several triggered energy
absorbing stages that respond according to the slew rate and energy of the
incoming surge, and keep maximum let through voltage under 250 volts (in
UL 1,449 tests at 6,000 volts and 500 amps, let through was 223volts, or
42 volts above AC powerline peak, the best ever tested by UL)."
Regarding the statement that Zero Surge uses no MOVs or other degrading
components, this is a touch of simplification, but I think not very much.
I asked Laidley what components in the Zero Surge protector might fail.
He responded that one of the three large electrolytic capacitors would probably
be the first to fail. One capacitor is charged to track the sine wave peak
at all times, the other two are uncharged except during a surge. He says
the rated life of these capacitors, _under full load for 24/day_, is 11-1/2
years. His conservative estimate is about a 20 year life in the Zero Surge
product, so long as they're not operating in a steam room at high temperatures.
There are two self-test lights on a Zero Surge unit to monitor capacitor
performance. He emphasized that no Zero Surge components are designed to
be _sacrificial_ (like MOVs), so I'm modifying my text to read "The
Zero Surge design, however, uses no MOVs or other intentionally degrading
or sacrificial components."
Regarding the claim of "zero response time", Laidley insists
this is accurate. He says, "The first component is a 100 micro-Henry
inductor, in series with the line, that responds instantly to the surge
current. The output rise time of this inductor is far slower than the low
nS range response time of the bridge diodes."
Regarding the claim that their protector "...takes the sharp leading
edges off surges and noise, eliminating their ability to couple into computer
circuitry", Laidley says that Zero Surge protectors reduce thresholds
to acceptable levels. "Zero Surge reduces surge rise time by approximately
40 times, thus reducing the disturbance below the threshold to a point that
no significant coupling can occur."
To avoid any confusion, Zero Surge has altered its text to read, "In
summary, Zero Surge is a comprehensive circuit designed to provide reliable
computer grade protection against the full range of powerline surge disturbances."
Laidley emphasized his desire to answer any and all questions about his
product. The Zero Surge phone number is 201-766-4220, FAX number is 201-766-4144.
Don't hesitate to call him.
In case you're interested, I'd like to add that the Zero surge protector
components are in full view when the box is opened; there are no "hidden
parts" and none of the epoxy encapsulation so often found in other
units.
In LAN Times: Network Technology, May '90, there's yet another article
on the subject of surges, titled Surge Protection Revisited, by Charles
P. Koontz. Here are some quotations:
"In 1988, research engineers at the National Bureau of Standards
(now the National Institute of Standard and Technology, or NIST) accidentally
found that conventional surge protectors could harm interconnected computing
devices by surging the ground and contaminating data lines." "Network
data lines use the ground circuit for voltage reference." "The
critical reference ground should be kept clean....networks should only employ
surge protectors that do not shunt surges to ground....find a surge protection
device designed specifically to solve this problem. As a minimum, surge
protectors should not shunt the surge to ground, but rather to neutral at
the point of use (next to the PC). The ideal surge protector... would be
a circuit that presents a high impedance to the surge and a low impedance
to the power wave, while protecting the integrity of the ground circuit.It
should also contain no degrading components like MOVs." That's an accurate
description of a Zero Surge Inc.protector.
Regarding MOVs and clamping voltage: "As the varistorages, its
clamping voltage decreases and it may begin a process called thermal runaway.
This process has resulted in... fire." "If your surge protectors
have been in use for a while (six months is a reasonable time), the MOVs
may be incapable of proper performance." And, "If it doesn't have
UL or CSA certification for a transient voltage surge suppression device,
don't buy it. If the device has UL certification as a temporary power tap,
it means that UL has a high opinion of it as an extension cord, not as a
surge protector."
But a bets's better
Editorial by Paul Zucker
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, 1990 MAY 25 (NB)
One of the best things about being a top PC journalist is being allowed
to play with very early test versions of software. Sometimes I get to see
it, too. A well-known computer gossip columnist, by accident, left his copy
of OS/3 in my office the other day, and I was amazed to see that it has
an artificial intelligence interface.
Unfortunately, OS/3 bombs out a lot (good to see they haven't taken away
all the features we've grown to love in operating systems). Here are a few
of the error codes. By decompiling the files with Norton SafeCracker, we've
worked out what the machine was really thinking.
83 Date formula too complicated = "Let's see. -- 2592000 seconds
hath September ...."
16 Out of memory = "Sorry. What did you say?"
76 Disk full = "I didn't think you'd mind. I'm looking after some
files for a friend.
98 Advanced features unavailable = " I don't know how you found
out about that command, but don't use it again!"
145 Too many files open = "How many fingers do you think I've got?"
154 Permission denied = "I've got a headache!!!"
345 Warning, save file now = "I think I just deleted your file!"
47 Incorrect Password = "I've forgotten your password, but I'll
make you think you've got it wrong!"
615 Variable does not exist = "I thought I put it next to the red
light on the disk drive but I can't find it now!"
288 Unexpected end of routine = "Sorry, did I drop off for a while
there?"
999 Internal error = "Jim at R&D said no one would ever try
something as silly as that, but you had to, didn't you!"
218 Indent too wide = "Listen dummy. If I put that on the screen
I'd probably punch a hole in the side of the monitor."
344 Keyboard buffer overload = "How did you manage to hold down
eleven keys at once?"
Joke of the Month
by Al Martin
Didja hear the one about the Apple, Inc. employee who was laid off and
then fired? He called the Macintosh Marketing plan "Manure".
He was laid off for insulting a corporate concept and fired for violating
the terms of his Confidentiality Agreement.
=====
Vol 3, #5
(Publisher's note: In this issue, The Road Apple will devote most of its
space to a story of great importance and potentially serious consequences
to computer users who make use of modems and electronic bulletin boards.
As this is written, the US Congress is wrestling ways to cut spending, reduce
the deficit and "balance" the budget. After reading this story,
I'm sure you can think of a way or two of cutting federal spending. ---
Al Martin)
Operation Sun Devil; More here than meets the eye
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski, Senior Editor
By now, you've no doubt read countless articles on OPERATION SUN DEVIL
- the two-year Secret Service sting operation ostensibly aimed at a nationwide
network of online criminals. The investigation culminated in a May 8 sweep
involving 150 federal agents who served 27 warrants in 14 cities and confiscated
40 computers along with 23,000 computers diskettes. You may have wondered
why stories have been appearing in numerous general press publications while
we've remained largely mute on it.
You'll read articles in Boardwatch regarding online affairs month before
they surface in other publications. But on the other hand, some are going
to seem to run a little late while we track down what's really going on.
We're just stunned that the New York Times, USA Today, Newsweek, and most
of the free industry tabloid press has become so knowledgeable on this subject
so quickly. They must be a lot smarter and tremendously better connected
to the online world than we are to write so knowledgeable on such a complex,
and, as it turns out, sinister issue. On the other hand, we would like to
have seen ONE of them to strike at least PART of the story a glancing blow
toward reality.
And frankly, we've not yet got full information on this one. But a story
is emerging that should be told and we do know enough at this point to publicly
come out with a position that almost everything you've read to this point
is pure D-grade bullshit issuing almost solely from Secret Service press
releases.
The industry tabloid press seems to have a fascination with a mythical,
all powerful "hacker" that strikes fear in the heart of the MIS
director target audience they all seem to hold so dear. This is complicated
by the fact that the purported "hackers" themselves tend to play
up to this in a bit of a hammish way - Andy Worhol's fifteen minutes of
fame so to speak. The stories we've seen thus far have been so one sided
that we had to look a little further. What we've found so far has been startling
in its variance from published reports.
There does appear to be an element of crime involved - though not nearly
to the degree portrayed. And the number of innocents bludgeoned by the stunning
dearth of knowledge on the part of the Secret Service in the process is
awe inspiring. There is almost no attempt to convict anyone of any crimes.
In fact, there have to this point been no charges filed relating directly
to the May 8 sweep and a scant handful from a related theft of a telephone
company document. Operation Sun Devil appears to be a preemptive strike
by the Secret Service to cast fear into the hearts of online aficionados
before the problem of online crime gets
"out of hand." That most of the Constitution of the United States
got stomped into the asphalt in the process is virtually mute. The strategy
appears to be somewhat effective.
The controversy revolves around a group of online ne'er do wells who
call themselves "The Legion of Doom." By all accounts, this is
a rather loose but secretive "organization" of certainly less
than twenty individuals in the throes of puberty that go by "handles"
such as Scorpion, Acid Phreak, Phiber Optik, and Terminus. They are undoubtedly
up to no good. The extent of their actual crimes is a little hazy however.
This is complicated by the fact that they don't mind at all being portrayed
as invincible computer experts and they do love publicity to the point of
playing their role as online mystics and masterminds to the hilt.
Both Acid Phreak and Phiber Optik have been on the Whole Earth Lectro
Link (WELL), (415) 332-7190, a number of times. John Perry Barlow, a Grateful
Dead lyricist from Pinedale, Wyoming who frequents the service, asked Acid
Phreak why the group referred to themselves as the Legion of Doom. The response
indicated that image is all. "You wouldn't want a fairy kind of thing
like Legion of Flower Pickers or something."
The reports of break-ins to 911 emergency services appear to be wholly
without merit. We cannot find any evidence that such has occurred and certainly
none of the life-threatening vandalism alluded to in the popular press.
As far as we can determine, it never happened.
What we have learned is that in December of 1988, a 20 year old Atlanta
resident named Robert Riggs, who refers to himself as "The Prophet",
did gain unauthorized entry into a Bell South computer and downloaded a
three page text file titled BELL SOUTH STANDARD PRACTICE 660-225-104SV,
CONTROL OFFICE ADMINISTRATION OF ENHANCED 911 SERVICES FOR SPECIAL SERVICES
AND MAJOR ACCOUNT CENTERS dated March, 1988. The Prophet does not claim
to be a member of the Legion of Doom.
The Prophet apparently uploaded the file to numerous bulletin board systems.
The document not only does NOT contain any access codes or procedures that
could be used to break into a 911 service, but was remarkable only in it's
turgid, opaque, bureaucratic prose that ostensibly described administrative
procedures and responsibilities for marketing, servicing, upgrading, customer
training and billing for Bell South's 911 system. According to Barlow, "It
is, quite simply, the worst writing I have ever tried to read."
Apart from its alarming lack of literary merit, Bell South valued the
document at precisely $79,449. This placed the value in excess of the $5000
required for the Secret Service to be empowered to act. While some may look
askance at the figure, our own experience in large corporations would indicate
that Bell South probably did invest at least that amount in writing a three
page document. That doesn't mean it's worth that amount, and in this particular
case it is clearly worthless to anyone, undoubtedly even to Bell South.
But it no doubt did cost them that amount to produce it. If you wonder why
your local telephone bill is ever rising, look no further than this paragraph.
Bell South, by their own calculation spent $79,449 to produce three pages
describing who in their organization was responsible for customer training
in the operation of a service that puts the name and address of the caller
on a display screen. The document contains nothing to indicate it is classified
or even proprietary. Pure bureaucro-drivel.
But it did serve as a sort of "trophy" of the break in to the
Bell South computer system. The document was uploaded to a BBS in Lockport,
Illinois titled Jolnet run by Rich Andrews. Mr. Andrews, also unable to
make heads or tails of the document, did think it suspicious and he forwarded
copies of it to the telephone company. In due turn, he was contacted by
authorities and promised to cooperate with them fully. His reward? The Secret
Service came to his house and confiscated the computer and all data related
to it - taking Jolnet offline since. Andrews was of course not charged with
anything, but all of his computer equipment and software were nonetheless
seized.
One of those downloading the document from Jolnet was a twenty year old
hacker who referred to himself as Knight Lightning. Knight Lightning publishes
an electronic only publication title PHRACK out of St. Louis, Missouri.
The title derives from the words Phreak and Hacker. Phreaking is a term
referring to unauthorized use of the telephone system for long distance
calls without paying for them. The original term hacker has nothing to do
with online crime at all. Unfortunately, some of the online vandals have
adopted it as well, confusing the issue terribly.
Knight Lightning published the document in its entirety in an issue of
PHRACK. As a result, Frank Darden, a.k.a. The Prophet, who had originally
broken into the telephone company computer, was arrested on February 7th,
along with Knight Lightning, Frank "The Leftist" Darden, and Adam
"Urville" Grant. Most of the charges revolved around interstate
transport of stolen material worth more than $5000, fraud, and conspiracy.
All equipment was of course seized. Ostensibly, the charges carried 40 years
in jail and a $2 million fine. On July 9th, they pleaded guilty in
exchange for suspended sentences. They've agreed to help Bell South fortify
its system security.
On March 1st, the Secret Service visited Steve Jackson Games of Austin,
Texas. They turned the place upside down, destroying office furniture, cutting
locks and carried out three computers, a laser printer, various piece parts,
and all the paper and diskettes they could find. Their warrant was not signed
by any judge and was obtained under seal. It stated only that they were
looking for evidence related to data piracy.
Steve Jackson Games published games oddly enough. Dungeons and Dragons
is perhaps the most widely known of a genre of fantasy games termed Role
Playing Games, or RPG. Steve Jackson Games is a rather successful publisher
of role playing games. The games do not even run on computers. They tend
to be rather complicated books of rules that are played almost entirely
on pencil and paper with the aid of dice. These RPG do seem to attract people
who become obsessed with them. But that is not the reason for the Hunnish
intrusion by the Secret Service.
The managing editor at Steve Jackson Games was a gentlemen named Loyd
Blakenship. The game of interest to the Secret Service is titled GURPSS,
Cyberpunk. GURPS stands for Generic Universal Role Playing System. The game
is ABOUT breaking into mythical computers. There are no tips or tricks contained
therein for doing so. In fact, whether a player "cracks" a computer
in the game or not is strictly a function of a roll of the dice. The Cyberpunk
game revolves around a dystopian science fiction future evoking a picture
of George Orwell in frightful collaboration with Ray Bradbury. The game
is almost prophetic in that the future implied pretty much visited Steve
Jackson Games this past March 1st. According to Steve Jackson, "You
couldn't break into a computer using this book to save your life. You can
learn more about unauthorized entry into a computer from Clifford Stoll's
book, Cuckoo's Egg, than you possibly could from GURPS CyberPunk. This is
a role-laying game based on dice."
So why the intrusion? There are a couple of theories. Loyd Blakenship
did strive to impart the flavor of the hacker's world in the game and did
in fact assume an online handle of "The Mentor." He attempted
to contact members of the Legion of Doom to do some background research
on the subject of hacking in general to make the game somewhat realistic.
There are also persistent rumors that the Secret Service is running a program
to download massive amounts of data and message traffic from computer bulletin
board systems. They then search for keywords pertaining to hacking, phreaking,
and online crime. According to Jackson, they would have hit
the jackpot there on his BBS, Illuminita (512)447-4449. They had some early
drafts of GURPS Cyberpunk online. Lots of keywords. No real tips on hacking.
But one of the terrible technically competent Secret Service agents did
mention during the search that they considered CyberPunk to be a "handbook
for computer crime." They also alluded to the fact that they had to
take the laser printer to examine the "ribbon." On June 21st,
all the equipment and most of the data was returned to Steve Jackson Games.
According to Jackson several pieces were somewhat badly damaged. He doesn't
think it was necessarily malicious. It appeared to be just gross mishandling.
The escapade delayed the introduction of GURPS CyberPunk for six weeks.
The episode cost Jackson about $125,000 by his figures. No charges were
filed. And they still haven't determined what led to the search warrant.
They were simply told it was filed under seal.
In all, 27 warrants were served in 14 cities and 40 such computer systems
were confiscated in the May "raid." We haven't yet run across
an account of anyone in that particular raid actually committing any crimes
and none from the May sweep have been charged. Stories of incredible technical
ignorance/ineptitude among the 150 agents involved continue to surface.
The story emerging seems to be one of innocent online communicators such
as Andrews and Jackson abused by a system gone wild in a frenzy of online
witch hunting. We have not yet confirmed reports circulating of households
searched while held at gun-point, choke holds on suspects, etc. These stories
can perhaps be embellished as they are repeated. We'll try to turn up the
facts as we can. Again, even with fairly wide online contacts, the going
is slow. The real professionals at the larger publications clearly have
techniques in the online world we've yet to discover in order to be able
to come up with such a quantity of misinformation so quickly.
But there is a counter movement coming into play. It seems that John
Barlow had received a visit from an Agent Richard Baxter Jr. of the FBI.
Apparently, a group called the "NuPrometheus League," comprised
of ex-Apple computer employees, had access to the source code for the Macintosh
operating system. They posted a small section of it pertaining to the ColorQuickDraw
function on several BBS. This supposedly sent John Sculley into a fit of
apoplexy and he called in the FBI to investigate. Agent Baxter, armed with
an impressive array of misinformation from Apple, was canvassing attendees
of the annual Hacker's Conference. It seems he was told by Apple that the
Hacker's Conference was a hotbed of computer crime. Actually, the Hacker's
Conference largely uses the term Hacker in the earlier computer hobbyist
sense. It originated in 1984 as an annual convention sponsored by the Point
Foundation and the Whole
Earth Review. The Whole Earth review is in some sense, the parent organization
of the Whole Earth Lectronic Link (THE WELL) a popular Unix based online
service.
Each year, about 100 luminaries from the personal computer world are
invited to attend, including the likes of Mitch Kapor, Steve Jobs, Steve
Wozniak, Bill Gates, etc.- the people who ushered in the personal computer.
According to Barlow, Baxter didn't know a ROM chip from a vice grip,
had no idea what source code was or how it could be distributed online,
and thought that from the Color QuickDraw segments, millions of clone Apples
were about to spring forth from the earth and put Apple Computer out of
business. John Draper was ostensibly the CEO of Autodesk, another heavy
in the world of online crime. Autodesk is actually the developed of AutoDAC
and John Draper has never been CEO of anything we're aware of. And Baxter
was further convinced that the title of the NuPrometheus League was actually
the New Prosthesis League.
Back on the WELL, Barlow engaged in some discussion of this matter with
Mitch Kapor, head of the Lotus Development. Mr. Kapor actually landed his
corporate jet in Pinedale, Wyoming to visit Barlow and spent the afternoon
listening to such tales of terror His response was rather swift and convincing.
The pair called in the New York law firm of Rabinowitz, Boudin, Standard,
Krinsky, and Lieberman. This led to further meetings with some of the victims
of the May raid. Out of this, they formed a group titled the Electronic
Frontier Foundation dedicated to raising and disbursing funds for education,
lobbying and litigation in the area of extending our constitutionally guaranteed
freedoms to the online world.
After Kapor's plans for the Electronic Frontier Foundation were announced
in the press, Steve Wozniak, one of the original inventors of the Apple
computer, called to announce he would match Kapor "dollar for dollar"
in supporting the group. John Gilmore, one of the founders of SUN, likewise
joined the group. A number of other luminaries from the origins of personal
computers are reportedly jumping into the fray.
Both the general and the trade press have been universally unkind to
Mr. Kapor and his stand on the issue. There is little in the way of sympathy
for the stereotypical "hacker." One cartoon shows Kapor holding
a freedom banner aloft with the aid of a teen-age BBS operator. The next
panel shows Kapor attacking the kid after he learns that Lotus 1-2-3 is
available for download on the lad's BBS. We've never seen a copy of 1-2-3
available for download and by and large the BBS community does a pretty
good job of policing itself with regards to software piracy. The panel is
typical of the type of uninformed drivel we've seen regarding this issue.
It would seem that everyone is for freedom as long as it's for a good
cause. The online world is being universally painted with a rather dark
brush and freedom is somewhat less important when applied to THOSE people
- always more dear when applied to ourselves. The heart of the problem lies
in the rampant lack of technical understanding of the online world in our
law enforcement bodies, which is somewhat understandable, if not acceptable,
and the apparent similar lack of knowledge among the trade press, which
is NOT understandable and certainly not acceptable. Against such a tidal
wave of misinformation and misplaced sentiment, Mr. Kapor's stand would
seem enormously disadvantageous to himself and to his company.
Doing the "right thing" as you see it is not so very hard.
Doing the right thing when there is little in it for you, and a great deal
of potential harm, is a mark of personal heroism all too rare in our present
world. Salute.
Those wishing to join the effort may contact the Electronic Frontier
Foundation, 1 Cambridge Center, Suite 300, Cambridge, MA 02142 (617) 577-1385
voice; (617) 225-2347 fax
Internet address: eff@well.sf.ca.us
The ignorance of the law is no excuse, but it is frightening
In looking over the current issue as it shapes up, it would seem legal
matters have taken a good portion of our space. That is unfortunate, but
let's go with the flow.
The Secret Service's Operation Sun Devil is shaping up to be a monster.
Everyone would like this story to be about an efficient, courteous, alert
group of our nation's best homing in on the few online miscreants that make
life miserable for all of us and eliminating them from the scene with efficiency,
justice, fairness and a clearly defined purpose.
It is alarming, then, viewing the reality of a group of grossly misinformed
thugs randomly bashing in doors, threatening families with young children
at gunpoint and raging around BBS land in a crazed witch hunt with little
purpose and less informed understanding than could normally be expected
of a barnyard full of chickens after the outhouse blew up. The tales of
governmental ignorance of
matters online making the rounds are reaching epidemic proportions and threatening
to start an online mythology of its own.
Attempts to read laser printer ribbons, transmit actual chip hardware
over the wires and tie industry leaders such as AutoDesk and Mitch Kapor
of Lotus 1-2-3 into a conspiracy of hackers is mirthfully comical. When
they mistakenly bash in your door, seize your equipment and all data backups,
and put you out of business for three or four months and subsequently into
bankruptcy based on this type of raging stupidity, try to retain that sense
of humor.
The implication that this juggernaut of the intellectually damned was
launched at the behest of Apple Computer and various telephone company entities
is a bit darker. If we can fan this online paranoia a bit higher, any company
with a large enough organization to convince our boys in blue that they
are one of the "good guys" can strike a death blow by pointing
the crazed beast at anyone not serving their interest. By the time someone
pulls a reality check on the situation, the intended damage will be done.
The Lotus/PaperBack Software lawsuit is a bit more problematical. In
the past, the conventional wisdom has been actual software program source
code enjoyed copyright law protection, but the function and presentation
did not. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Keeton threw this view into question
by ruling the presentation is protected as well. The 110 page ruling also
made clear that computer "languages" are copyrightable as well.
This could have an impact on Ashton-Tate's current lawsuit against Fox Software
regarding the dBase programming language.
It would be easy to jump on the bandwagon and claim that the man has
no understanding of "our industry" and has thrown a legal monkey
wrench into software development, crippling innovation in software forevermore.
OK. But these people wrangled over this one lawsuit for at least three years.
If he didn't know anything about it starting out, we've got to assume he
learned something along the way. Assuming so for the moment, what is the
real line of thought behind this ruling?
Copyright laws are conventionally thought of as covering books, magazines,
and other print publications. As technology evolved, it grew to cover audio
recordings, movies, and computer software.
In print media, the copyright covers the presentation of text. If you
buy a book, what you derive is a view of words on a page. The words acted
together toward an end, conveying ideas and a story to the reader. The original
notes, typesetting marks, and printing techniques used to produce
the end product are of little interest vis a vis copyright protection.
Likewise phonograph records and other sound recordings. Regardless of
how the sound levels were mixed, what media it was stored on as a master,
and what intermediate steps were taken, the sound that reaches the listener's
ear is the protected item. It is specifically the thing purchased and perceived
by the buyer.
In films, it doesn't matter what was cut, what was kept, who's scene
was dropped or what type of camera and film were used to produce it, the
visual presentation of the film is the thing protected. It's what the viewer
pays to see. The actual written script, while usually separately protected
by earlier registration in book or written form, is not even in itself a
factor in the copyright protection afforded the film.
How then, did we ever come to view software as protected in the source
code, which the user NEVER sees, while unprotected in the on-screen presentation,
menus, graphics and command sequences they DO actually see, use and indeed
pay for? For 99% of the purchasers of Lotus 1-2-3, if they DID ever actually
see the source code for the program, they wouldn't be able to tell if it
was the source code for Lotus 1-2-3 or directions in Cebuano on how to roast
a pig.
The question goes directly to whose ox got gored. If you are Lotus, half
a dozen software programs are out there trying to compete with YOU using
the interface and presentation YOU developed and access the market you created.
If you market a competing version, it would seem Lotus's avarice knows no
bounds. They want a hammer lock on the whole spreadsheet concept.
Lotus did not invent spreadsheets anymore than Louis L'Amour invented
the Western novel. They never claimed to. Louis L'Amour depicted scenes
in several of his books of the lone horseman riding across the plains. So
did Zane Grey before him. A work is often built on concepts introduced by
preceding works. You can't copyright the concept of a lone horseman on the
plains. In fact, you can't copyright concepts. But you can protect the words
used to depict them. Lotus asserts the specific command sequences used to
depict them. Lotus asserts the specific command sequences used to activate
certain functions, and the specific screen depictions and functions resulting,
together as a group form a unique work. Inescapably, we must concur. Judge
Keeton, it would seem, did too. Individual command elements do NOT gain
protection and Judge Keeton made clear that the slash (/) key command used
by Lotus is NOT protected in itself. Many programs use ALT-X, for example,
or ESC, to escape the program. These conventions are not threatened at all.
At some level, the question becomes a matter of degree. For those not
familiar with spreadsheets, we would note VP-Planner, as well as a number
of others, blatantly DID copy Lotus 1-2-3's entire interface and presentation
and brazenly advertised to the world they had done so, wrongfully assuming
it simply wasn't protected by copyright law and they didn't use similar
concepts; you could actually run the same macros (a stored series of key
strokes to perform repetitive functions) on the clone programs you used
on Lotus 1-2-3 and they would work. They actually touted the fact in their
promotional copy!
The canned chant is there are only a certain number of keys on the keyboard
and protecting command sequences is impossible. In response, we would note
there are a lot more keys on the keyboard than numbers, letters and punctuation
marks in the alphabet but that hasn't quite served as a restriction sufficient
to prevent the creation of War and Peace. Most sentences end in a period
and that's hardly protected - it's an accepted convention.
The other concern is that software buyers will be forced to learn a new
interface every time they want to change programs. Well perhaps the user
doesn't WANT to change and that is part of the value in owning the rights
to Lotus 1-2-3. On the other hand, to woo those users, perhaps another developer
will produce a better, more usable interface. With everyone copying Lotus,
there's pathetically little effort toward that now.
In the long run, we don't think it will stifle software development.
It should promote it. If you can come up with a program, presentation and
interface unique and desirable, it becomes a marketable commodity and your
rights in it are much more secure than was previously the case. If it looks
like your software, it should be your software.
Lotus's immediate lawsuits against SCO and Borland appear vicious on
the face of it. We happen to prefer Borland's Quattro Pro spreadsheet ourselves
and I personally admire the whole Borland product line and culture. Lotus,
on the other, hand appears very corporate and so largely anathema to us.
But in our estimation, Quattro Pro doesn't look very much like Lotus 1-2-3
anyway. They offer an optional interface advertised as Lotus compatible.
It wouldn't tarnish our preference for Quattro if they removed the Lotus
interface altogether. We expect Borland to reach a settlement with Lotus
essentially agreeing to do so, rather than fight a protracted legal battle
over a fairly small element of their program. Undoubtedly they will lose
a bit of market share to Lotus as a result, but the setback should be brief.
Quattro is just as good a spreadsheet and at $99.95 it's a fraction of the
price. The interface is fine and the program does a better job of managing
memory.
The standard closing argument is that in the end, it will be the user
that loses. This is self-serving pap intended to cause you to sympathetically
identify your interests with those who have a fiscal ax to grind. There
is so little standardization now between word processors, database programs,
etc., that the argument that the user will be the loser when there are no
standard interfaces is specious. We haven't lost it because we never had
it - with the singular exception of spreadsheet clones of Lotus 1-2-3.
In the end, the conventions and laws protecting rights to written, recorded,
and filmed works have been extended pretty much intact to include software
in a very consistent fashion. Software development has in a sense been recognized
and absorbed into our cultural and legal body politic - in a way, validated
and accepted. This was only possible after the paradigm of a salable software
program on a personal computer matured and some degree of familiarity emerged
among a significant portion of our population.
Unfortunately, this same maturation had NOT occurred in the online world.
The segment of our population familiar with the conventions that HAVE emerged
in that area remains discouragingly small. This unfamiliarity leads directly
to the type of problems we see emerging from the Operation Sun Devil fiasco.
We rather anxiously await the day when the online world is likewise familiar
to and validated and accepted by our society - at least to the point of
extending the freedoms "guaranteed" by the Constitution of these
United States to the "virtual" world online.
Mouse balls
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Senior Editor
The following is the text of an IBM internal bulletin. I'm not making
this up.
Abstract: Mouse Balls are now available as FRU (Field Replaceable Unit)
Mouse balls are now available as a FRU. If a mouse fails to operate,
or should perform erratically, it may be in need of ball replacement. Because
of the delicate nature of this procedure, replacement of mouse balls should
be attempted by trained personnel only.
Before ordering, determine type of mouse balls required by examining
the underside of each mouse. Domestic balls will be larger and harder than
foreign balls. Ball removal procedures differ, depending upon manufacturer
of the mouse. Foreign balls can be replaced using the pop-off method, and
domestic balls replaced using the twist-off method. Mouse balls are not
usually static sensitive; however, excessive handling can result in sudden
discharge. Upon completion of ball replacement, the mouse may be used immediately.
It is recommended that each servicer have a pair of balls for maintaining
optimum customer satisfaction, and that any customer missing his balls should
suspect local personnel of removing these necessary functional items.
Part number 33F8462 -- Domestic Mouse Balls
Part number 33F8461 -- Foreign Mouse Balls
Aren't you glad you have an Apple?
By Barry Austern
We Apple II users are lucky in that for the most part we get our video
built into the machine. In the MS-DOS (messy-dos) realm, however, things
are more complicated. There are any number of video standards, Hercules,
CGA, EGA and VGA, to name a few of the most common ones. There are several
others less well known which are briefly and alphabetically described here:
AGA: Video systems used mostly in Muslim countries. Named after AGA
Khan, the father of Ali Khan, who married Rita Hayworth.
BGA: Bus Graphics Adapter, so called because, unlike other systems,
it does not require an interface card, but gets on the bus directly. It
does this my means of tokens (or exact change). Its major disadvantage is
that, even in rush hour, it only runs once every twenty minutes.
DGA: "Damn Good Adapter" An early system, which really wasn't
that good, since it only showed 24 x 76 pixels. Replaced by FGA, see which.
FGA: Replacement for the "Damn Good Adapter". Nobody really
knows what the letters stand for, but theory is that the name is analogous
to its predecessor.
GGA: See KGA.
IGA: With the expected success of its PS/1 machine, being sold by Sears-Roebuck,
IBM is planning an even lower end machine. the PS/0.7, to be sold in grocery
stores. Hence the name for this video system.
KGA: An early Russian design, replaced by the KGB. The interesting thing
about this system is that, unlike other monitors which were designed for
the user to see the computer, the one is designed for the computer to see
the user. Lately, the design was changed to the GGA, the Glasnost Graphics
Adapter.
MGA: Four-cylinder, two-seat system. Especially nice on a sunny day
with the top down and your best girl in the seat next to you.
NGA: "Neato, Groovy Adapter" Popular during the 1960s. Only
drawback is that it only showed psychedelic colors.
PGA: Specialized video system used for playing golf simulations.
RGA: Early design (compare KGA). Its successor, the RGB, is still used
extensively.
Hacker
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Senior Editor
Some 10 to 15 years ago, much of the best software produced came from
regular folks. Well, regular for hackers. Since there were no great publishing
houses, many of them were created to fill the void. And most of them prospered.
Once the market became so large that it was common to hear of teenage
millionaire software artists, some larger corporations decided that this
would be a great place to diversify into. And then we saw the entrance of
the Big Boys. With them, high powered packages came into being, and sold
for large sums. Yea and verily, the time of the Gigabuck Corporates was
upon the land. And purses were emptied before them, to fill the perceived
need for their wares.
In the last few years, things have turned around. Apple's negligent attitude
towards their original line of computers created a slump in the market.
Many of the three piece suiters became disenchanted, and left for greener,
and Bluer, pastures.
A great many of the users who're left with the desire for more software
are justifiably angry. The constant flow of product that they want has been
disrupted, if not terminated.
But let's look back again, and see where it started. In one case, it
started in a garage. For many of the third party companies to grow up around
Apple, the beginning was a metaphorical if not physical parallel. At the
time, there were no multinational holding companies with fingers in the
software pie. A simpler life, perhaps, but more importantly, a close knit
family of publishers.
So, what's to prevent a recurrence of a similar scenario which gave birth
to the industry? Certainly Apple's concentration on the Mac is no more a
burden than the existence of other competitors. Possibly less, since most
Mac systems cost a good deal more than most Apple systems.
To my mind, the corporate rats deserting the drowning Appleship have
only left a hole that can be filled from the same source that filled it
at the outset: Apple Users.
In the last year, I've seen better software for free or very little shareware
fee published than the majority of the high priced commercial packages from
as few as three years ago. I have 100 megabytes of storage, and if I removed
all but the commercial software, I could get along with 20 megabytes, including
data storage.
Who are these people producing this stuff? They're pretty much the same
kind of people who produced the software which
built a corporation. Hackers. The names have changed, but the production
remains. And the quality is up.
So the money managers have gone. What does that mean to us? Software
costs less. You may have only four packages to choose from, rather than
fourteen. And half of them cost maybe $20.00, IF YOU LIKE THEM. You get
to try them first.
When you have problems or questions, an electronic or paper letter will
reach the author rather than some deskbound frustrated programmer or technical
writer, relegated to the Customer Support department. Source code is once
again making the rounds with some of the software, fairly begging for people
to dig in and add to it.
A common misconception of American business watchers is that the greater
the number of contenders in a field, the lower prices will be. This is only
in the case that the cost of the goods drops, making it appear that competition
has worked its magic again. In reality, what happens more often is businesses
whose business is business see big bucks to be made, and they all jump in
with as high a price as the market can support. My own field, electronic
service, is proof of this. When those companies who edge in solely for the
income catch wind of a dip, they're off like a shot. And when they sense
an easy kill, they circle overhead until they see a good opening.
What are we left with, then? A field full of programs and programmers
competing for their products to be used. A crop of young upstarts, perhaps.
But what were those hackers of the Seventies? Costs on goods that show the
tags on the products from the large publishing houses really WERE outrageous.
Openings for dozens or hundreds of these programs to see a market that previously
couldn't due to independent publishers being over shadowed and disparaged
by the larger publishers.
Some time ago, I felt that it was time for these new programmers to have
the chance to compete in the marketplace. I approached many of them, and
asked if they would like to have someone who was familiar with the industry
publish their work for them, and offered them better rates, often by a factor
of two, than they could get with other publishers. Not a one took it. Some
politely said they'd consider it, and never returned, some went as far as
saying they'd rather give their stuff away, so that Apple users could have
more and better stuff. And now, I'm glad they did that. Something that I
thought had disappeared had only been sleeping under blankets of corporate
publishers.
Perhaps we've been so busy whining about our plight as orphans of high
tech idealism that we've forgotten where we came from. As often as I've
heard that claim against Apple, I've never before heard it leveled against
Apple users.
While we were busy crying, and while Apple was busy creating a new market,
we've arrived back at the state we were in when Apple users created the
industry. The possibility for a repeat performance exists. Unbeknownst to
us or them, Apple has done us a favor by giving us back our roots.
The last issue of 8/16 arrived at my house a few weeks ago. It contained
an article by a thirteen year old that I couldn't understand. I was one
of those hackers of the Seventies. And now I find myself out to pasture
before an entire new crop of whiz kids. It's time for me to pick the books
back up.
All in all, it's once again the most exciting time to own an Apple. We're
back to the garages folks.
The Hacker Spirit lives.
A Limerick for out times
There once was a girl from Nantucket
Who bought a Mac and decided to chuck it.
She bought a GS,
She heard it was best,
Sent the Mac back to Sculley
and said "What is your return policy?"
--- Combined effort of Silk and Leathr
=====
Vol 3, #6
Is Apple, Inc. Dying?
by Al Martin, Publisher, The Road Apple
In the wake (no pun intended) of the consistently reinforced face of
the demise of the Apple II computers and its attendant hand-wringing by
users, comes news of the possible and probable death of Apple, Inc. itself.
In an article in the October 22, 1990 issue of Insight magazine, author
Jeff Shear makes his case that Apple, Inc. and other U.S. computer companies
such as Compaq, Conner Peripherals and Sun Micro-systems, Inc. and other
established heavy weights in the computer, office equipment and imaging
industries will either be absorbed by Japanese firms or will simply die
out. An example is Britain's largest mainframe manufacturer, ICL plc which
is now owned by Fujitsu.
The reasons? Well, there are two of them.
First is the reliance on foreign suppliers. The manufacture of electronic
components such as DRAM chips has been dominated by the Japanese since 1982
and in 1986 Japan passed the U.S. in the production and consumption of all
semiconductor products. This year, Japan will pass the U.S. in semiconductor
manufacturing equipment. The number of U.S. firms in the top 10 has dropped
from nine in 1980 to four in 1989.
The second reason is Apple's insistence on a "closed" or "proprietary"
system. Jim Davis of Apple, Inc. points out that his company has a edge
in that Apple, Inc. can compete "...on the value they alone can add..."
and that Japan's copying ability will not work with Apple products since
"They (the Japanese) can't compete with us because they can't clone
us."
However, industry analysts say that the entire computer industry is moving
away from "closed" or "proprietary" systems like Apple's.
They continue that the industry is moving toward more "open" systems
in which computers from different firms are compatible. Tim Bijarin, industry
analyst from Creative Strategies says, "Open systems are the wave of
the future."
The basis of this information comes from the Pentagon's Defense Science
Board report released in October. The report, twice postponed amid rumors
of suppression from the Bush administration, concludes that, "For all
intents and purposes, the whole U.S. computer industry will be gone by 1995."
In a competitive market like the computer industry, it's important to
obtain parts as cheaply as possible and that is why an "open"
system is preferred to a "closed" system. The parts are cheaper.
Apple's graphic edge has been taken away by Windows. Now Apple, Inc.
has to explain why its system is better and is doing so with a $40 million
marketing campaign for the new "low end" Macintoshes.
As for the components of the Macintosh, about 70 to 75 percent are foreign
made, some by Sony. As the talks between Sony and Apple, Inc. continue (and
are largely not acknowledged by Apple, Inc.), Charles H. Ferguson of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Technology says that this
is a further indication that Apple, Inc. is going the way of Britain's ICL.
Further predictions from the Pentagon report are:
---movement toward portable computers.
---more powerful PCs.
---move away from TV-style monitors toward flat screens.
---better displays.
It is noted in the article that the Pentagon invested $30 million in
flat panel display research. Japan's investment in the same technology is
estimated at $3 billion and they control some 90 percent of the market.
Since the IIGS is the most "open" of all of the Apple computers,
one wonders why Apple, Inc. doesn't promote it more rather than going against
the industry flow with its "closed" Macintosh system. The IIGS
will run 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit (Macintosh software with the soon to be
released Duet card from Cirtech) and IBM software with Applied Engineering's
PC Transporter. Name me another personal computer anywhere that will do
that and more.
Hey, Sony, once you take over Cupertino, how about a portable GS with
a flat screen, Duet and the PC Transporter built in?
What, me worry about the demise of the Apple II line?
Ponderable Points
by Al Martin, Publisher, The Road Apple
Andy Nicholas of ShrinkIt fame, where is he now? Has he moved to sunny
California? Is he now working in (gasp) Cupertino? Could he possibly be
working for (shudder) Apple, Inc.? Hmmmm?
Dan's Muse mused in his editorial (inCider/A+ Apple II/Macintosh) of
December, 1990 that "Apple II users and Apple II magazines can no longer
afford to ignore the Macintosh". Well, maybe that's OK for Dan Muse
and inCider/etc./etc./etc., but it's not OK for The Road Apple. The Road
Apple and its publisher shall continuously, studiously, actively and permanently
ignore the Macintosh. Apple, Inc. has, for the past three years, all but
ignored the customers and the line of computers that built the company and
I believe that it's still tit for tat time, Mr. Muse and others of his ilk
notwithstanding.
I fully understand and appreciate the pragmatic decision of IDG Communications
(inCider's parent company) as they believed it was necessary for economic
survival. It's just that this independent underground newsletter maintains
its stand in support of the best computers ever built (Apple II+, IIe, IIc
and IIGS) and firmly against the shove-it-down-your-throat Macintosh marketing
manure of Apple, Inc.
The Road Apple shall cease publication exactly one day prior to the moment
it becomes a Macintosh apologist. The Road Apple may not have many standards,
but that's the main one.
It may very well be that the probable demise of Apple, Inc. could be
caused by the company's stubborn insistence to actively support only the
Macintosh computer itself. See "Is Apple, Inc. Dying?" above.
A final note, even with inCider's capitulation, Apple, Inc. does not
have one ad in the December, 1990 issue of inCider/A+/etc. So much for mutual
support.
Fido (Electronic BBS) Definitions
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
Address: A set of numbers designating a particular node on the system.
Written as X:YYY/ZZZ where X is the Zone, YYY is the Region, and ZZZ is
the node number.
Coordinator: In each Zone, Net and Region, the coordinators make sure
the flow of traffic reaches all systems that request access to a particular
portion of it.
Echo: What would be considered a message area on a single BBS, in the
Net, these are packed into files and sent to all others that also carry
that message area, where the messages are incorporated into the message
area there. Currently 200 or so available on the "backbone" -
those message areas available throughout the Net - as well as local echoes
in smaller areas.
Fidonet: A set of BBSs that use specified software and protocols in order
to share their information, such as file storage systems and message areas,
both public and private. Currently about 8000 systems world wide.
FReq: File Request - A request sent as netmail from one user, to a node
where a particular piece of software is available. The file is routed as
netmail in return.
Moderator: The person responsible for keeping an echo on topic and free
of illegal or annoying activity.
Netmail: Private mail, routed directly from one node to another, by long
distance call.
Node: A single BBS on the Net.
NODELIST: A file containing every Net system name, number, and network
"address" used to route the mail.
Region: A portion of a Zone, usually decided by calling distance. Also
called the local Net.
Zone: roughly equivalent to continent.
Who's in Charge Here?
(the following is from Jay Wilbur , posted on GEnie. He talked to John Santoro
from Apple. Jay works for Softdisk Publishing.)
I just got off the phone with John Santoro from Apple. We had a nice
chat about the II line and what Apple plans to do with it.
As I sit here I can think of one hundred different questions I wished
I had asked in response to some of his observations. No doubt my quest to
get to the bottom of things will drive me to call him back before the week
is over.
Here's what I asked, here's what he said, and here's what I'll ask next
time I call. Please note that I did not tape the conversation and this is
all from memory and my scribbled notes.
Q. At KC Fest Ralph Russo and Janet Lee both spoke of the good things
we Apple II developers will be seeing from Apple in the way of promotions.
Word on the streets is that Apple has pulled reserved ad space from inCider
and there will be no TV ads. What happened?
A. Everything is up in the air right now. Janet is still working hard
to get some solid II stuff in inCider. In early winter (that's the closet
date I could get), Apple will sport a 32 page insert highlighting both lines
of computers and Apple's educational message. There will be no TV ads for
the II.
Q. Has hardware development for the IIgs (ie., new CPUs) stopped with
the new low end Macs on the dealers shelves?
A. Apple will support the II line well into the future. The II engineering
groups will be around for a long, long time continuing to develop great
new things for our machine. Apple is not pushing II technology in the form
of new CPUs. The Mac is Apple's machine at this point. We (Apple) are letting
the market make their own decisions as to what machine it wants.
What I'll ask next time: With Apple dumping so much into the new Macs
(direct mailing, TV ads...), isn't that steering the market a bit considering
the lack of II ads?
Q. Comment on the lack of II acknowledgement over the years.
A. Back around 1985 Apple was going through some hard times. Things got
tight and some things suffered. The Apple II was hit hard. Apple made some
decisions and as result the Apple II was neglected. Apple pursued the road
it thought best to make money and survive...the Mac.
What I'll ask next time: Everyone at Apple seems to forget (or at least
never mention in mixed company) that II sales made it possible for the Mac
dream to be come alive. The machine sold millions for years without any
ads...doesn't that register anything in the minds of the marketing gurus?
Q. I read the text from one of the INTERNET msgs about Russo's group
decisions. The one that stated Russo elected to go with the low cost Macs
for a while and if that didn't work Apple would bring the II back.
A. HOGWASH, BS, LOADS'O'CRAP
John was very cordial and answered all my questions as best he could.
He informed me that he was an old II hack from way back. He taught school
and had a lab full of IIs and was as much in love with the II as the next
old II hack. He also let me know that he thinks the Mac is one hell of a
machine as well. I get the felling he cares about the machine as much as
we do, but he is not the one who makes the high level decisions. He invited
me to call back if I had more questions and as you already know I plan on
taking him up on that offer.
The overall message that I got was that Apple was banking on the Mac
being the new cash cow. Those decisions have been made and that's the way
it is.
News, Rumors, And Blatant Lies
Quotes from the BBS anc Comments
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski
A title fitting of any of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson's gonzo manic political
essays, I think. And a fitting title to this small collection of activity
within Apple and some of the dealers. We've all heard the horror stories
from our area, why not collect them, and air them? After all, if you put
dirty laundry away in a drawer, it just makes EVERYTHING stink.
So, dear readers, enjoy, and by all means, contribute.
And for you, AppCoInc, and all the dealers - You're welcome.
First, one of the many cases of a dealer telling a customer just exactly
the opposite of what Apple is stating as policy.
To: Dennis Mcclain-furmanski Submitted: 12 Oct 90 "Yeah,
he said that the GS will probably be discontinued, the dealer is Shoreline
Computers in Old Saybrook, CT. The number is (203) 388-9999 that's the dealer's
perspective of it. I love your echo, keep up the good work!"
And worse than just "a dealer's perspective" is the case of
clear and obvious untruth.
90-10-15 23:02:08 EDT
"A teacher in my school district called our local Apple dealer (Wilkes-Barre,
Pa....General Computer) and asked for the Educational Discount on an Apple
IIGS and the dealer said that Apple no longer has the GS in production but
that the discount would apply to any Mac. Is this true ? Is the GS finished?
"Has anyone heard any such thing?"
How about Claris? Do they escape unscathed, or are they just as guilty
in the "Kill the II" movement? Let's take a look:
Submitted: 23 Aug 90
"I've also heard that Claris is in the process of porting AppleWorks
GS over to the Mac. An interesting change of direction to say the least."
(Reply) "Actually, it's no change of direction if true. Claris essentially
REFUSES TO SELL AppleWorks (either version) to businesses. The network,
ten-pack, and site-licensed AppleWorks programs are available ONLY to education
customers! Yet there is undoubtedly great demand for the program in the
business market.
"The solution--sell it to businesses? Heck no! Invest oodles of
time and money and effort to port AW to the Macintosh, Apple's 'business'
computer.
"'The mad dogs have kneed us in the groin again!' -- Harlan Ellison"
From another corner, a case of selling vaporware by the use of what would
probably be the most appropriate means - lies.
This message is a reply to my questioning whether a dealer had actually
gone as far as to tell a prospective educational customer that the Apple
II emulator for the {M-word} would run GS software.
To: Dennis McClain-Furmanski Submitted: 17 Oct 90
"Sure enough. The people he told this little tidbit to were the
officials (not sure what capacity) of the St. Vrain school district. The
'suit's' name was Mike Guin. This is the same person who told another Apple
rep that the Mac LC could use the GS monitor, but not to tell the fool asking,
as that would cut down the sales of the new monitors."
Ah, yes. "The fools".
Ain't it grand to know what the dealers REALLY think about the people
that hand them thousands of dollars?
From my own observation, the dealers in my area are reluctant to admit
that The Apple II Guide even exists. At first I thought that they really
didn't know that it was published. But when I explained it to them, they
claimed they only got one for store use (Store use? Do they really need
to LEARN about a machine that's in the line they supposedly sell?), and
had none for sale. A serious backtrack on their previous statement that
they never heard of it.
If there's one thing I can't stand, it's people who don't have the guts
to lie consistently enough to keep themselves from looking like complete
idiots. Or maybe they just suffer from the Truly American Ideal, the same
one used by politicians, that it's OK to lie, because after all, this is
business. If you can't sell a machine on its own merits, then I guess you
have to try to kick the competition in the teeth, even if it comes from
the same company. I just wish they knew how insulting it is to be expected
to swallow this kind of marketing slime.
Have any more to contribute? I'd really like to have a big collection
someday. And I KNOW that there's very few people out there who haven't had
a few good stories to tell. Please, send them in. I'm making a Christmas
present for the Apple Board of Directors.
Stop a Pirate!
by Eric A. Seiden, President
DAR Systems International
If you know of any pirates (and pirate BBS systems), and recognize them
for the thieving criminals they are, there is now a toll-free number you
can call and turn the bastards in. You can call anonymously or with your
real name. All complaints are investigated, but if you give your real name
it's given far more credence than otherwise.
Piracy is a horribly destructive force. If you own an Apple IIgs, you're
especially aware of its effects. I won't sit here and make a case about
piracy. You're either dead-set against it, or you're not. I won't try and
convince you.
For the record, piracy is a federal felony under title 17 of the United
States Code (17 USC 501 and following). A conviction carries with it up
to a $50,000 fine and/or 5 year sentence PER OFFENSE. The parents of minors
can be held responsible for the crimes of their children under this law.
Save a computer, encourage a programmer, help send a pirate to jail by
calling 1-800-388-7478. When you call, tell them what you know. Please,
have all your facts straight including names, passwords, and phone numbers
where available. The names of specific programs, especially those of very
large publishers (IE: Microsoft, Lotus, Aldus, Borland, etc), are helpful.
Wild And Aimless Ranting
by Dennis McClain-Furmanski, Senior Editor, The Road Apple
So, what did you think about Mr. Sculley's open letter in inCider? It
was a dangerous question to leave laying around in the open. Suffice it
to say I have an answer.
I've been fed trash so long, that when I get it with sugar on it, it's
a real treat.
Go ahead feed me more.
Seriously, can anyone expect me to be grateful because I got to hear
the same trash that I've been listening to for years? Is the average retention
span being reduced to the length of a commercial? This is the same hype
that's been spouted for a long time now. It has meant nothing in the past.
It means nothing now.
The man made one of the most successful advertising campaigns in history
(Pepsi's "Pepsi Generation", also one of the longest living campaigns)
into a marketing phenomenon. He BETTER be able to write believable stuff.
Truth, though, is a different matter. When I see something resembling a
bit of equality between the lines from Corporatino, I'll quite down, but
just a bit.
And I'm damn well going to keep biting the hand that feeds me this trash
until it drops something GOOD!
From the Apple offices:
"CLARIFICATION OF THE 10/16/90 SF CHRONICLE ARTICLE
"In the Tuesday, October 16 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle,
in an article about the new product roll-out, a reporter misrepresented
a statement by Bob Puette and claimed that Puette had confirmed that Apple
"will phase out its Apple II computer". Needless to say, the Puette
comment was taken way out of context and does NOT represent Puette's stated
intent nor company policy.
"Bob has okayed the following clarification quote, which we are
sending to the K-12 field reps and posting in Hotlinks and other key bulletin
boards. We will also use it to respond to the many calls being received
by customer assistance, education marketing, Puette's office, and in the
field.
"'We remain committed to our millions of Apple II customers and
we are concerned that they fully understand how much we stand behind the
Apple II product line. We want to make sure that Apple II owners continue
to be happy with their investment in Apple II technology and we continue
to look for more ways to protect that investment and extend the life of
Apple II products -- both as stand alone computers and as part of networks.
"'We will continue to sell, support, and service the Apple II product
line and provide enhancements to that 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. We fully expect to continue to
serve education and other customers satisfactorily for many years to come.
"'On the other hand, we have no plans at this time to introduce
new, stand alone Apple II models. However, we will incorporate Apple II
technology into current and future platforms, as we have with the Apple
IIe card for the Macintosh LC. We believe that this compatibility strategy
will preserve customers' investments in Apple II, while allowing them to
move to new technology platforms if they wish.'
"--- Robert Puette, President of Apple USA.
"It Ain't What We Want, But It's Something"
After months of what I think of as strenuous struggling against the MacCoalition
within the Big Offices, the Apple II group headed by Janet Lee has released
the first (an optimistic qualifier if ever one existed) acknowledgement
that Apple realizes there's Apple users still in the world.
The Apple II Guide is now being shipped by Apple.
Dealers should get a few, and be able to take orders for more. Apple is
giving out a few free, and selling the rest through dealers.
GOTO your dealers and ask for one. Buy it. That's right, give your dealer
money. You see, this is the voting process as far as they're concerned.
Ask your dealer for one. If they don't have them, ask when they'll be
in. Even if you don't want one, ask about it. Buy it even if you don't want
it. You can give it to someone as a present. Even if you get a free one,
buy another and donate it to a user group library, or a school with IIs,
or the public library. You can also get ideas from it as to what they want,
and send them some more material for the next issue (which there WILL be
if we do this right).
What is it? A few hundred pages of stuff put together by the group headed
by Janet Lee, the folks who are the Apple II fighting force within AppCoInc.
It has good tech info, stories, resource lists, lots of stuff. Here's an
article that describes it better than I can in my present acerbic state.
"The Once-More Visible Apple II"
by Edmund Lundberg
The first flowering of Apple's re-commitment to the Apple II line is
now official; it will be available through NEAT later this fall. The Guide
is an inexpensive, soft cover book crammed with information for users of
Apple II series machines. This is no pamphlet, folks, it runs about 300
pages! Nor is it "you-really-ought-to-have-a-Mac" propaganda.
This book will give you the straight scoop on what is available for IIs,
what upgrades are available, and the locations of user groups. It also has
lots of "how-to" information. Whether you are a novice or a veteran
user, this book should be beside your machine. If you get inCider magazine,
you read about it in John Sculley's "guest editorial" in the October
issue. Current plans are to update the Guide on an annual basis. The idea
for the Guide comes from "Le Guide", an Apple-France publication
which has been very popular in France. We'll give you details on pricing
and availability as soon as we get the information.
Further Apple II-specific products and advertising should be appearing
shortly. Bear in mind that Ralph Russo has been in charge of the Apple II
line for only about five months. Given the lead times required by magazines
and the time required to develop an advertising campaign, we would only
now be seeing stuff Ralph approved the day he took over! October 15 the
is the big announcement day for Apple this fall. It is widely (and correctly,
I think) expected to be a "Mac this" and "Mac that"
day. Don't be surprised to see the Apple II included, though.
I don't think a new CPU (the ROM 04 machine) will be coming our way then,
but the release of "HyperCard GS" would not surprise me, nor would
the release of System Software Version 6.0 for the IIGS. The Apple II hypercard
will reportedly include a utility for converting Macintosh stacks
to run on an Apple IIGS, as well as the capability of creating stacks. ("Stack"
is the term for an application created using HyperCard - or HyperStudio,
for that matter.) System 6.0 will reportedly run much faster than the current
version. It also is supposed to include a File System Translator (FST) for
Macintosh files, and may include drivers for more peripherals, Apple's scanner
in particular. Other possible changes include better CD-ROM and laserdisc
drivers, and the new "MIDI-Synth" tool, which will allow programmers
to create programs which will turn the GS into a full-bore synthesizer/MIDI
controller/musician's dream. The IIGS, thanks to its expensive Ensoniq sound
chip, has always had the potential to far surpass all other PCs as a musician's
tool; perhaps now it will reach that potential.
Copyright 1990 by Edmund Lundberg. All rights reserved. This article
may be reprinted in whole or in part by computer user group newsletters,
provided this notice is included and a copy of the newsletter in which the
material appears is sent to New England Apple Tree, P. O. Box 2519, Woburn,
MA 01888."
How much is it?
WHO CARES! Even if it's $20, it's not too much to pay to prove to Apple
that we want support. This is the effort by the people who were ordered
to find out if we're still a viable market. Let's prove to them that we
are.
Don't tell me that with all the whining and bitching going on, you're
not willing to fork out a few bucks. Support is a two way street. It ain't
free for them to give it, so you pay the fair price for receiving it. It's
$19.95.
GOTO and get it. If your dealer doesn't have it, then order it. If they
don't know about it, TELL them. Then order it. If they stone wall you, call
(408) 974-1010, and tell Apple that you want to complain about a dealer
that refuses to support you. (As a matter of fact, call this number and
complain EVERY time a dealer won't support you).
We've all been crying in the dark, and now there's a light. Run for it.
No arguments! This is an order from the head offices of the Apple II
Liberation Army. Go on, call. March. Buy. Go on ... SCOOT!
The Phoenix Plan
by Al Martin, Publisher, The Road Apple
Legend has it the Phoenix rose from its own ashes. The charcoal empire
we call Apple, Inc. is in deep trouble and here is a modest proposal for
it to rise to its old glory and beyond.
For the past 3+ years Apple, Inc. has marketed the Macintosh as "the"
computer and, by design or inference, has relegated the II line to home
and elementary school environments. Advertising of the II line has all but
dried up. Everything is Mac, Mac, Mac, ad nauseam. Yet, despite the shunning
the II line sold more than 150,000 units last year alone, mostly by word
of mouth advertising. Maybe the consumers know something that the "experts"
of Apple, Inc. don't. Remember, we have a base of over 5 million IIe and
c machines and over a million GSs out there.
This lack of active support for the II line by Apple, Inc. has rightly
been interpreted by the owners of these machines as a breach of faith on
the part of Apple, Inc. The recurring call to "trade in your IIs for
a Mac (and dump a bunch of II software)" has, for the most part, fallen
on deaf and angry ears. It was the money from he sales of the II line that
financed the development of the Mac. The owners of Apple II computers deserve
more, much more.
The Apple dealer network is a joke, a bad, sick joke. The dealers have
no credibility left with respect to Apple II owners and potential customers.
It seems as if the dealer doesn't sell a II computer; the customer has to
virtually snatch the machine out of his hands. The dealers, by and large,
are not knowledgeable about the computers; they appear to be closers who
can nail down the "big" deal and resulting commission from Apple,
Inc. As far as software knowledge is concerned, don't make me laugh.
There have been many individual and organized attempts to get the attention
of Apple, Inc.'s leadership to put the II line back to its rightful position
in the personal computing world. Hundreds, if not thousands, of letters
have been written to Cupertino; organized protests and confrontations occurred
all in support of the II line. The results? You tell me.
While Apple, Inc. has been fiddling around with various Mac flavors,
the company has lost and lost big to Big Blue. IBM is making serious inroads
into the schools, they are taking away customers in the business world,
save for desktop publishing and that edge may soon be lost. Now IBM has
unleashed the os/1 (1 meg, a ton of software in ROM, 24-hour 800 support
line...) onto the market and the word from Apple II sales folks is that
Apple, Inc. is going to be in a world of hurt because of this Blue thing.
It's as if Apple, Inc. is designing itself into bankruptcy.
--------------------
The Apple II line, e, c, and GS, has proven itself to be the most versatile,
powerful and user friendly line of computers ever designed. Apple, Inc.
has more than made back its development costs and any such machines now
sold are mostly profit. There is very little, if any, R&D money going
into the e or c and certainly almost no money going into the marketing of
the line. The machines are just too good to die.
It is the purpose of Apple, Inc. to make a profit for its investors.
That is, the stockholders have invented money in the hope of gaining a positive
monetary return for the investments. That is the basis fo the American free
enterprise system. For the corporate executive leadership to knowingly do
otherwise or to minimize profits is just cause for summary dismissal by
the stockholders (company owners).
Since the Apple IIe and IIc computers cost very little produce, I suggest
that Apple, Inc.:
1. Produce the units in mass quantities and flood the market with heavily
discounted II computers coupled with,
2. An intensive polling of registered Apple II users who are utilizing
the power of these machines in areas of business, science, research, writing
and all to which computers can and are being used. This would be the basis
of advertising blitz telling the world that the Apple II is a powerful entry
level computer that can be (a) expanded with peripherals, and/or (b) traded
up to a GS and still run all that powerful II software plus GS software,
Mac software (with the Duet card), MS-DOS software (with the PC Transporter)
and even CP/M software.
3. Give the II line (e, c, and GS) the same freedom of budgeting, development,
marketing, research, etc. that is found in the product lines of General
Motors, ie, Chevy, Buick, Olds, etc.
4. Actively encourage marketplace competition between the II line and
the Mac ("stock car races" for computers?). Let the consumers
vote with their dollars, but give the II line a fighting chance.
5. Direct Claris to permit site licensing for AppleWorks 3.0 in businesses.
Currently this is only allowed in schools.
6. Put third party developers' advertising in Apple II computer packaging
like Laser Computers does.
7. Tell the Apple dealers to either get with the Apple II program or
go back to selling used cars. It's time to kick ass and take names at the
dealer level.
------------
A final question to Apple, Inc.: If the II line is as dead as you have
made it out to be, then why have you offered an Apple IIe card option in
one of your latest Macs?
(The seasonal graphics were provided courtsey of Mollie Matlaf and The Road
Apple thanks her. 3.5" disks of graphics may be purchased from her
for $7.00 each. See the address below.)
From Mollie's disk:
"The graphics on this disk can be used as a graphic data disk. They
can be imported directly from this disk into your Publish It! 3.0 program
as well as TimeOut Superfonts program.
"You can also import the graphics directly into 816.Paint, Dazzle
Draw, and TimeOut Superfonts Paint programs as well as any pro-dos double
hi res paint program you might have that you enjoy using. You can then re-draw
or paint them as you desire and use them in your desktop publishing programs.
"If you wish to have some favorite graphic scanned and put on a
disk for you, please contact us."
Mollie Ann Matlaf
% imagination
3201 Mendocino Place
Oxnard, California 93033
Telephone: (805) 488-5552