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3194 lines
157 KiB
Erlang
3194 lines
157 KiB
Erlang
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|| ||| |||| |||||| || |||| Your
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|||||| |||||| || || |||||| |||||| GEnieLamp Apple II
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|| |||||| || || |||||| RoundTable
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|| |||||| |||||||| |||||| RESOURCE!
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~ APRIL FUN & GAMES! ~
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~ ANNOUNCING THE BANANA PC ~
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~ BASIC SHAREWARE ETIQUETTE ~
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~ DIGITAL DIVERSIONS: OUT OF THIS WORLD ~
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~ UNLOCKING THE MYSTIQUE OF THE REAL TIME CONFERENCE ~
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~ HOT FILES, HOT MESSAGES, HOT REVIEWS ~
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\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
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GEnieLamp A2 ~ A T/TalkNET OnLine Publication ~ Vol.2, Issue 13
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""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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Publisher.......................................T/TalkNET Publishing
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Editor-In-Chief........................................John Peters
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Editor.............................................Darrel Raines
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~ GEnieLamp IBM ~ GEnieLamp [PR]/TX2 ~ GEnieLamp ST ~ GEnieLamp A2 ~
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~ GEnieLamp MacPRO ~ GEnieLamp A2Pro ~ GEnieLamp Macintosh ~
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~ Member Of The Digital Publishing Association ~
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////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
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>>> WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE APPLE II ROUNDTABLE? <<<
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""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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~ April 1, 1993 ~
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FROM MY DESKTOP ......... [FRM] APPLE_TALK .............. [TAL]
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Notes From The Editor. Apple II Corner.
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HEY MISTER POSTMAN ...... [HEY] HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM]
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Is That A Letter For Me? By Any Other Name...
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REFLECTIONS ............. [REF] CowTOONS! ............... [MOO]
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Basic Shareware Etiquette. Great Cows Of Literature.
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NIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE [RTC] TELETALK ONLINE ......... [TEL]
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RTC Happenings. Online Communications.
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THE MIGHT QUINN ......... [QUI] DIGITAL DIVERSIONS ...... [DIG]
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Random Access. It's Out Of This World!
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PROFILES ................ [PRO] THE ONLINE LIBRARY ...... [LIB]
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Who's Who On GEnie. Yours For The Downloading.
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ONLINE FUN .............. [FUN] APPLE II ................ [AII]
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Search-ME! Apple II History, Part 11.
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GEnie ONLINE ............ [GEN] LOG OFF ................. [LOG]
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GEnie's Internet Gateway. GEnieLamp Information.
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[IDX]"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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READING GEnieLamp GEnieLamp has incorporated a unique indexing
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""""""""""""""""" system to help make reading the magazine easier.
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To utilize this system, load GEnieLamp into any ASCII word processor
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or text editor. In the index you will find the following example:
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HUMOR ONLINE ............ [HUM]
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[*]GEnie Fun & Games.
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To read this article, set your find or search command to [HUM]. If
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you want to scan all of the articles, search for [EOA]. [EOF] will take
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you to the last page, whereas [IDX] will bring you back to the index.
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MESSAGE INFO To make it easy for you to respond to messages re-printed
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"""""""""""" here in GEnieLamp, you will find all the information you
|
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need immediately following the message. For example:
|
||
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(SMITH, CAT6, TOP1, MSG:58/M475)
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||
_____________| _____|__ _|___ |____ |_____________
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||
|Name of sender CATegory TOPic Msg.# Page number|
|
||
|
||
In this example, to respond to Smith's message, log on to page
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475 enter the bulletin board and set CAT 6. Enter your REPly in TOPic 1.
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||
|
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A message number that is surrounded by brackets indicates that this
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message is a "target" message and is referring to a "chain" of two
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or more messages that are following the same topic. For example: {58}.
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ABOUT GEnie GEnie costs only $4.95 a month for unlimited evening and
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""""""""""" weekend access to more than 100 services including
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electronic mail, online encyclopedia, shopping, news, entertainment,
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single-player games, multi-player chess and bulletin boards on leisure
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and professional subjects. With many other services, including the
|
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largest collection of files to download and the best online games, for
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only $6 per hour (non-prime-time/2400 baud). To sign up for GEnie
|
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service, call (with modem) 1-800-638-8369. Upon connection type HHH.
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Wait for the U#= prompt. Type: XTX99014,DIGIPUB and hit RETURN. The
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system will then prompt you for your information. Need more information?
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Call GEnie's customer service line (voice) at 1-800-638-9636.
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""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
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/ "Leave it Sheldon to figure out how to get the necessities: /
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/ Heat and GEnie. It is amazing how used to things you become /
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/ and how much you miss them even if it is for only 3-? days." /
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/////////////////////////////////////////////// C.ALLEN17 ////
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[EOA]
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[FRM]//////////////////////////////
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FROM MY DESKTOP /
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/////////////////////////////////
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Notes From The Editor
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"""""""""""""""""""""
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By John Peters
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[GENIELAMP]
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FROM MY DESKTOP When I typed in the characters ATDT and the the number of
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""""""""""""""" a local bulletin board for the very first time, I was
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completely and utterly awed. No longer was I alone in my computing
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pursuits. At the touch of a key, I could call out to practically any place
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in the world and make friends with people that I would have never had the
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chance to do so with otherwise. The modem had broken my computing
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isolation from the rest of the world.
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Ten years later, I'm still awed by it all, but now, even more so. I
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keep in touch with friends via GE Mail, I stay on top of what's happening
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in the news with Newbytes and I can get answers to just about any question
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I can think of - many times within hours of posting it. I can share my
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knowledge with others and more importantly, I can learn from their
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experiences as well. I can download pictures, sounds and books to read and
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I can even play a friendly game of backgammon or chess with someone in
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Boston, or Miami, or Japan. Amazing.
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But it can be frustrating too... When you think about it, we
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"onliners" represent a very small segment of the overall population.
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Surprisingly, there are many people who own computers are unaware of what's
|
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available to them online. They use the computer to type in an occasional
|
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school report or (more likely) play games on it. That's okay as eventually
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many of these people will find their way online by way of a friend, an
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article they read or because they are just plain curious (like I was).
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The point is, we've only just begun. Think about it...we are in the
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infancy of telecommunications. In a way, I'm sorry I won't be around a
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hundred years from now to see where all of this is heading. On the other
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hand, I am thrilled to be among the online pioneers of this _new_ and
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exciting technology. Welcome aboard, friend, and I'll see you online!
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GEnie Elsewhere Did you know that the Public Forum RoundTable (M545) is
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""""""""""""""" archiving all of the official White House Electronic
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Press Releases issued by the new White House E-Mail Communications Office?
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The files are available in the PF Library in the format WHPRxxx.TXT, and
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||
there are currently 177 of these files available. The files include press
|
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releases, official announcements, transcripts of press conferences & other
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official White House communiques. Interesting stuff here - well worth
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||
checking out! For more info., contact GRAFFITI, the PF SysOp.
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NEW 800 SERVICE Some GEnie access numbers incur a $2.00 per connect hour
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""""""""""""""" communications surcharge. This surcharge applies to all
|
||
GEnie usage, including GEnie*Basic services. Surcharged access numbers are
|
||
noted with a dollar-sign ($) and the amount of the hourly communications
|
||
surcharge (i.e., $2.00/hr). To retrieve local access numbers, please type
|
||
*PHONE or PHONE at any main menu prompt.
|
||
|
||
When accessing GEnie via 800-Service (available only in the US), you
|
||
will incur a $6.00 per connect hour communications surcharge, for 300, 1200
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||
and 2400 baud access. This surcharge applies to all usage, including
|
||
GEnie*Basic services.
|
||
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||
9600 baud access is also available via 800-Service. When using 9600
|
||
baud via the 800-Service, you will be charged $18.00 per connect hour
|
||
during non-prime time and $24.50 per connect hour during prime time.
|
||
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LOCATION BAUD RATE SURCHARGE NETWORK ACCESS NUMBER
|
||
--------------- -------------- --------- --------- -------------
|
||
United States 300/1200/2400 $6.00/hr GEnie 800-362-1296
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United States 9600 $12.00/hr GEnie 800-847-5260
|
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|
||
When accessing GEnie via SprintNet, you will incur a $2.00 per connect
|
||
hour communications surcharge. This surcharge applies to all GEnie usage,
|
||
including GEnie*Basic services. Surcharged access numbers are noted with a
|
||
dollar-sign ($) and the amount of the hourly communications surcharge (i.e.
|
||
$2.00/hr). To retrieve local access numbers, please type *PHONE or PHONE
|
||
at any main menu prompt.
|
||
|
||
PLEASE NOTE If you are dialing long-distance to access GEnie, we do not
|
||
""""""""""" recommend dialing a surcharged access number, as you will
|
||
incur the $2.00 connect hour surcharge in addition to long-distance
|
||
charges. Also note that interstate long-distance calls are usually less
|
||
expensive than intrastate long-distance calls. Please be sure to verify
|
||
the long-distance charges with your local telephone company.
|
||
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[*][*][*]
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||
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GEnieLamp FUN AND GAMES This is one big issue so I'm going to keep my
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""" desktop notes short this time around. One word
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||
of caution when reading this month's issue: Don't forget, it's April!
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Until next month...
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John Peters
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[GENIELAMP]
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/////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "In my previous post, please take the 'h' out of 'wharehouse' /
|
||
/ and put it into 'psycology' where it belongs. Thanks. :)" /
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||
///////////////////////////////////////////////// SAM-RAPP ////
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[EOA]
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[TAL]//////////////////////////////
|
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APPLE_TALK /
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/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Apple II Corner
|
||
"""""""""""""""
|
||
By Darrel Raines
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[D.RAINES]
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||
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|
||
April Fool's Day has always been one of my favorite holidays. It's
|
||
not a holiday, you say. Well don't try and tell me that. I love
|
||
good-humered pranks and practical jokes. My only rule is that they cannot
|
||
be mean-spirited. No one gains by hurting others. On the other hand, this
|
||
issue of GEnieLamp may not be as serious as the rest of the year's
|
||
offering.
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||
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||
[*][*][*]
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||
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||
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||
A few years ago, many of the major publications for the Apple II
|
||
computer started to disappear. I was convinced that there were soon going
|
||
to be no sources of information for my favorite hobby. I am happy to say
|
||
that I was mistaken in a big way. We are starting to see just the opposite
|
||
effect recently. "Major" Apple II publications of which I am aware:
|
||
II-Alive, A+/Incider (with Mac cove rage), A2-Central (and their
|
||
associated publications), GS+, Softdisk, Softdisk GS, and GEnieLamp. :)
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||
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||
[*][*][*]
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||
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||
A few years ago, I was also starting to get unhappy with the amount
|
||
of computer software that was available for the Apple II. I have mumbled
|
||
in this forum a number of times about the great share ware that is
|
||
available for the Apple computer. This has been a banner month with no
|
||
less than four major software releases as shareware or freeware:
|
||
DuelTris, Pente, Bouncin' Ferno 2, and Spy Hunter. Oh, did I mention that
|
||
this list just covers games. The May issue of GEnieLamp may never get
|
||
edited.
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
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||
|
||
On the other hand, I have discovered a way to make everything old, new
|
||
again. It seems that if I put a commercial game on the shelf for about a
|
||
year, I can get it back out again for a few weeks a nd enjoy it as if it
|
||
were new. Sports simulations are my favorite for this trick. Two-on-two
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||
basketball was dusted off recently in honor of the NCAA men's basketball
|
||
playoffs. Watch out Michigan, I can dunk with the best of them.
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|
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[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
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I just have to sit down with my programming tools at hand one day
|
||
soon. I have been doing a lot of thinking about a IIgs version of Eamon.
|
||
Or, at least, a Eamon-like gaming system. My idea is that most people can
|
||
no longer program on the IIgs. The gaming system would run on database
|
||
structures that define the dungeon to be explored, the denizons in the
|
||
dungeon, how the various characters can interact, and other information on
|
||
this type. I need to sit down and write some of this down. Perhaps I
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should contact Tom Zuchowski with some of these ideas. Why put it here?
|
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Public humiliation if I don't carry through with something!
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Enjoy this month's issue.
|
||
|
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|
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/////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
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/ "Why would anybody need a computer with more than 64K of memory?" /
|
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/ <sigh>" /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////////////////// Kenne@SFRT ////
|
||
|
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|
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[EOA]
|
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[HEY]//////////////////////////////
|
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HEY MISTER POSTMAN /
|
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/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Is That A Letter For Me?
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
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By Darrel Raines
|
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[D.RAINES]
|
||
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|
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o APPLE II ODDS & ENDS
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o WHAT'S NEW?
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o THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE...
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o MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT
|
||
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|
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>>> BULLETIN BOARD HOT SPOTS <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
[*] CAT2, TOP4 ...............Cries for help - hard to place questions
|
||
[*] CAT2, TOP5 ...............Beyond the Apple II: Your next computer
|
||
[*] CAT29, TOP9 ..............GEM: Getting started
|
||
[*] CAT33, TOP2 ..............GS+: Letters to the Editor
|
||
[*] CAT41, TOP5 ..............PRIME Help and bug reports
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> A2 ODDS & ENDS <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
GEnieLamp PT Script Anyone who wanted the PT3 GEnieLamp script:
|
||
""""""""""""""""""" This is a copy of GEM.PT.Usr to grab a copy of the
|
||
A2 GEnieLamp. You need to run it manually (answer Y to "execute user
|
||
script after logon?") and have the file f.lamp present in your main GEM
|
||
directory for it to work. It saves the file as lamp.MMM.YY (mmm is the
|
||
three letter month), an AWP file.
|
||
|
||
--------------------- Cut Here ------------------------
|
||
set &0=<mid <date>,3>
|
||
set &1=<path 4>+"lamp."+<left &0,3>+"."+<right &0,2>
|
||
if ($a) { do "rec:asc","[]" }
|
||
if (exist <path 4>+"f.lamp") {
|
||
do "rec:asc","<%s> [] save:<awp> copy:2 sup:1 [] [Append]",&1
|
||
pr #4,"^l"
|
||
window 20,8,42,3
|
||
pr #2,"Getting Current Apple II GEnie Lamp..."
|
||
pr #1,"m645;7^m"
|
||
wt 5,"P 645>"
|
||
do "rec:asc","[]"
|
||
delete <path 4>+"f.lamp"
|
||
}
|
||
chain <path 4> +"pt.scripts/gem.pt.main",%12
|
||
-------------------- Cut Here -------------------------
|
||
|
||
Let me know if there are any problems with this script; I'll do what I
|
||
can to fix them.
|
||
(D.BROWN109, CAT29, TOP17, MSG:47/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
ZIP TIPS I downloaded UnZip.IIe a short time ago, and in the process of
|
||
"""""""" using it found that I could View a certain .ZIP file which I had
|
||
downloaded, but I kept getting an "invalid pathname error" when trying to
|
||
unZIP the file to disk.
|
||
|
||
To make a long story short, using Block Warden I found that the
|
||
filename was embedded in ASCII in the zipped file and contained a hyphen,
|
||
and I got it to unZIP to disk properly by changing the hyphen to a period
|
||
in the zipped file.
|
||
|
||
Unless I'm doing something wrong, the program has no option to
|
||
specify the filename of the new file - if UnZip.IIe had this option it
|
||
would be much more convenient to use. It works very well, and I like the
|
||
Shrinkit-type user interface, but unfortunately zipped files don't always
|
||
conform to ProDOS pathname conventions.....
|
||
(STARRIDER, CAT3, TOP4, MSG:119/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
Concerning Script-Central Larry has once again brought up a very
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""" important point, BTW. If you _don't_ ask for
|
||
features, you can pretty much guarantee you won't get it. On the other
|
||
hand, if you do ask you may very well get it. In general if I can do "it"
|
||
and it doesn't go against the way I think things should work, you can
|
||
probably expect to see it ...ASK!
|
||
|
||
In this particular case I never even thought of such an option. I
|
||
thought I had covered all the cool things. Please don't think that it's a
|
||
waste of time to offer opinions/comments/ideas-for-features.
|
||
(A2.HANGTIME, CAT23, TOP8, MSG:178/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
WHICH SYSTEM? I strongly recommend those with less than 2MB of RAM, or no
|
||
""""""""""""" hard drive, to stick with System 5.0.4. A Hard Drive =and=
|
||
at least 2MB are needed to effectively use System 6.0. (Having said that,
|
||
=I= did get System 6.0 running with only 1.75MB of RAM when my memory card
|
||
died and I had to fall back to my old GS-RAM card. But I also had a hard
|
||
drive, and I couldn't do anything fancy, and it had already been installed,
|
||
and it was temporary.)
|
||
|
||
We keep System 5.0.4 around just because of the myriad of underpowered
|
||
systems out there.
|
||
|
||
The best solution is to get a hard drive and more memory.
|
||
(A2.TIM, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:162/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
HP DESKJET 500 HOMEBREW REFILL KIT I just put together a homebrew refill
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" kit this afternoon, and thought I'd
|
||
relate my experiences. First off, it worked fine, and it was cheap.
|
||
That's the whole point, right?
|
||
|
||
Bill of Materials:
|
||
|
||
Item Cost
|
||
|
||
12 cc Syringe $0.40
|
||
20g 1.5" Needle $0.18
|
||
Jet Black Sheaffer Skrip Ink (2 oz.) $3.50
|
||
CA State Extortion $0.31
|
||
-------------------------------------------
|
||
GRAND TOTAL: $4.39
|
||
|
||
I purchased the needle and syringe at a local veterinary supply store.
|
||
When the saleslady asked what I was administering with the needle, I told
|
||
her "ink." She looked a bit confused, but was quick to make the 62-cent
|
||
sale. I needed to fill out a form with my name, address, size of syringe
|
||
and needle, use, and signature. Apparently, the state of California
|
||
expects that you'll actually write "IV Drugs" if that's what you're going
|
||
to use it for...
|
||
|
||
In a post up-topic, someone suggested a 25-gauge, 1.5" long needle.
|
||
This shop had a 5/8" 25g needle, or a 1 1/2" 20g needle. Figuring that
|
||
length was more important than the diameter, I purchased the 20-gauge. When
|
||
I got it home, I had some trouble filling the BubbleJet 10 cartridge, so I
|
||
figured that the previous poster had a reason for specifying a 25-gauge
|
||
needle (for another 19 cents, including tax). I went back out, got the
|
||
smaller needle, and tried again. It didn't work-- ink seems to go _very_
|
||
slowly through such a small needle, so I tried once again with the 20g
|
||
needle. This time, when I encountered resistance at the bottom of the
|
||
refill hole, I pressed harder and punctured something. After that, I had
|
||
no trouble injecting about 12 ml of ink into the cartridge, and the
|
||
self-test printed fine.
|
||
|
||
By far, the greatest cost in this project was the ink. The bottle
|
||
contains 60 ml of ink, which will run 5 refills, at a cost of just under 90
|
||
cents each. The syringe and needle are both marked "USE ONCE AND DESTROY",
|
||
but I figured that sterility was not a crucial factor in this application,
|
||
so I plan on using them for quite a while.
|
||
(D.BROWN109, CAT12, TOP8, MSG:121/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
LIBRARY LISTINGS You can make your own AW DB listings of GEnie
|
||
"""""""""""""""" libraries. All you have to do is list the libraries you
|
||
are interested in and capture the text to disk. There are two programs in
|
||
the A2 library that can generate DB files from these text captures:
|
||
|
||
17042 GECONVRT3.2.BXY
|
||
17468 TO.GE.CONV.BXY
|
||
|
||
I don't normally load TimeOut with Appleworks, so I use GECONVRT. It
|
||
is a very easy program to use. You don't even have to clean the list
|
||
headers off the capture or anything.
|
||
(T.ZUCHOWSKI, CAT17, TOP4, MSG:95/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
MOUSE TROUBLES... Schools are having problems w/students removing the
|
||
""""""""""""""""" balls from the mouses and using them as superballs.
|
||
Apple had BETTER start selling replacement parts.
|
||
(R.WAGONER4, CAT2, TOP4, MSG:84/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
MDG Extends International ProLine Support SAN DIEGO, California--March
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 15, 1993--To further support
|
||
international ProLine BBS owners, the Morgan Davis Group has developed an
|
||
enhanced AddUser module that offers flexible account registration for
|
||
non-U.S. systems. The new module offers relaxed verification of input to
|
||
accommodate a variety of address formats used world-wide. Found in eleven
|
||
countries, including Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Japan,
|
||
Mexico, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, and the United States, ProLine systems
|
||
share information over the ProLine network, established in 1985, and the
|
||
Internet.
|
||
|
||
In addition to international support, AddUser can also enforce
|
||
rigorous input verification now available for U.S. systems. Such
|
||
verification involves recognizing invalid street addresses, ZIP codes, and
|
||
phone numbers with non-standard area codes or repeating digits.
|
||
|
||
Part of the ProLine software package, AddUser allows callers to sign
|
||
up for their own accounts for immediate validation. This optional feature
|
||
spares the system administrator from manual account validation. Users can
|
||
begin to take full advantage of the system's services without having to
|
||
wait for their accounts to become operational.
|
||
|
||
The updated module is available free upon request for all
|
||
international, registered ProLine owners. For more details, contact MDG
|
||
International Services at +1 619 670 0563 (Monday through Friday, 9AM to
|
||
5PM Pacific Time), FAX +1 619 670 9643, BBS +1 619 670 5379, or via
|
||
Internet e-mail addressed to mdavis@mdg.cts.com.
|
||
|
||
ProLine is a trademark of Morgan Davis Group.
|
||
(MORGAN-DAVIS, CAT27, TOP3, MSG:182/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
Upgrading to Twilight II from Signature GS and Desktop Enhancer
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""" Thanks for your interest in Twilight II!
|
||
Owners of Signature GS and Desktop Enhancer can upgrade to Twilight II v1.1
|
||
for $25 ($24 plus $1 S&H). Twilight II v1.1 we hope to have shipping in
|
||
about two weeks. (It includes many more features than v1.0.1, or v1.0) It
|
||
is fully compatible with The Manager from Seven Hills!
|
||
|
||
If you would like to take advantage of this upgrade offer, send us
|
||
your _original_ manual cover from Signature GS or Desktop Enhancer, along
|
||
with a check or money order for $25 (made payable to DigiSoft Innovations).
|
||
Alternatively you can also pay via MasterCard or Visa. If you choose to
|
||
pay via credit card, email us your credit card number, expiration date,
|
||
card type, etc. Your card will not be billed or your check cashed until
|
||
Twilight II v1.1 is shipping, in approximately two weeks. We will
|
||
immediately ship you a copy at that time.
|
||
|
||
If you haven't already heard, Twilight II v1.1 also runs all Phantasm
|
||
effects! If you have any additional questions or complaints, let me know.
|
||
Thanks again for your interest!
|
||
|
||
Jim Maricondo
|
||
DigiSoft Innovations
|
||
P.O. Box 380
|
||
Trumbull, CT 06611
|
||
|
||
Phone - 203.375.0837
|
||
(DYA, CAT13, TOP30, MSG:109/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
THEY'RE DOING IT AGAIN! By now, many of you now know of the
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""" collaboration between Sequential Systems and
|
||
Procyon Enterprises in producing Switch-It!, the Apple IIGS application
|
||
switcher. I'm pleased to announce another collaboration - the combination
|
||
of Sequential's great Apple II hardware products with Procyon's on-line
|
||
support expertise.
|
||
|
||
I (Jawaid Bazyar, email address PROCYON.INC) will be maintaining this
|
||
new Sequential Systems category. If you have any questions about
|
||
Sequential products, post them here! (Also, if you've heard any rumors
|
||
lately, let us know too, so we can dispel them or set them straight, as the
|
||
case may be).
|
||
|
||
Both Sequential and Procyon are dedicated to supporting the Apple II
|
||
- and this is we hope a great example of what we mean by support.
|
||
(PROCYON.INC, CAT20, TOP1, MSG:1/M645;1
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> WHAT'S NEW <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
>> I'm looking for a copy of " The Hitchers Guide to the Galaxy "
|
||
|
||
That was a Infocom 8 bit text interface adventure game program. It
|
||
may be in the "The Lost Treasures of Infocom" package that Big Red just
|
||
released as a set of _20_ 16 bit GS specific, GS/OS compatible, hard drive
|
||
installable programs.
|
||
|
||
Call them at (402) 379-4680. It's product BR93 and costs $59.95 (
|
||
for 20 games, that is a cost of $3.00 _per_game_!)
|
||
|
||
BTW, every Apple II owner needs to join BRCC! They have some real
|
||
deals on classic software (and members save at least a third of the cost on
|
||
all but the new stuff), plus lots of great PD; shareware; freeware; etc.
|
||
(M.MURLEY3, CAT4, TOP5, MSG:55/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
LAWRENCE PRODUCTIONS UNLEASHES
|
||
THE LOST TRIBE FOR THE APPLE IIGS GALESBURG, Michigan -- February 23,
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" 1993 -- Lawrence Productions
|
||
announces the release of their latest software creation, The Lost Tribe, a
|
||
unique strategy game set in prehistoric times.
|
||
|
||
The Lost Tribe takes you back before recorded history where the
|
||
eruption of Belchfire Mountain destroys your primitive village. You
|
||
survive the disaster but the villages' ruler and his elite hunting party
|
||
are killed. The elders choose you to lead the homeless tribe away from
|
||
danger to an ancient homeland known only from legend. Your perilous
|
||
journey will require strong leadership, strategy, and sound decision
|
||
making.
|
||
|
||
Recommended for use at home and in social studies classes, children
|
||
may work individually or in small groups. They must interpret ancient maps
|
||
to plot their course, make judgment decisions of when and what to hunt,
|
||
determine how often to rest and feed the tribe, and resolve the many
|
||
conflicts that arise among the people.
|
||
|
||
Researching information from an on-screen encyclopedia, children can
|
||
explore everything from the personalities of individual tribe members, the
|
||
qualities of a successful leader to prehistoric animals, and much more.
|
||
|
||
The Lost Tribe has six challenging scenarios loaded with random
|
||
events, over 80 photographs (using the 256 color mode of the GS), digitized
|
||
music, cartoon animation, and an on-screen Prehistoric Guide to Survival
|
||
with 100 entries.
|
||
|
||
For ages 8 and older, The Lost Tribe is distributed by Davidson &
|
||
Associates and is also available direct from Lawrence Productions.
|
||
|
||
System Requirements:
|
||
Apple IIGS w/ a minimum of 1 MB of memory, System 5.0.4 or above,
|
||
one 3.5" disk drive.
|
||
|
||
One of the following is recommended for ease of use:
|
||
Hard drive or AppleShare Network.
|
||
2 MB's of memory.
|
||
Additional 3.5" drive.
|
||
|
||
CONTACT: Renee West
|
||
Lawrence Productions, Inc.
|
||
(800) 421-4157
|
||
|
||
(P.LAWRENCE5, CAT2, TOP27, MSG:3/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
___
|
||
ERGONOMIC MOUSE & KEYBOARD |he new Ergonomic Mouse and Keyboards will
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""" work just fine on a IIgs, though the
|
||
Ergonomic Keyboard has a bunch of buttons on it that have no use to a IIgs
|
||
user.
|
||
|
||
]['ve had an Ergonomic Mouse attached to the IIgs on my desk at work
|
||
for about two weeks. My reactions to it are mixed. It's very usable, but
|
||
I don't care much for the way the big button comes down along the sides a
|
||
little bit. It makes it a bit awkward to pick up the mouse and reposition
|
||
it while holding down the button. It may be because I have large hands,
|
||
though. I normally grab the mouse on either side of the button while
|
||
lifting it up, but this isn't feasible with the new mouse. It does fit
|
||
very well in the hand, though. When doing fine detail work (like editing
|
||
icons :) with the new mouse, you have to move the whole thing since the
|
||
ball is now forward of the center, instead of near the back. This makes
|
||
the position of the cursor on the screen and the position of the mouse on
|
||
your desk correspond better to each other. With the old mouse doing detail
|
||
work you could hold down the front of the mouse and twist the back around
|
||
for fine left-right movements. You'd often get a little bit of up and down
|
||
movement, as well, though. So, it's a tradeoff with the new mouse vs. the
|
||
old one, overall. At home, I'm just going to stick with my old mouse,
|
||
since that's what I'm used to. _ /-\t the opening of the new Apple Company
|
||
Store on Wednesday I got a look and feel at the new Ergonomic Keyboard.
|
||
This one I'll definitely pass on. It was awkward for me to type on, since
|
||
with my long nails I don't actually feel the keys, and have to depend on
|
||
their positions relative to each other. With the keyboard opening up and
|
||
being variable it really threw me off. It also takes up a lot of desk
|
||
space, even without the snap on palm rests, because when you open it up it
|
||
makes an arc. With the palm rests it can end up taking up a square of desk
|
||
space about one and a half feet on a side when opened up, NOT including the
|
||
detached keypad.
|
||
|
||
\/\/e've got a single LC III in the lab. I'll see if I can throw in
|
||
one of the IIe Cards I've got lying around into it on Monday, to see if
|
||
it's any faster in IIe mode than the LC and LC II. I really hope so,
|
||
because I also have an LC II on my desk, next to the GS (I've got a Mac
|
||
IIci on the other side of it), with a IIe Card in it and it is dog slow.
|
||
Seeing the IIgs running next to the LC II... well.... Let's just say that
|
||
if the dealers had actually had IIgs's in the same configuration (memory,
|
||
hard disk, monitor, etc.) next to LC IIs with IIe Cards in them on display,
|
||
they would've sold a lot fewer Mac LC/LC IIs.
|
||
|
||
P.S. Has it been mentioned in here that the new Color Classic has
|
||
the same slot in it as an LC/LC II, and can use the IIe Card, as well?
|
||
(A2.LUNATIC, CAT5, TOP2, MSG:46/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
5th Annual KansasFest
|
||
Apple II's Sweet Sixteen Last year's conference was such a rousing
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""" success that it made sense to continue the
|
||
celebration this year with a Sweet Sixteen party. In the past, attendees
|
||
have raved over the sessions but were equally (or even more) enthused over
|
||
the prospect of staying up all night in the dormitory, partying and hacking
|
||
around with their online buddies and/or Apple II hotshots.
|
||
|
||
More details will follow next month, but right now we can tell you
|
||
that KansasFest will take place on Thursday and Friday, July 22-23. In an
|
||
attempt to simplify our lives, we are returning to our original two-day
|
||
format. Sessions should run the gamut from general information to high
|
||
tech programming stuph.
|
||
|
||
Call Resource Central [1 (913) 469-6502] to make advanced
|
||
reservations. Mark your calendars now and get ready to celebrate!
|
||
(A2.HANGTIME, CAT5, TOP2, MSG:50/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
Symbolix "1.8" Interim Release Shipping An updated version (interim
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" release) of Symbolix is now
|
||
available on request. Registered v1.7 owners can order this improved
|
||
version from the address above. Because this is an undocumented release,
|
||
THE UPGRADE COSTS ONLY US$5.00 INCL. POSTAGE (surface mail, registered).
|
||
That's almost free of charge! Users of v1.7 will be able to use v1.8 right
|
||
out of the box. It offers:
|
||
|
||
- true multitasking support (symbolic commands, 2D/3D graphs,
|
||
recurrence formulae) with The Manager - Floating Point Engine
|
||
support (superfast, direct 68881 access) for real functions -
|
||
redesigned desktop interface - new, modeless online help (more than
|
||
50kB of text) - improved 2D module (selectable resolution, true
|
||
proportion graphs)
|
||
|
||
Multitasking Symbolix 1.8 supports the recently introduced program
|
||
"""""""""""" switcher/ multifinder "The Manager" from Seven
|
||
Hills/BrainStorm. Symbolix is the first, fully multitasking compatible
|
||
commercial product (No Henrik, that was my ShadowDial! :). All time
|
||
consuming tasks (symbolic and graphic commands) can be interrupted at
|
||
virtually any time. While you're switching and work with other programs,
|
||
Symbolix continues processing a command. Symbolix plays a sample when a
|
||
background task is complete. Since Symbolix uses only 3kB of zero page
|
||
space, it is a very Manager-friendly application and compatible with
|
||
virtually all programs that run under The Manager. To save even more
|
||
memory, the help function has been rewritten (now modeless) and is
|
||
completely disk-based. More strictly speaking, true multitasking is
|
||
possible with the following commands:
|
||
|
||
- 3D graphs - 2D graphs - Expand - Collect - Simplify - Evaluate
|
||
(recurrence formulae)
|
||
|
||
Two check boxes enable you to control Symbolix's behavior in a
|
||
multitasking environment. You can turn off multitasking which accelerates
|
||
the above commands whether it is running under The Manager or not. You can
|
||
also specify how "intensively" (slow/fast) the six commands in question
|
||
will be processed when operating in the background.
|
||
|
||
Floating Point Engine Speeds up real functions by ca. 60%-90% (real
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""" functions only). You will notice that 2D graphs
|
||
appear much faster than before (sine: 4 seconds instead of 15s).
|
||
Disclaimer: because Innovative Systems is out of business, a technical
|
||
problem could not be further tracked down. We have modified the code so
|
||
that FPE-generated synch problems will be fixed on the fly. However, we
|
||
cannot guarantee for obvious reasons that our patches will work on all
|
||
possible configurations.
|
||
|
||
Desktop Interface See articles in the Symbolix Newsletters volume 2 and
|
||
""""""""""""""""" 3. Changes involve "3D buttons", new window
|
||
positions/colors, new online help, etc. The desktop has been redesigned by
|
||
a Symbolix user who works with this program almost daily. You'll notice
|
||
that all windows are there were you need them! Symbolix even closes and
|
||
opens windows automatically in some situations.
|
||
|
||
This limited offer for registered customers underlines Bright
|
||
Software's non- profit philosophy. Ordering your own copy is one of the
|
||
best _and_ smallest investments. Please forward your original program disk
|
||
and enclose US$5.00 - that's all there is to it.
|
||
|
||
ATTENTION: - Don't forget to make a backup copy of version 1.7 before
|
||
mailing the disk! We'll delete all v1.7 files!
|
||
- This interim release is available from Bright Software
|
||
Switzerland ONLY.
|
||
|
||
Customers who already sent us their disk will receive v1.8
|
||
automatically. -Your Symbolix guys
|
||
|
||
** Specifications are subject to change without notice. **
|
||
|
||
|
||
The Manager is a trademark of Seven Hills Software Corp. MultiFinder
|
||
is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Finder is a registered trademark of
|
||
Apple Computer, Inc. Floating Point Engine, FPE, Innovative Systems are
|
||
trademarks of a company that has gone and gave us a wonderful product that
|
||
works only sporadically.
|
||
(A.HORSTMANN, CAT13, TOP13, MSG:28/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE... <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
From Barney Stone Yo! (As we say here in Philly.) I'm still around, and
|
||
""""""""""""""""" so are DB Master Professional, and Stone Edge
|
||
Technologies. Here's what's happening:
|
||
|
||
The shareware version of DB Master is no longer available from Stone
|
||
Edge, simply because I ran out of manuals, and don't get enough requests to
|
||
justify re-printing them.
|
||
|
||
I still have about 50 copies of DB Master Professional, and I'm
|
||
selling them for $100 (+$5 shipping) while they last (a few more months at
|
||
the rate they are crawling out the door).
|
||
|
||
Stone Edge (that is, me, since I'm the only one left, and yes, that
|
||
had to be me on the phone, unless my wife picked it up by accident) is
|
||
keeping the doors open by doing general computer consulting - PC, Mac,
|
||
Filemaker, MS Acces, DB Master Pro, Advanced DB Master (the MS-DOS
|
||
version), file conversions, Lantastic networks, etc. - whatever I can pick
|
||
up.
|
||
|
||
I can be reached at (215) 641-1825 for any of the above purposes.
|
||
|
||
Oh, yes - I still check in here every week or so for messages.
|
||
|
||
PS - If you call and get my answering machine, please include what
|
||
you are calling about (ordering, tech support, consulting, etc.) in your
|
||
message, and note that I only return tech support calls if you say I can
|
||
call collect - an unfortunate by-product of current business conditions.
|
||
(DBM.BARNEY, CAT8, TOP2, MSG:38/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
PROTERM V3.0 News Release from the maker of ProTerm V3.0 -- Effective
|
||
"""""""""""" Immediately:
|
||
|
||
Because of potential tradename conflicts, the name of InSync
|
||
Software, Inc. has been changed to InTrec Software, Inc..
|
||
|
||
All references to "InSync Software, Inc." will now be assumed to be a
|
||
reference to "InTrec Software, Inc."
|
||
|
||
Only the name is changed. The corporation, the ownership, the
|
||
location and the way business has been conducted as InSync Software, Inc.
|
||
remains the same.
|
||
Jerry Cline, President
|
||
Greg Schaefer, V President
|
||
InTrec Software, Inc
|
||
Formerly -
|
||
InSync Software, Inc.
|
||
(INSYNC.SW, CAT24, TOP1, MSG:2/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
\_/
|
||
IIGS A MISTAKE? |ou people ought to see the reactions I've been getting
|
||
""""""""""""""" from people at Apple by having a couple dozen Apple IIGS's on racks running
|
||
PaintWorks animations while idle. They run along the lines of "I didn't
|
||
know a IIGS could do that!" "The animation is so smooth! How does it do
|
||
that?" "Is that QuickTime?" "I didn't think the GS' resolution was that
|
||
good." "Boy, they really missed out on a big opportunity by discontinuing
|
||
that." "Can you use those on a Mac?" and the old favourite "What kind of
|
||
Mac is that?" (: _ /-\nd then having a Mac LC II with a IIe Card in it
|
||
next to a IIGS really shows you how awkward and slow the Mac's emulation of
|
||
a IIe is. You can say that they should have come out with the Mac LC
|
||
instead of the IIGS, but it really wasn't possible back then. Even now, at
|
||
best, the LC's emulation of a IIe is awkward. Looking at it another way:
|
||
the Mac LC/LC II with a IIe Card emulates about the average Apple IIe in
|
||
1986, when the IIGS came out.
|
||
|
||
|\/|aybe the IIGS was a mistake. Maybe they should have just stopped
|
||
the line with the IIe. But think of how much fun and use we've gotten out
|
||
of our IIGS's over the years! I've had enough that my IIGS has more than
|
||
paid for itself since I bought it -- $1000 for the CPU alone in October,
|
||
1986, one month after its release.
|
||
(A2.LUNATIC, CAT2, TOP5, MSG:173/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> HOT TOPICS <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
WHAT IF... If Apple had released a IIe-compatible color Mac INSTEAD of
|
||
"""""""""" the IIGS, there would have been a true upgrade path to the
|
||
Mac.
|
||
|
||
Now, instead, we have the IIGS, which looks a little bit like a Mac
|
||
but isn't, and we have a Mac IIe card which does not give IIGS owners a
|
||
real upgrade path.
|
||
|
||
Apple no doubt found the IIGS extremely difficult to market.
|
||
Obviously, their future plans all hinged on the Macintosh, yet with the
|
||
release of the IIGS they found themselves saying, no, wait, the Macintosh
|
||
is NOT our sole future direction. The machine had a split personality
|
||
(classic Apple II mode and a not-quite-Mac Desktop mode) -- like the
|
||
Commodore 128 only mo' better and more seamlessly integrated. In demos, it
|
||
LOOKED like it was a Macintosh (in fact, the case and keyboard even
|
||
resembled a small Mac II), yet, for years, it thought Mac disks were blank.
|
||
|
||
I maintain that if Apple had released a Mac that could run Apple II
|
||
software INSTEAD OF the IIGS, they wouldn't have the problem they have now.
|
||
That problem is a commitment to support a machine that does not, and never
|
||
did, have a place in their grand design. The problem is 1.5 million users
|
||
who demand this support and are p*ssed off at Apple for "abandoning" the
|
||
machine. The problem, in short, is a non-Mac computer that Apple started
|
||
producing long after they had decided that the Mac was their future.
|
||
|
||
It's a pretty decent machine, and it's a lot of fun, but I can hardly
|
||
blame Apple for their confusion about what they should do with it. (And
|
||
their confusion is obvious. They never advertised the machine, yet they
|
||
spent huge amounts of efforts on things like System 6. One action seems
|
||
virtually "evil," the other is clearly "good.") I think Apple's continuing
|
||
support for the machine is astonishing, frankly.
|
||
|
||
If Apple had never made the IIGS and had instead focused on a
|
||
low-cost Mac that could run IIe software, most of you IIGS users would be
|
||
using Macs RIGHT NOW. And most would like the Mac as much as they like the
|
||
IIGS. (QC, CAT2, TOP5, MSG:182/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
>>>>> Wellllll, I don't know about that. I didn't upgrade from the II+
|
||
""""" to the IIe. I waited around until I saw something that made it
|
||
worth my while to upgrade. The superior (to my existing II+) graphics and
|
||
especially the sound of the IIgs turned my head. I wanted color graphics
|
||
and stereo sound long before the Mac's ever offered either. Think back to
|
||
the days of the IIgs introduction. There was nary a color Mac to be found.
|
||
And to this day, no personal computer under $3000 offers better stereo
|
||
sound out of the box. Add to this the fact that I was not too much taken
|
||
with the desktop metaphor until much later, and I come to the conclusion
|
||
that _I_ would not have purchased a low-end Mac instead of the IIgs.
|
||
|
||
I still enjoy a text-only interface at times (ProSel is my startup
|
||
program) and I like my home computer to be as cheap as possible. This
|
||
saves more money for productivity software, games and magazines. :)
|
||
|
||
I know that some of us have seen this type of argument and griping
|
||
over and over again. However, many GEnie subscribers have never had the
|
||
chance to express themselves in this type of forum before. I fully support
|
||
the right of anyone to "wail at the wall" for awhile. It sometimes helps
|
||
to just get things off of your chest. Most Apple II owners have felt like
|
||
the earlier posting by J.AMBURGEY at one time or other. By all means,
|
||
release a little frustration in this forum if it makes you feel better.
|
||
|
||
Speaking for myself, I have given up feeling angry at Apple computer.
|
||
(It never did any good anyway.) As a matter of fact, I have even managed
|
||
to generate a little good will toward them with the continued support of
|
||
Apple II system software such as GS/OS version 6.x .
|
||
(D.RAINES, CAT2, TOP5, MSG:45/M645;1)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> MESSAGE SPOTLIGHT <<<
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
Category 11, Topic 16
|
||
Message 246 Tue Mar 16, 1993
|
||
A2.LUNATIC [Lunatic] at 06:13 EST
|
||
|
||
][ think we need to get a few things cleared up, here. There are
|
||
three categories of terms we are using, and it's easy to start getting them
|
||
confused. They break down like this:
|
||
|
||
A) Double Density, High Density, Floptical (Very High Density?), etc.
|
||
B) GCR, MFM, and RLL (Floptical)
|
||
C) ProDOS, HFS, MS-DOS, etc.
|
||
_
|
||
|_
|
||
|_ach one of these categories is completely separate from the others.
|
||
A formatted 3.5" disk has one attribute from each category.
|
||
_
|
||
(_ategory A is the type of diskette (media). Category B is the type
|
||
of LOW-LEVEL format. Category C is the type os HIGH-LEVEL format. Any one
|
||
of the options in each category has the ability to be mixed with any of the
|
||
options from the other categories. Some of the combinations you will
|
||
simply never see, though. Here are some of the most common combinations,
|
||
and what you get as a result:
|
||
|
||
1) Double Density + GCR + ProDOS = 800K disk
|
||
2) Double Density + GCR + HFS = 800K disk
|
||
3) Double Density + MFM + MS-DOS = 720K disk
|
||
4) High Density + GCR + ProDOS = 1600K disk (old AE HD drives ONLY)
|
||
5) High Density + MFM + ProDOS = 1400K disk
|
||
6) High Density + MFM + HFS = 1400K disk
|
||
7) High Density + MFM + MS-DOS = 1400K disk
|
||
8) Floptical + RLL + ProDOS = 21 MB disk
|
||
9) Floptical + RLL + HFS = 21 MB disk
|
||
10) Floptical + RLL + MS-DOS = 21 MB disk
|
||
|
||
|\|ow, a regular Apple 3.5 drive can handle 1 and 2 only (unless it's
|
||
hooked up to a PCT, but that's another story...). The Apple 3.5 drive is
|
||
Double Density only, and GCR only. _ /-\n Apple SuperDrive + SuperDrive
|
||
Controller Card can handle 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7. The Apple SuperDrive is
|
||
Double Density _or_ High Density, and GCR _or_ MFM compatible. In High
|
||
Density mode it only supports MFM, though. _ /-\ Floptical drive is
|
||
supposed to support Double Density, High Density, and Floptical media, in
|
||
MFM and Floptical formats only. Looking at the list, this means it
|
||
supports 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. In addition, a Floptical drive supports
|
||
Double Density + MFM + ProDOS or HFS, which should give you:
|
||
|
||
11) Double Density + MFM + ProDOS = 720K disk (apparently only 668K)
|
||
12) Double Density + MFM + HFS = 720K disk (true size: ?)
|
||
|
||
I suspect that when the RamFAST was used to (low-level) format the
|
||
Double Density disks in J-Bird's tests, it put a SCSI partition map on the
|
||
disks, which ate up some K, only giving him 668K of free space. J-Bird,
|
||
what version of the RamFAST ROM do you have? Later versions (3.00j and up)
|
||
are supposed to correct this.
|
||
|
||
\_/
|
||
|es, from the numbers above you might guess that you could do
|
||
Double Density + GCR + MS-DOS to give you an 800K MS-DOS disk. Well,
|
||
technically it's possible, yes. Unless the PCT can do it, though, I don't
|
||
know of any drive/software combination that will give you a disk like that.
|
||
There would be little point, though, since the whole MS-DOS world uses MFM.
|
||
_ (_)h yeah, one more format I haven't mentioned, which isn't really
|
||
relevant here since I've never seen any Apple equipment support it, is
|
||
Extra High Density, or ED/EHD. These disks are capable of double the
|
||
storage of High Density, which would most commonly be 2.8 MB.
|
||
|
||
\/\/hile I'm at it, I'll mention that it is generally regarded as a
|
||
mistake that Apple chose GCR for its Double Density 3.5" drives/disks,
|
||
instead of MFM. While GCR stores a bit more information than standard MFM,
|
||
it's also considerably less reliable, and tends to give mass disk
|
||
duplicators headaches. _ |_ |inally, (am I _ever_ going to stop?? :) the
|
||
Amiga uses a non-standard type of MFM which gives it 880K per disk. I've
|
||
heard that they have a considerable number of reliability problems with
|
||
that format, though. (If someone tells you that the Amiga simply uses
|
||
unformatted diskettes to get so much space, don't believe them. A totally
|
||
unformatted Double Density disk should actually store as much as 1 MB.)
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
While on GEnie, do you spend most of your time downloading files?
|
||
If so, you may be missing out some excellent information in the Bulletin
|
||
Board area. The messages listed above only scratch the surface of
|
||
what's available and waiting for you in the bulletin board area.
|
||
|
||
If you are serious about your AII, the GEnieLamp staff strongly
|
||
urge you to give the bulletin board area a try. There are literally
|
||
thousands of messages posted from people like you from all over the
|
||
world.
|
||
|
||
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "Don't be a stranger, John! (feel free to continue to be /
|
||
/ strange, just don't be a stranger!)" /
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////// T.MCCOMB ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[HUM]//////////////////////////////
|
||
HUMOR ONLINE /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
GEnie Fun And Games
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Darrel Raines
|
||
[D.Raines]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> APRIL 1ST COLUMN <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
(a new annual event)
|
||
|
||
ANNOUNCING THE BANANA PC In a new product announcement made to an
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""" audience of PC industry pundits that were
|
||
waiting with baited breath, the Banana PC was introduced with a host of
|
||
novel features and a price tag that will get some attention. The projected
|
||
price of the new computer: $1.59 per pound!
|
||
|
||
This new PC has a number of unique features that will put in on the
|
||
top of every Christmas shoppers list. The Banana PC is scheduled for
|
||
volume production starting in October. Its leading feature is the bright
|
||
yellow color of the exterior plastic. The small, infrequent black spots do
|
||
a lot to make the PC resemble its namesake in the fruit world.
|
||
|
||
In addition to its sporty new color, this computer comes complete with
|
||
the new and improved Banana Operating System Software (BOSS). With the
|
||
BOSS installed in your new computer, you can realize some new generation
|
||
commands that have never been available on a personal computer before. For
|
||
example, the new command CONF will cause the PC to tie up your phone line
|
||
and be unavailable for about two hours time (this feature requires an
|
||
optional phone connection).
|
||
|
||
Many users will enjoy the new "Aroma feature". Scratching the plastic
|
||
case of the keyboard will produce the smell of ripening bananas for the
|
||
enjoyment of the happy typist.
|
||
|
||
Something completely new with this computer is the addition of
|
||
robotics in the form of legs and feet. This new feature allows the
|
||
computer to serve in a useful capacity as waiter when the aspiring
|
||
programmer would like a beer or Mountain Dew from the refrigerator.
|
||
However, the manufacturer does not warrant possible damage or loss from the
|
||
computer drinking said beverage.
|
||
|
||
Another key feature for this product is the removal of annoying
|
||
peripherals from the system. Never again will a user have to worry about
|
||
noisy printers, clunky disk drives or space-consuming hard drives. The
|
||
Banana PC eschews such nonsensical devices and any perceived benefits from
|
||
them. An opening in the front of the computer, resembling an old style
|
||
floppy drive, is just an esthetic feature to make users of older systems
|
||
feel at home. It also serves as theexhaust vent for the new "Aroma
|
||
feature" and the enhanced voice synthesis hardware.
|
||
|
||
Not to be outdone by older technology computers made by other "fruit"
|
||
companies, the Banana PC has the latest advances in voice synthesis and
|
||
recognition. Short training sessions with a microphone, yourself and a
|
||
loved one will have the new computer ready to go. At this point, it will
|
||
recognize your voice, ignore your verbal commands, and insult you in a
|
||
voice that you are used to hearing every day.
|
||
|
||
|
||
BOSS OPERATING SYSTEM FEATURES With the advent of fifth generation
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" software for your home computer, the
|
||
newest system software will have many new features never found on
|
||
computers before. A new filing system makes its debut with the Banana PC:
|
||
Magical Envelope Storage System (MESS). With this filing system, every
|
||
file created will be instantly lost in the mass storage area. You will
|
||
never have to worry about where you put a file again. No longer will you
|
||
have to dig through layer after layer of file folders. With MESS, you
|
||
start out with lost files. Industry experts are amazed at this
|
||
time-saving new feature.
|
||
|
||
Another break-through in computer power is the built-in software
|
||
contained on the Banana PC. An integrated Word Processing Suite is
|
||
available in ROM (Read-Only Memory). 15 different Word Processors are
|
||
available at the touch of a key. Each of the Word Processors is able to
|
||
exchange data with the others (common clipboard). You can even load files
|
||
directly into any of the 15 different programs without converting file
|
||
formats. Use the Programmer's WP for those coding tasks. Then switch over
|
||
to the Document WP for the instructions that go with your code. Finally,
|
||
jump to the Note WP to write down those ideas that come to you while
|
||
working. You may never need to buy another Word Processor again! Editor's
|
||
note: We were unable to run more than one of the Word Processors at a time
|
||
without expanding the 64 Meg memory of the base system. Our best
|
||
recommendation is to go ahead and get about 1 Gig of memory to start with.
|
||
That should last you at least a year, until lazy software manufacturers
|
||
catch up with that memory standard. [other editor's note: What?]
|
||
|
||
|
||
Parent Company and Availability Banana Computer, Ink. was formed to
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" develop and market this new computer in
|
||
1990. S. Sboj and S. Kainzow are the founders of the company. The initial
|
||
stock offering for Banana Computer, amazingly enough, coincided with the
|
||
announcement of the new PC. Stock prices have been soaring with the
|
||
initial market acceptance and advance orders.
|
||
|
||
Most corporate buyers of computers are concerned about purchasing
|
||
computers that are not at the leading edge of market technology. These
|
||
same buyers can purchase the Banana PC with confidence. It is guaranteed
|
||
to be old technology by the time it actually shows up at your office.
|
||
Banana Computer is firmly committed to making product announcements so far
|
||
in advance of delivery, that they will have announced the successor to a
|
||
computer BEFORE the computer itself is ever rolled off the assembly line.
|
||
One inside source at Banana Computer has been identified and asked to
|
||
comment on the mighty feature list indicated earlier in this story. "Yeah,
|
||
right", the engineer exclaimed. While asking for anonymity, the source
|
||
went on to say that "it would be nice if we could get the darn thing to
|
||
power on without burning out chips before the announced delivery date".
|
||
However, this newsletter is not trying to cast a disparaging light on
|
||
official company spokesmen. [Heh, heh. Oops.]
|
||
|
||
Banana PC's will be distributed through Sears stores nation-wide. You
|
||
can place advance orders by sending a certified check directly to any
|
||
Sears store or the computer manufacturer. When asked about Sears
|
||
participation in home computer sales, a local store official remarked:
|
||
"Why not, nothing else is selling in here."
|
||
|
||
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "I really enjoy CardFile 4. I use it to dial the phone mostly. /
|
||
/ I no longer remember any of my friends' phone numbers." /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////// MUSE ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[REF]//////////////////////////////
|
||
REFLECTIONS /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Basic Shareware Etiquette
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Phil Shapiro
|
||
[P.SHAPIRO1]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
As shareware becomes an increasingly popular channel for software
|
||
distribution, it seems fitting and appropriate at this time to review some
|
||
of the basics of shareware etiquette. As your mother so often told you as
|
||
a child, the rules of shareware etiquette apply equally to both shareware
|
||
users and shareware creators. Good manners and thoughtful behavior have a
|
||
uniquely wonderful reciprocalness to them.
|
||
|
||
Shareware etiquette starts with the shareware creator. Creators have
|
||
the obligation of politely informing shareware users that the software they
|
||
are using is being distributed on a try-before-you-buy basis. Shareware
|
||
notices should be concise and pleasantly phrased. It's entirely
|
||
appropriate to give tactful hints that further goodies await the kind souls
|
||
who send in the requested shareware fee. Please note that "starving
|
||
college student" humor can be acceptable if it's truthful, sincere, and
|
||
tasteful. Brevity, as always, is a must.
|
||
|
||
On the other side of the table, shareware users have the duty of
|
||
pleasantly reading the pleasantly phrased shareware notice. They have the
|
||
further duty of pleasantly understanding what the tactful and thoughtful
|
||
shareware message is saying.
|
||
|
||
Customarily, shareware users are granted two weeks to try out
|
||
shareware programs. If, after that time, they find the particular
|
||
shareware program does not meet their current needs, they have the duty of
|
||
pleasantly and thoughtfully formatting the floppy disk containing the
|
||
shareware. In the case of hard drive users, they have the duty of removing
|
||
the shareware entirely from their hard drive system.
|
||
|
||
Should they decide to keep, cherish, and foster the shareware, they
|
||
have the duty of sending in the shareware fee along with a suitably brief
|
||
but heartfelt expression of their gratitude and appreciation.
|
||
|
||
When sending in the requested shareware fee, shareware users are given
|
||
generous opportunities to earn extra-credit etiquette points. Extra-credit
|
||
etiquette points can be earned by including: 1) Suggested enhancements for
|
||
possible future versions of the shareware; 2) Ideas for new shareware
|
||
disks, and, 3) A self-address stamped envelope. To earn admiration far and
|
||
beyond the call of standard shareware etiquette, a stamped, self-addressed
|
||
floppy mailer might be included.
|
||
|
||
Kindly take note that shareware etiquette does not end with the
|
||
shareware fee being sent. Far from it. Upon receipt of the shareware fee,
|
||
the shareware creator has the duty of sending a timely, appropriately
|
||
phrased expression of gratitude. This expression of thanks need not exceed
|
||
two typed paragraphs. But at least two to three sentences must address the
|
||
particular comments included in the shareware user's letters. Shareware
|
||
etiquette frowns seriously upon the unchivalrous sending of mail-merged
|
||
form letters.
|
||
|
||
It's appropriate for shareware creators to express in their own words
|
||
how meaningful it is to them to have their faith in humanity renewed by the
|
||
kind and thoughtful sending of the requested shareware fee. Please - - -
|
||
no gushing sentiments, though.
|
||
|
||
The sending of extra software goodies to the shareware user is
|
||
entirely within the impeccable discretion of the shareware creator. But
|
||
here again, extra-credit etiquette points can be earned by going above and
|
||
beyond the call of duty. By sending extra software goodies, shareware
|
||
creators can help perpetuate a spiral of goodwill resonating out in ever
|
||
widening circles of trust and charity.
|
||
|
||
Please be aware that special etiquette rules apply to educational
|
||
shareware programs. If such shareware is being used primarily by children,
|
||
then the rules of shareware etiquette dictate that the children themselves
|
||
should write the thank-you letter accompanying the requested shareware fee.
|
||
Handwritten letters carry far more meaning than typed letters in these
|
||
circumstances. As usual, the expressions of gratitude needs to be both
|
||
heartfelt and brief. Handwriting, as usual, should be the child's very
|
||
best. Black or blue-black ink on white lined paper, thank you.
|
||
|
||
The rules of shareware etiquette have not fully developed to address
|
||
the question of what happens if the shareware fee letter is returned as
|
||
being undeliverable. We live in such a mobile society that such
|
||
eventualities happen far too often. In such cases, the kind and
|
||
considerate shareware user has an obligation to make reasonable efforts to
|
||
track down the shareware creator. Polite inquiries directed to one's local
|
||
users group, or on the national information services, are entirely
|
||
appropriate.
|
||
|
||
If reasonable efforts are unable to reveal the current address of the
|
||
shareware creator, a fitting course of action is to donate the money from
|
||
the returned shareware fee to a deserving local charity. In that way the
|
||
goodwill generated by the initial shareware creator continues to live on in
|
||
some other form.
|
||
|
||
By following the basic rules of shareware etiquette yourself, you can
|
||
feel enobled by your own role in carrying on a tradition that has served
|
||
computer users for several hundred years. How very fortunate we all are
|
||
for the shareware traditions our forefathers and foremothers passed along
|
||
to us in the early days of microcomputers.
|
||
|
||
-Phil Shapiro
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
[The author takes an interest in the social dimensions
|
||
of communication technology. He can be reached on
|
||
GEnie at: p.shapiro1; on America Online at:
|
||
pshapiro; and on Internet at:pshapiro@pro-novapple.cts.com]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[MOO]//////////////////////////////
|
||
CowTOONS! /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Cows from Literature,
|
||
History, and the Arts
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
Volume I, Number 2 (__)
|
||
(Oo) /~\
|
||
By Mike White \/-/ \-\
|
||
[M.WHITE25] || | \
|
||
||----|| *
|
||
~~ ~~
|
||
Cowsimoodo
|
||
|
||
The Hunchcow of Notre Dame
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
by Victor Moogo, 1831
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
(__) .
|
||
(oo) . .
|
||
/-------\/ . /^
|
||
/ | || <*> /^ ) ( ^\
|
||
* ||----|| (;) (^ ( ) )
|
||
~~ ~~ ~~~ ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^^
|
||
|
||
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow
|
||
|
||
started the Chicowgo Fire
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
October 8, 1871
|
||
|
||
|
||
_____
|
||
__|___|__
|
||
(o o) Watch for another thunderin' herd of
|
||
/(.) Moo Fun from Mike White in the next
|
||
| ~_/~~~~~~~~~ issue of GEnieLamp.
|
||
|\ |
|
||
( " |
|
||
\ \
|
||
|| \\
|
||
|| //
|
||
~~ ~~
|
||
|
||
Moorice Chevalier
|
||
1888 - 1972
|
||
|
||
"Thank heaven for little cows."
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
(____)
|
||
( oo ) { CowTOONS? Les Blatt took us up
|
||
_/_______{ on our offer and sent in this month's
|
||
/~~/\/~\ CowTOONS cowtribution.
|
||
| / |
|
||
| / |
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
Noel Cow-ard
|
||
1899 - 1973
|
||
|
||
Bon vivant/playwright/songwriter
|
||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
|
||
Works include:
|
||
Mad Cows and Englishmen If you have an idea for a CowTOON, we
|
||
A Room With a Moo would like to see it. And, if we pick
|
||
I'll See Ewe Again your CowTOON for publishing in GEnieLamp
|
||
Blithe Heifer we will credit your account with 2 hours
|
||
Mooed With Violin of GEnie non-prime time!
|
||
By Les Blatt
|
||
[L.BLATT]
|
||
|
||
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "Personally, everything I do is just to use up time until Biker /
|
||
/ Mice From Mars premires this fall." /
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////////// R.MARTIN22 ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[RTC]//////////////////////////////
|
||
NIGHTS OF THE ROUNDTABLE /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
RTC Happenings
|
||
""""""""""""""
|
||
By Gina Saikin
|
||
[G.Saikin]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> UNLOCKING THE MYSTIQUE OF THE REAL TIME CONFERENCE <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
Ever wanted to talk to your favorite software author, or visit with
|
||
gurus in your area of interest? Ever wanted to chat with your fellow
|
||
Apple, IBM, or Atari users, or with people that share your interest in the
|
||
environment, family matters, government interests or any other interest you
|
||
can dream of?
|
||
|
||
On GEnie's Real Time Conferences (RTC) these wishes can come true.
|
||
Nearly every special interest area within GEnie has their own Real Time
|
||
Conferences.
|
||
|
||
What is a RTC? Well, imagine anywhere from 2 to 102 people sitting at
|
||
separate computers in cities and towns all across the country. At exactly
|
||
7:30 EST, they all logon to GEnie and go to an electronic "conference
|
||
room". In this conference room, every message that they type on their
|
||
computer keyboards is instantaneously transmitted to every other person in
|
||
the room. Conversations turn this way and that as the various individuals
|
||
add their ideas and thoughts to the discussion at hand. This free-wheeling
|
||
exchange of ideas is an RTC.
|
||
|
||
There are so many advantages to online RTC's, it'll be hard to list
|
||
them here. For instance you don't have to travel halfway around the world
|
||
to talk to a special speaker in Tim Buk Tu: you don't even have to dress
|
||
up (that is, until we get "computervision" <grin>). You won't have to buck
|
||
Mother Nature or the traffic to get in touch with your favorite software
|
||
guru, either.
|
||
|
||
We have lots of fun in the RTC's. Generally almost anything goes -
|
||
discussions that may start about a hard drive might end up debating the
|
||
pros and cons of crime and punishment. A spiel on AppleWorks might wind up
|
||
ending in a discussion of governmental ills. Actually, craziness is NOT a
|
||
detriment to an RTC. It is encouraged.
|
||
|
||
In our A2 RTC's, we've managed at some time or other to solve the
|
||
problems of crime and punishment, ruminate the philosophy of good and evil,
|
||
and extol the benefits of national health care. We've even managed to
|
||
sandwich in discussions about Appleworks, recalcitrant hard drives, GEM,
|
||
and other knotty technical problems.
|
||
|
||
Shy? Don't be. One of the beauties of the RTC is that no one can see
|
||
you. This can also be a drawback, for no one can read your body language.
|
||
However, this barrier has been overcome with an ingenious series of
|
||
expressions. Below are just a few to help you get started:
|
||
|
||
:), :-) or variations indicate a smile
|
||
:( says you're sad or unhappy
|
||
:P is sticking out your tongue at someone
|
||
:/ is puzzled
|
||
X-) indicated "crossed eyes"
|
||
|
||
You can be as creative as you want. I've only mentioned a mere few of
|
||
the expressions you can use to indicate your mood. Also, there are several
|
||
shorthand expressions that we use:
|
||
|
||
IMHO = for In My Humble Opinion
|
||
BTW = By The Way
|
||
ROFL = Rolling On The Floor Laughing
|
||
LOL = Laughing Out Loud
|
||
|
||
Again, these are just a few of the shorthands that RTC'ers use to make
|
||
typing easier and faster.
|
||
|
||
You've read all about RTC's, and want to participate in an RTC? It's
|
||
simple. From the main menu, when you first come into GEnie, type either
|
||
mXXX;2, with XXX being the page number of the areas main menu (i.e., for
|
||
A2, you'd type m645;2), or type the keyword (i.e., A2) followed by
|
||
selecting menu choice number 2, and you will shortly see this:
|
||
|
||
GEnie Page 645;2
|
||
Apple II Real-Time Conference
|
||
Version 3.12
|
||
|
||
(In this space will either be a message indicating no
|
||
users in the RTC or one indicating a room number(s) with
|
||
the number of users in the room(s))
|
||
|
||
Address of <G.SAIKIN> will be used.
|
||
What ROOM (1-3), or <Q>uit>
|
||
|
||
If you get the message "No users in RTC," that means that no one is
|
||
here yet, or there is no conference being held. However, if you get the
|
||
message indicating a room number and number of users in it, a conference is
|
||
in session. Then, you choose the number of the room with people in it, by
|
||
typing 1,2 or 3 at the prompt. Afterwards, you'll see this message:
|
||
|
||
|
||
Room 1, The General Club room.
|
||
** <G.SAIKIN> is here.
|
||
|
||
Ok, now you've managed to get into the conference room. Suddenly, you
|
||
not only find that you may not be able to see what you're typing, but
|
||
people seem to type right over you. This is a common event in every
|
||
newcomer's premier appearance in an RTC. Don't dismay. This can be simply
|
||
remedied by putting your comm program in either full duplex AND chat mode
|
||
or at the very least, half-duplex and chat mode. Then, you'll not only see
|
||
what YOU are typing, but you'll be able to sort out your typing from the
|
||
other guy's, because your typing will show up below a dotted or solid line.
|
||
Easy, wasn't it? Each comm program has their on special terminology and
|
||
ways of setting for split-screen chat, and if you don't know how to set
|
||
your comm program, ask when you get into the RTC. Someone will likely be
|
||
able to help you.
|
||
|
||
We can't forget your name. Nicknames can be as simple as your first
|
||
name, or as creative as S.O.F.H. (Sysops from Hell), or my favorite, Binary
|
||
Bear. To identify yourself to your fellow RTC'ers, simply type /NAME
|
||
XXXX, with XXXX being your name or nickname. Many RTC'ers change their
|
||
nicknames throughout the conference to echo their current mood (for
|
||
instance, one night we were talking about the fate of Apple, and a
|
||
disgruntled RTC'er called himself "FireScully")
|
||
|
||
Now, you're really into the flow of the conversation, and someone you
|
||
know pops in. You want to talk to him, but you don't want everyone else to
|
||
hear the latest gossip you want to tell him. This is simple. First of
|
||
all, type /USERS to list the job numbers of every person. Now type /SEND
|
||
XX, with XX being your friend's job number. At this point, only your
|
||
friend will see what you're saying. If it's going to be a long and
|
||
involved conversation; and your friend doesn't mind getting dragged away
|
||
from the mainstream, you can meet him in private, by typing /PRI XX, with
|
||
XX being his job number.
|
||
|
||
Most of the time, an RTC is a study in organized confusion and you can
|
||
just pop in with your ideas, your philosophies, and of course, your jokes,
|
||
for what would an RTC be without laughter? In the more formal conferences
|
||
which normally have formal guest speakers, the RTC host will probably put
|
||
the room into a listen only mode - that means you have to remember back to
|
||
your school days, and /RAISE your hand (by typing /RAISE) to be called
|
||
upon. (BTW, you don't have to raise your hand to be excused from the room
|
||
- just simply type AFK for Away From Keyboard, but remember to type BAK
|
||
when you return, so we know your back.)
|
||
|
||
Below is a schedule of the A2 RTC's. As mentioned below, there is a
|
||
theme for each night, but don't let that sway you. Come on in anyway -
|
||
even if you come in on Wednesday, where we discuss Hypermedia stuff, and
|
||
have a question about GEM, you'll more than likely find someone that will
|
||
be able to solve your problem. The only night where there may be some
|
||
formality is on Tuesday nights. However, don't be shy to pop in anyway -
|
||
if there is no special speaker, the RTC will be open to any discussions.
|
||
|
||
A2 Weekly Schedule
|
||
------------------
|
||
Sun 1200 ET Kids RTC Host: Gena Saikin
|
||
|
||
Sun 2130 ET II Speak Host: Don Arrowsmith
|
||
|
||
Mon 2130 ET New Users Host: Tara Dillinger
|
||
|
||
Tue 2130 ET Formal Guest Host: Susan
|
||
|
||
Wed 2130 ET Hypermedia Host: HangTime
|
||
|
||
Thu 2130 ET TBC Forum Host: Mike Garvey
|
||
|
||
Fri 2130 ET Telecommunications Host: Jim Zajkowski
|
||
|
||
Sat 2130 ET Games Host: Dave Ciotti
|
||
|
||
Formal Conferences:
|
||
(Tuesdays, 2130 EDT, 1830 PDT, Room 3)
|
||
|
||
IMHO, I think I've pretty much covered the basics. Oops, I forgot to
|
||
tell you how to get out of the RTC at the end (or when you decide your bill
|
||
has reached it's limit - or your mom or spouse has threatened to hang you
|
||
up if you don't get out). Type /EXIT to leave the room and go into other
|
||
areas of GEnie. There are, however, other ways of leaving the RTC area.
|
||
You can type /BYE, and that will log you off GEnie, just like in any other
|
||
area. You can even move to another room (/ROO X, with X being the room
|
||
number). You can also move to another page or area (/MOVe 200;9 or /MOV
|
||
CHAT).
|
||
|
||
Remember, in the RTC, to move to another area, exit or say bye, you'll
|
||
have to use the first three letters of the command (EXI, MOV, BYE) with a
|
||
forward slash before it (/). This is true of most RTC commands.
|
||
|
||
Hopefully, this article has eased the nervousness that most first-time
|
||
users experience with a RTC. I didn't want to be too technical in this
|
||
first article, but wanted to give just a thumbnail sketch to get you
|
||
started in the wonderful world of Real Time Conferencing. Don't be shy,
|
||
jump in. We will be looking for you soon.
|
||
|
||
P.S. I snuck a few shorthands in the last part of this article to see
|
||
if you could remember what they meant. How did you do? You must be ready
|
||
for an A2 RTC.
|
||
|
||
|
||
////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "Yep! I use to think I 'knew' a little something about 'puters, /
|
||
/ that was until I met some of the folks here on GEnie... Wow!! :) /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////////////////// T.EVANS21 ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[TEL]//////////////////////////////
|
||
TELETALK ONLINE /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Online Communications
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Al Fasoldt
|
||
[A.FASOLDT]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> THE SECRET SESSION OF THE ISO <<<
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
~ Copyright 1993 by Al Fasoldt. All rights reserved ~
|
||
|
||
Every year at this time, I report on the activities of a group that
|
||
has been shamelessly ignored by the mass media. It's the International
|
||
Substandards Organization, which has been setting substandards for consumer
|
||
electronics in all member countries for decades.
|
||
|
||
The ISO is a powerful organization, and its decisions affect all of
|
||
us. It was the ISO, for example, that ordered Sony and JVC to manufacture
|
||
two competing vide-recording methods, Beta and VHS, and the ISO was also
|
||
behind the unsuccessful marketing of four-channel sound on LP records in
|
||
the 1970s. (A proposed ISO slogan, "Bad Sound All Around," never made it
|
||
into print, however.)
|
||
|
||
This year's ISO conference was held, as usual, in secret, but I have
|
||
obtained minutes of the session from an American delegate. The full
|
||
conference report was to be made public on the first day of April, but the
|
||
inevitable delays of translating from Sanskrit to other languages may keep
|
||
the report from public view again this year. So here is an exclusive
|
||
account.
|
||
|
||
According to documents left on one of the coffee tables at the
|
||
conference, chief among the concerns of ISO members from the United States
|
||
and Japan is the need to secure faster computing speed in the latest
|
||
generation of personal computers.
|
||
|
||
Early personal computers worked at what by current standards could be
|
||
called a slow "clock rate." Computer designers worked hard to speed up the
|
||
"clock" in these computers, and were quite successful.
|
||
|
||
But as computing speed increased, it became increasingly clear that
|
||
computer chips could not be speeded up past a certain point -- that point
|
||
being, as all school children know, the speed of light.
|
||
|
||
In their debate over this issue, delegates from ISO's member nations
|
||
said design engineers had reached the limits of their know-how, and one
|
||
delegate told the group "it was time nature did something to help us out
|
||
for a change."
|
||
|
||
The delegate then proposed changing the speed of light to a more
|
||
useful figure, and his motion was approved without dissent. The change is
|
||
to take place immediately. The ISO then renamed the existing units for
|
||
measuring the speed of light, and came up with these terms instead:
|
||
|
||
Present speed of light: 55 megaphotons per candlestick.
|
||
|
||
Proposed speed of light: 65 megaphotons per candlestick.
|
||
|
||
My source said many delegates had refused to approve the higher limit
|
||
until they were assured that it was to be allowed only in those chips that
|
||
were uncongested. Chips used in urban computers will continue to follow the
|
||
older limit.
|
||
|
||
He added that the first computers designed to use the higher "natural"
|
||
clock speed should appear this fall. Intel, maker of most of the chips used
|
||
in IBM-compatible PCs, is expected to market the new design under the "Pent
|
||
Up" trade name.
|
||
|
||
On another topic, a proposal to ban black-and-white televisions from
|
||
the market was narrowly defeated after complaints from manufacturers of
|
||
pocket sets, who said color models that will replace the tiny B/W sets are
|
||
not yet readily available.
|
||
|
||
The ISO is expected to vote again on the ban next year. The ISO's
|
||
opposition to B/W sets is based on medical evidence that deprivation of
|
||
color leads to deep-seated ambivalence. ISO members have been of two minds
|
||
about the issue for some time.
|
||
|
||
Another change that the ISO turned down would have allowed sales
|
||
personnel at hi-fi shops to implant newly developed bone-conduction
|
||
headphones on customers. ISO members said most hi-fi store employees do not
|
||
have the experience needed to perform the implantation, in which a tiny
|
||
loudspeaker is sutured under the skin behind each ear.
|
||
|
||
"The sales people at the store I go to can't even find a 6- by 9-inch
|
||
speaker in a box full of parts," one ISO delegate reportedly said. "How am
|
||
I supposed to trust them with a surgeon's knife alongside some customer's
|
||
head?"
|
||
|
||
The issue will come up again next year. Health authorities in some
|
||
countries have already said they are opposed to the implants, unless they
|
||
are performed by doctors who know something about hi-fi.
|
||
|
||
Otherwise, the ISO's yearly meeting was dull and routine. Members
|
||
voted to ban "boom boxes" from all public streets in affiliated countries,
|
||
and a measure to require copy-protection devices on the liner notes of
|
||
recordings was approved unanimously; apparently, a strontium-90 insert at
|
||
the edge of each record jacket and CD liner card will disable Xerox-type
|
||
copiers permanently.
|
||
|
||
That's my report on the ISO's annual session. Please do not ask me for
|
||
more information, as I have told you more than I know already.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
Al Fasoldt writes about computers and consumer electronics from
|
||
Syracuse, N.Y., where he is a newspaper editor and programmer.
|
||
|
||
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "[Aladdin] allows me to participate in this message base, where /
|
||
/ I would not be able to afford it if I had to do my typing online, /
|
||
/ and gives me time to spend downloading the files I want." /
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////////////// NTACTONE ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[QUI]//////////////////////////////
|
||
THE MIGHTY QUINN /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Random Access
|
||
"""""""""""""
|
||
By Mark Quinn
|
||
[NEWSIE]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
"A Whole Buncha Milliseconds with Mark"
|
||
by Mark Quinn, DOA
|
||
GEnie address: NEWSIE
|
||
|
||
Ah, the life of the modern American man. We're sent out on midnight
|
||
missions to Blockbuster Video for the latest 'Schwarzeneggar flambes Rambo'
|
||
movie. We lie there in our robes and wife's/girlfriend's bunny slippers,
|
||
the remote control territorially perched on our bellies.
|
||
|
||
I'm not sitting down at this word processor to condemn the above
|
||
lifestyle. Everyone deserves time to kick back in front of the tube after
|
||
a hard day's work making large piles of paper into small ones. It is all
|
||
too easy to lob brickbats at the 'establishment'. Which reminds me of the
|
||
time (hyuck) I stood behind a car in the parking lot of _my_ local
|
||
BlockBuster Video store staring agape at a bumper sticker that read "Shoot
|
||
Your TV". I heard no weapons discharging close by. Maybe the joke was on
|
||
me, and the TV killers were carrying compound bows.
|
||
|
||
By now, you have probably sensed that I _like_ these toys. I do. I
|
||
drooled over the Apple, the Atari 800, and the Macintosh fruitlessly; I was
|
||
unable to Koff up the Kash for any of the three. I ended up with a 4K
|
||
Color Computer that was soon upgraded to 32K. (Yawn. Yes, we all remember
|
||
the time when we saw the potential of the PC, and that little red LED
|
||
flashed above our heads and sent out its evil, MasterCard- melting rays.
|
||
And from that point on, we were happily-ensnared techno drones, or we were
|
||
The Liberated -- I guess your outlook determines which category you fall
|
||
into.)
|
||
|
||
I've seen too many examples (in the media and in real life) of
|
||
technology helping the handicapped, mentally dysfunctional, etc., etc., to
|
||
join the "Shoot Your Wang" crowd. True, we're just scratching the surface
|
||
of the virtual pond, but the years ahead should be exciting ones.
|
||
|
||
No, that last sentence should read "will be exciting ones". So, crank
|
||
up the Sound Blaster and the surround sound, but not too high: save your
|
||
ears and eyes and mind for the ride ahead.
|
||
|
||
|
||
////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "...a pessimist will always be rewarded with pleasant surprises. /
|
||
/ The best an optimist can expect is for his expectations to be /
|
||
/ met - everything else will be disappointing. <grin>" /
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////////// J.EIDSVOOG1 ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[DIG]//////////////////////////////
|
||
DIGITAL DIVERSIONS /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Out Of This World -- A Review
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Darrel Raines
|
||
[D.RAINES]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
"Out of This World" draws its name from the extraterrestrial setting
|
||
of this action/adventure game. The cinematic quality of this particular
|
||
game makes it much more of a science fiction movie th an any of the
|
||
productions by the now defunct CinemaWare Inc. You can best describe the
|
||
long introduction and even the events that follow in the game itself to be
|
||
equal to about an hours worth of entertainment at the theater. However,
|
||
you don't think that you will get to just sit there and enjoy the computer
|
||
making pretty pictures do you? You were hoping not, right? Good, because
|
||
you are up to your elbows in tough problems with this nifty game.
|
||
|
||
Life starts off pretty much as normal for you, an average,
|
||
run-of-the-mill, physicist working one night with the particle
|
||
accelerator. The new computer system that the boss installed a week ago
|
||
makes running new experiments as easy as programming. You are about to
|
||
start a new set of accelerator runs, when something bad happens.
|
||
Lightning is good for more than just making Frankenstein's creature into a
|
||
monster: it can also have dire effects on certain particles during extreme
|
||
acceleration. You may have discovered anti-matter before there are
|
||
containment fields for it! Big problem.
|
||
|
||
There's really no time to worry about anti-matter right now, though.
|
||
Because you have been sent spinning "out of this world". It would be nice
|
||
to just sit around and look at the new alien lands cape for a while. But
|
||
the local flora and fauna have other things in mind. This game will have
|
||
you racing from one screen full of problems to the next while trying to
|
||
figure out action puzzles along the way. You will not have time to sit
|
||
back and enjoy the dazzling graphics, since to do so will ensure almost
|
||
instant death for your character.
|
||
|
||
Time out for observations. This game, for me, was an immediate
|
||
throw-back to one of its recent ancestors in the Apple IIgs software
|
||
market: The Immortal. The Immortal introduced action gaming to the IIgs
|
||
world in much the same fashion as the video arcade game "Dragon's Lair".
|
||
For each of the games in the lineage, the main objective is for the player
|
||
to make a series of correct choices with a joystick and buttons. These
|
||
decisions are in the form of paths to take, jumps to make (and when to make
|
||
them), sword swings, lever presses, and many other actions. The main
|
||
character in the story will take these actions, at your command, and the
|
||
story will illustrate the effects on the main character, his surroundings,
|
||
and the other characters.
|
||
|
||
In a video game, the player loses his chance to play when we makes too
|
||
many wrong decisions and loses his last "life". If a new coin is placed in
|
||
the slot in the allotted time, then the player is allowed to continue from
|
||
the last successful choice made in the game. The computer game equivalent
|
||
of this feature is the "passcode". At certain points in the game,
|
||
passcodes are given out to let you know that you have completed certain
|
||
obstacles. Then, when you lose your characters "life" later in the game,
|
||
you can start over at the last point indicated by your best passcode. This
|
||
same feature allows you to start the next day at the same place, without
|
||
having to complete everything done correctly to this point.
|
||
|
||
As I stated earlier, all of these games have very common features
|
||
concerning game play and passcodes. However, there is one feature that
|
||
distinguishes "Out of This World" from any other computer game that I have
|
||
ever played: Graphics. The graphic's style used in this game is called
|
||
polygon-fill. The idea is that the shape of an object is mapped to the
|
||
screen coordinates and filled in to form visually "solid" objects.
|
||
Bit-map, size-specific, graphics (like the ones used in "The Immortal") can
|
||
render more detailed objects than are usually obtainable with polygon-fill
|
||
graphic techniques.
|
||
|
||
And the graphics in this game are definitely less detailed than those
|
||
in "The Immortal". However, the big strength of polygon-fill graphic
|
||
techniques are used for some nice effects in this game. You see, the
|
||
mapping process can let you vary the size of the objects that are being
|
||
drawn. Therefore, you can vary the size of the "picture screen" that you
|
||
are using for the "science fiction movie" to be anywhere from full monitor
|
||
to quarter monitor in height and width.
|
||
|
||
This variance in screen size can be used to good effect when you have
|
||
a game as complex as this one. The various sizes can be used depending on
|
||
how much acceleration that your computer has. A d istaste on the part of
|
||
the player for slow computer response to commands would be a major reason
|
||
for choosing a smaller screen size. Whatever your reason for choosing,
|
||
the choice exists at all, only because of the technology behind the
|
||
graphic techniques. I believe that you will enjoy the results. Above all,
|
||
the graphic style probably aids in the overall effect that is maintained of
|
||
an "other-worldly" experience.
|
||
|
||
Back to our story. This game sets new standards for action games in
|
||
that you do not simply kill everything in sight to win. Certain characters
|
||
in the story will help you. Of course, most of the other characters are
|
||
out to get your hide, but still, some of them are willing to be buddies.
|
||
There are many puzzles in this game. Most of them will require some amount
|
||
of joystick jockeying. Some will require a bit of cerebral exercise.
|
||
Some will require a little bit of luck. A very few are ridiculously hard.
|
||
|
||
I had less trouble with this game than some of the others that I have
|
||
tried in this vein. I figured out most of the puzzles without any help.
|
||
However, I recommend a cheat sheet, a friend who has completed this game,
|
||
or an online service to help you keep your sanity. After trying 50
|
||
different approaches to a problem and feeling certain that I have tried
|
||
every angle, it is better to have some help on the problem than it would
|
||
be to set the game aside unfinished. So you will want help available
|
||
without having to go too far for it. I will offer one small hint. You
|
||
will not get very far in this game unless you learn how to use a gun very
|
||
well. Hint: The gun will perform different functions depending on how
|
||
long you hold the trigger!
|
||
|
||
It is time for our assessment. I found this game very engrossing. It
|
||
has a very original idea that is presented in a fresh style. The
|
||
polygon-fill graphics are a leading edge technology that push your IIgs to
|
||
new limits for a computer game. The storyline kept me guessing and wanting
|
||
more. Even after the final credits, you will be wanting more and more
|
||
from this fascinating plot. Highest ratings go for this facet of the game.
|
||
|
||
One of the drawbacks to paying a lot of money for a game like this one
|
||
will be its long term playability. I finished the game in about a week. I
|
||
spent probably about 30-40 hours actual play time. Once you have watched a
|
||
movie, you are not likely to want to see it again anytime soon. The same
|
||
holds true for this game. I will pull it out a few more times to relive
|
||
the experience, but I will not get a lot more value from my investment.
|
||
This is simply something to be aware of with any action/adventure game. I
|
||
have not played Wizardry I since the first time I finished it, and will in
|
||
all probability never get it out again. Such is the nature of the
|
||
experience. This is not an unexpected detriment for a game of this genre.
|
||
I simply mention it for completeness in this review.
|
||
|
||
The puzzles in this game are fairly difficult. The puzzles are
|
||
actually not quite as hard as some I have seen in similar games. The
|
||
joystick maneuvering is more difficult than what I have seen in similar
|
||
games. Therefore, the average couch potato will have some difficulty in
|
||
getting past some of the obstacles. This will be a serious impediment to a
|
||
few game players. If you are a below average joystick jockey, then you
|
||
may be very frustrated with this game.
|
||
|
||
The manuals (if you can call them that) are extremely minimal.
|
||
However, this is not a bad thing. The minimum of instructions that are
|
||
printed in the introduction material is sufficient to get y ou started.
|
||
The rest of the information that you need will be learned along the way.
|
||
Therefore, I would rate the documentation as adequate and appropriate for
|
||
the type of game.
|
||
|
||
This game is also addicting. I had to keep playing the week that I
|
||
purchased it, until I had finally won the game. I warn first-time players:
|
||
make sure that you have some free time coming up. You may be tempted to
|
||
drop everything else for a while after you start playing this game.
|
||
|
||
Nit-picking point: Some of the passcode points are far between in the
|
||
game. You may have to complete a number of perfectly timed jumps, a few
|
||
well placed shots from your gun, and a few other gyrations with the
|
||
joystick to reach the next checkpoint. Any slight mistake in this sequence
|
||
will mean that you have to start from the last passcode point. Again.
|
||
Frustration will build in a situation like this and you will still be
|
||
unable to proceed in the game. The only solution is to take a break and
|
||
try again at a later time.
|
||
|
||
Overall evaluation: This game is "Out of This World".
|
||
|
||
Specifications:
|
||
"Out of This World"
|
||
Produced by Interplay
|
||
|
||
System Requirements:
|
||
Apple IIgs with at least 1 Meg of memory
|
||
One 3.5" disk drive
|
||
GSOS version 5.0.4 or later
|
||
|
||
Recommended:
|
||
Hard drive (installable)
|
||
Accelerator card
|
||
|
||
Distributed by Big Red Apple Computer Club
|
||
Suggested price:
|
||
$49.95
|
||
|
||
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "A prediction: In nine months or less there will a plastic /
|
||
/ version of the popsicle stick idea, called something like /
|
||
/ "DeskAlign", selling for $14.95 or more. Just watch the /
|
||
/ back pages of MacWorld and see. It'll be somewhere near /
|
||
/ the refill kits. :-)" /
|
||
//////////////////////////////////////////////// GRMEYER ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[PRO]//////////////////////////////
|
||
PROFILES /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Who's Who In Apple II
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> WHO'S WHO <<<
|
||
"""""""""""""""""
|
||
~ Introducing the GEnieLamp A2 Staff ~
|
||
|
||
In lieu of an interview this month, we turn our microphones off and
|
||
give you a little background information on the various staff members that
|
||
write each month's articles for this newsletter. You pro bably don't know
|
||
too much about us, so we thought that we would take this opportunity to
|
||
introduce ourselves. Hopefully, this will provide our readers with some
|
||
additional insight into the editors and writers that bring you monthly
|
||
information on GEnie.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Darrel Raines
|
||
- Editor for A2 edition of GEnieLamp
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" I have been using Apple II
|
||
personal computers for over 11 years now. It all began back in my first
|
||
job out of college. I graduated Texas A&M with an Electrical Engineering
|
||
degree in 1982. We used Apples around the workplace for various tasks,
|
||
including pressure chamber control and temperature measurement. I liked
|
||
what I saw with the Apple II and bought one for use in the home. My wife
|
||
wrote her master's thesis on the II+ using AppleWriter.
|
||
|
||
I skipped the IIe and IIc with my jump to the Apple IIgs computer in
|
||
early 1987 (income tax refund). Since the company I was working for at the
|
||
time did not use Apple II's, I began to write shareware, freeware, and
|
||
commercial software for the Apple II line of computers. Once conflict of
|
||
interest was removed as a possibility, I have run a small business on my
|
||
home computers for over 4 years. I write custom software, consult for
|
||
other business computer users, create and build custom hardware, and write
|
||
articles for various publications. Did I mention that I gather great
|
||
enjoyment from my hobby/business?
|
||
|
||
In mid-1989, I was hired by CAE-Link to work in Houston, Texas, on
|
||
the Space Station Freedom (SSF) simulation project. (Actually, I spent
|
||
more than a year working on F-16 simulators before I moved over to the
|
||
space side of business.) I am currently a contractor working for NASA on
|
||
this wonderful project. Write your congressional representative early and
|
||
often to endorse the money that the United States spends on research
|
||
projects like the Space Station. This is one of the few government
|
||
projects that actually ends up saving taxpayer money over the long haul.
|
||
|
||
Since moving to Houston, I have been a regular GEnie user. I started
|
||
writing articles for GEnieLamp early in 1992. When Tom Schmitz (my
|
||
predecessor) was forced to resign his position due to job pressures, I was
|
||
selected to serve as editor of the A2 edition. I have enjoyed writing
|
||
articles and other text, as an alternative to writing Apple II software. I
|
||
STILL enjoy my Apple II computer, and editing the A2 version of GEnieLamp
|
||
helps me explore new possibilities for my talents. It also keeps me
|
||
abreast of the latest Apple II news.
|
||
|
||
As I have mentioned in a recent editorial, please feel free to give us
|
||
feedback on the A2 version of GEnieLamp. We are always searching for ways
|
||
to better meet the needs of our readers. Let us know what you think.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Phil Shapiro
|
||
- Assistant Editor for A2 edition of GEnieLamp I first became enchanted
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" with the Apple II in
|
||
1987 when testing out some educational software I wrote for my fourth grade
|
||
students. The kids got all excited about playing a simple geography game I
|
||
made up. When a few of them asked to stay late after class to finish
|
||
playing the game, I knew I wanted to get more involved in educational
|
||
software development.
|
||
|
||
So then I taught computers in elementary school for about four years
|
||
before quitting to start my own software publishing company, Balloons
|
||
Software. I miss the interaction with kids in the class room sometimes,
|
||
but stay in touch with a dozen or so kids by giving private computer
|
||
lessons.
|
||
|
||
Locally, I stay active in the local Apple user group, the Washington
|
||
Apple Pi, a cozy little group with about 4000 members. For the past three
|
||
years I've served as the chairperson of the club's e ducation special
|
||
interest group. Our meetings often run late into the night because there's
|
||
so much interesting Apple II educational software to talk about. One
|
||
teacher in our group uses Apple II's w ith her mentally retarded middle
|
||
school students, and her experiences in the classroom are always
|
||
fascinating to hear about.
|
||
|
||
I signed up for GEnie the day after their flat-rate structure went
|
||
into effect. I've grown tremendously in my Apple II knowledge since that
|
||
day.
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Mel Fowler
|
||
- Staff writer for the GEnieLamp A2 I was born on a small farm about 5
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" miles outside Vernonia, Oregon in
|
||
1939. We moved to northern California shortly after my dad returned from
|
||
WWII and settled in Yurika. Oops, he did say a short biography, didn't he.
|
||
|
||
Well maybe I should tell you that I am a retired Navy Senior Chief
|
||
Radioman with 30 years in the of service. I served from Guatanimo Bay,
|
||
Cuba, to the aircraft carrier USS America, USS Oklahoma City on the
|
||
Commander 7th Fleet Staff, were I was the Chief of Satellite
|
||
Communications. Then my last twelve years were with the Defense
|
||
Communications Agency with tours in Hawaii, Korea, and Japan. I am married
|
||
to my final wife Hui Tae (Hee Tay) and live in Mililani, Hawaii.
|
||
Currently I manage a 40 unit townhouse project here in Mililani.
|
||
|
||
The first computer in my experience with computers was purchased in
|
||
1982, while stationed at the DCA, Field Office Korea and was a Korean clone
|
||
of the Apple ][+. We called them "Krapples." It was a 32K model with a
|
||
cassette I/O, with my television set serving as a monitor. Pretty basic by
|
||
today's standards. Next, came an upgraded Krapple with two slim line
|
||
drives, IBM type keyboard, with programmable function keys. It was
|
||
equipped with a CP/M card, Grapple+, Language Card, 1 MEG ram card, and an
|
||
No-Name DP-80 printer. All this was Korean made, as this was all we could
|
||
get then. WordStar v1.01P and DBase II v1.1 were the programs we used the
|
||
most, typing up reports and developing data bases on all the DCS stations
|
||
in Korea. We used it at the office and became one of the first DCA offices
|
||
to become computerized.
|
||
|
||
Later, I again upgraded to an Apple IIc, a real Apple this time, also
|
||
equipped with a CP/M card, and 1Meg RAM card so that I could use it in the
|
||
office. It also had an Apple Color Monitor, with an Epson FX-80 attached.
|
||
|
||
When I saw Steve Wozniak on the front cover of InCider introducing the
|
||
"It's Amazing," "The new IIGS," I just had to have one. I was stationed at
|
||
Yokota, AB, Japan at the time. About six months later I was able to get
|
||
one at the base exchange. It was love at first sight. I had to upgrade my
|
||
IIGS to ROM 01 and get a new VGC chip which were supplied by an Apple
|
||
representative that was sent to Japan for that reason. Currently it
|
||
contains a 4 Meg OctaRAM card, Sound Blaster stereo card, TransWarp GS,
|
||
Vulcan 40 Meg internal hard drive, with an ImageWriter II and LaserJet IIp
|
||
printers.
|
||
|
||
I have been on GEnie for just over a year and was lucky enough to
|
||
become a GEnieLamp staff writer. Primarily I write reviews of current
|
||
uploads to the A2 Library. I am active with the local user's group, the
|
||
Honolulu Apple User's Society, being the Apple IIGS Special Interest Group
|
||
(SIG) chairman, a director on the Board of Directors, Staff writer for the
|
||
IIGS section of "SIGNAL" our club journal, and even bulk mail the journal
|
||
each month. I have even been known to sweep the floors and take out the
|
||
garbage occasionally, but I do not do windows.
|
||
|
||
If you are curious about my handle "MelSoft" it came from some
|
||
software that I had developed in my early days with a "MelSoftware"
|
||
moniker. There was a home inventory program and a label maker that were
|
||
mostly used in the Korea, and Japan user groups and bulletin boards.
|
||
Anyway, the MelSoft part of the name has stuck and I have used it on BBS
|
||
and articles ever since.
|
||
|
||
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "But where the heck are my issue's going?? I live in Pennsylvania.. /
|
||
/ About a hour and half drive from East Stroudsburg.. How about if I /
|
||
/ go pick my issue up, and save you guys a buck?? :)" /
|
||
////////////////////////////////////////////////////// T.EVANS21 ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[LIB]//////////////////////////////
|
||
THE ONLINE LIBRARY /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Yours For The Downloading
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Mel Fowler
|
||
[MELSOFT]
|
||
|
||
o HyperStudio presentations
|
||
|
||
|
||
HYPERSTUDIO, FROM ROGER WAGNER PUBLISHING has been the most popular
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" multimedia program for the
|
||
Apple IIGS since it was released. It allows the capability to merge
|
||
graphics, sounds, music, and animation into a presentation of cards
|
||
(screens) organized into stacks. With the rapid display of cards you can
|
||
create animation. Nearly any subject can be presented using HyperStudio.
|
||
Stacks are fun and easy to create. Schools throughout the U.S. have used
|
||
HyperStudio as class projects creating innovative programs which cover
|
||
everything from volcanos to stars.
|
||
|
||
Some talented shareware and freeware authors have uploaded a large
|
||
collection of HyperStudio presentations into the A2 library on GEnie. This
|
||
month's article will try to highlight the best of the A2 collection.
|
||
|
||
Let us start with a tour of the Apple IIGS. Stephen L. Brown from
|
||
Ontario, Canada, has created a shareware program entitled "Steve's Tour Of
|
||
The Apple IIGS." It is divided into two sections:
|
||
|
||
1. Looking Inside The Apple IIGS and,
|
||
2. Looking Outside The Apple IIGS.
|
||
|
||
The inside tour shows you a graphic of the Apple IIGS mother board
|
||
with various parts and components displayed in their relative locations.
|
||
By clicking on a part or component you turn on a text window which explains
|
||
what the part does. The outside tour displays the front and back of the
|
||
AppleColor RGB monitor and the Apple IIGS computer. You can get
|
||
explanations of all the major components, back panel controls, connectors,
|
||
and ports. This is an excellent tour of the IIgs for beginners and is fun
|
||
and easy to use. Shareware fee $15.00 U.S.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
13694 TOUR.GS.BXY "The Middle East" by Jan K. France is another tour but
|
||
""""""""""""""""" this time it covers the middle eastern countries. The
|
||
first card is a map of the world and the stack asks you to try and find
|
||
middle east. Once you have completed this task you are presented with a
|
||
map showing the countries and main seas, gulfs, and oceans of the region.
|
||
When you click on a country, the country's name is spoken, then you are
|
||
presented with a map of the individual country. A large text window is
|
||
supplied which includes interesting information about the country. By
|
||
clicking on "Flag" you are presented with a full screen graphics of the
|
||
country's flag. There is also a "History" section included with presents a
|
||
histogram of events from 3500 BC to 1990 AD. If you are interested in
|
||
learning more about this little known region of the world, this is the
|
||
program for you. Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
13604 MIDEAST.BXY "Meet the Orchestra" is a four (4) disk presentation
|
||
""""""""""""""""" created by Karl Ivers which introduces you to the
|
||
instruments of the Symphonic Orchestra. There are four sections to the
|
||
program reflecting the sections of the orchestra, Strings, Woodwinds,
|
||
Brass, and Percussion. You choose which section to use and then which
|
||
instrument to learn about. There is a short text window that gives some
|
||
background information on each instrument. When you click on the
|
||
instrument itself, it will play a song for you. Pop quiz: In what section
|
||
of the orchestra do you believe the piano would be in, Strings or
|
||
Percussion? What is the difference between a Harp and a Harpsichord? Which
|
||
sounds lower, a Clarinet or an Oboe? The four disks must have specific
|
||
volume names, "ORCHESTRA, ORCHESTRA1, WOODWINDS, and PERC.BRASS." Meet the
|
||
Orchestra is extremely will done, easy to use, and most educational.
|
||
Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10149 MEET.ORCHES.BXY
|
||
10150 STRINGS.ORC.BXY
|
||
10151 WOODWND.ORC.BXY
|
||
10152 PERCUS.ORC.BXY One of the premier HyperStudio authors is Joel
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""" Helton who has created some of the best multimedia
|
||
presentations. "Interesting and Little Known Facts About Our Presidents"
|
||
is, I think, his best. You can learn about all the presidents from George
|
||
Washington to Ronald Reagon. Each presentation shows you a picture of the
|
||
president and a text window full of "Interesting and Little Know Facts."
|
||
Version 2 of the program added voice recordings to some presidents starting
|
||
with Theodore Roosevelt. You will learn for example: What James Monroe had
|
||
to do with the death of George Washington; why Mary Todd Lincoln was
|
||
accused by the press of being a Confederate spy; and what the "S"
|
||
represents in Harry S. Truman. This is an entertaining and informative
|
||
program which is essential for hypermedia fans. A companion three disk set
|
||
entitled "Presidential Quiz" is also available which will quiz you on your
|
||
knowledge of what the presidents look like. You will be asked to choose a
|
||
president from four pictures. Both these programs are Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
13363 PRES1.V.2.BXY 16016 PRES.QUIZ.01.BXY
|
||
13493 PRES2.V.2.BXY 16030 PRES.QUIZ.2.BXY
|
||
13866 PRES.3.BXY V.2.0 16045 PRESQUIZ.03.BXY
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""" """"""""""""""""""""""
|
||
Another name you run across frequently while looking at HyperStudio
|
||
programs is Jim Hirsch. One of his best is about the ongoing Galileo
|
||
mission to Jupiter. Launched in 1989 from the Shuttle Atlantis, the
|
||
Galileo space craft first made a trip to Venus in February of 1990, then
|
||
around the sun and back to Earth where it made two loops, the last of which
|
||
was in December of last year. All this maneuvering is so the spacecraft
|
||
will gain enough speed to get to Jupiter which is scheduled to be in
|
||
December of 1995. This excellent hypermedia program tells you about the
|
||
mission, what experiments are planned, about the space craft, the orbiter,
|
||
the Jupiter probe and more. Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10171 HS.SHUTTLE.BXY Jim Hirsch and Diana Hewitt have created another
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""" excellent program entitled "HyperMoney." You can
|
||
use it to teach your young children all about U.S. coins from a half
|
||
dollar to a penny. You are first presented with a coin, and then asked to
|
||
name it. The graphics are super and this is a well organized, easy to use
|
||
program. Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10226 HYPERMONEY1.BXY
|
||
10227 HYPERMONEY2.BXY "Hyper.AWGS.WP" is another excellent Jim Hirsch
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""" offering. This is an easy way to learn how to use
|
||
the word processor module in AppleWorks GS. You are presented with a
|
||
graphics of the word processor screen. Various parts of the ruler can be
|
||
selected and a text window will appear to explain what each item means.
|
||
You can also choose any of the pull down menu items to learn what they do
|
||
and how to use them. Also, Freeware.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10285 HYPER.AWGS.BXY There are two outstanding multimedia programs that
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""" teaches you about the states. State.Stack by Bob
|
||
Vawter and HyperState by Marty Knight. HyperState is the more elaborate
|
||
presentation supplying two different maps of the U.S., one showing
|
||
"Political" boundaries and the other showing "Regional" boundaries. From
|
||
the Regional map you can choose a region of interest and you are presented
|
||
with a regional map. From either the Political U.S. map or any of the
|
||
regional maps you can pick a state and are supplied with a state map with a
|
||
text window with information about the state.
|
||
|
||
The text information includes the states' region, capital, nickname,
|
||
chief industry, and the date when the state joined the Union. Also included
|
||
is a State Quiz stack. With this stack a map of the U.S. is displayed and
|
||
by clicking on a state the states' name and capital are shown. State.Stack
|
||
also displays a map of the U.S. and when a state is chosen switches to a
|
||
text window screen. State.Stack is simpler in nature but does provide
|
||
addition information which includes the state motto, area in square miles,
|
||
population since the 1986 census, racking among the states regarding area
|
||
and population, and the state flower, bird, tree, and song. Impress your
|
||
friends and family by learning all the state capitals.
|
||
|
||
|
||
10099 HYPERSTATES.BXY
|
||
17370 H.STATES.BXY "HyperBrain" by Jim November uses a main menu which
|
||
"""""""""""""""""" is a graphics of the human brain. Numbers
|
||
identify various regions of the brain. Each card also has several hidden
|
||
buttons to move to other regions. The graphics are well done and make
|
||
exploring the human brain a real adventure. Find out where your
|
||
Hypothalamus and your Medulla Oblongata are and what they do.
|
||
|
||
|
||
8835 HYPERBRAIN.BXY V.2.0 If you want to learn more about how to animate
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""" Hyperstudio stacks then I would recommend
|
||
several programs by Bill Lynn. You can learn such interesting animation as
|
||
watching your flowers grow or flooding your living room with "Animation
|
||
School." Shareware $5.00. Learn how to animate your buttons with "Stupid
|
||
Button Tricks," "More Stupid Button Tricks," and "Button School." These
|
||
three stacks give you great examples of how you can liven up your stacks.
|
||
Rotate a fan, smash a lady bug, eat the screen, or see your name in lights.
|
||
These are fun and show a great sense of humor.
|
||
|
||
|
||
15560 SBT.ANIM1.BXY
|
||
15640 SBT.ANIM2.BXY
|
||
17302 BUTN.SCHOOL.BXY There are far more HyperStudio offering within the
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""" A2 library than could be highlighted here. You
|
||
will find stacks that help young people with their math and reading skills.
|
||
A large collection of sound and clip art files. There is even a seven (7)
|
||
disk series on Star Trek the next Generation. But, we do not have the room
|
||
to include everything. I hope we have keyed your interest in exploring the
|
||
vast collection of Apple II hypermedia software available.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
[Note: You can quickly navigate to the A2 Library on GEnie by typing
|
||
M645;3 at any standard GEnie prompt. The letter "m" stands for the
|
||
command "move." The number 645 refers to the "page" on GEnie where
|
||
the A2 Roundtable is located. And the semi-colon 3 refers to the A2
|
||
file library, as opposed to the message areas of the A2 Roundtable.
|
||
To navigate directly to the message areas (bulletin boards) of the
|
||
A2 Roundtable, type: M645;1 at any standard GEnie prompt.]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EAO]
|
||
[FUN]//////////////////////////////
|
||
ONLINE FUN /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Search-ME!
|
||
""""""""""
|
||
By Scott Garrigus
|
||
[S.GARRIGUS]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
WELL, HERE WE ARE It's April and Spring is upon us, finally. I'm really
|
||
""""""""""""""""" getting sick of all the snow up here in good ol'
|
||
Derry, NH. Soon it'll be Easter and the Easter bunny will be bringing all
|
||
you good boys and girls his Easter eggs. But before that, we have the
|
||
inevitable April Fools Day.
|
||
|
||
But I'll say right now that I'm not going to stoop so low as try and
|
||
fool all you good folks out there. So on to this month's RoundTable...
|
||
|
||
All you ladies out there are going to love this one... this month I
|
||
visited GEnie's famous Hairdressing Roundtable. Oh, you didn't know we had
|
||
a special place for hairdressers here? Well, surprise, surprise! Here you
|
||
can get expert advise on all the lastest styles and techniques. Learn how
|
||
to do it yourself and get first hand instruction in this wonderful field.
|
||
Yes, you too can have the greatest looking hair in town. Visit GEnie's
|
||
Hairdressing Roundtable today!
|
||
|
||
To get there just type JUSTALITTLEOFFTHETOPPLEASE or find it on page
|
||
1234567.
|
||
|
||
But before you rush over there to get the lastest haircutting advice,
|
||
be sure and solve this month's puzzle. It's sure to keep you a cut above
|
||
the rest! :-) Ta, Ta! And Happy Easter!
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> HAIRDRESSING ROUNDTABLE <<<
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
[JUSTALITTLEOFFTHETOPPLEASE]
|
||
|
||
R T R O H S T U C I L L N U J S J O U Q U J K
|
||
B Z R R Y N R V N D H B S L J A E D E Y Z O X
|
||
W Z W X H W H Q D L T S N C G S N L W M P S U
|
||
D A W A A O O P M A H S K I M S M H C T M A E
|
||
F R S G Z V U C T B R S R E N O I T I D N O C
|
||
H E N H H X B G Z R E H O A F O C V N Z U A Z
|
||
Q O N W T J G K M A S N Z P A N O P Z Z K S Z
|
||
L B A R B E R J S I S H K R G C V L Q Y V B E
|
||
X Q T E T E E T K D E Q I W N R B K O D U R N
|
||
Z C A T Z A Y Q L S R X A N S J M H R J D U L
|
||
R Z D Z I L C F J D D X J B D Y H I M H N S D
|
||
B X Q C I V G R C A N Q I C O D E J R O G H A
|
||
P E F S M S M U O T T D V P E R M I V Q O X B
|
||
H O T W E I R J M X S P X O O Y A P L A O S V
|
||
P R E L R U C O B M T S G R R H D E V C J M E
|
||
Z M D S S Y J G S T G O V N U X H Q M T E A U
|
||
Y V F W I N Z O P S A P D I U Y I B J D L O W
|
||
P G N P W M U W Q P I Y M O O O F A U U Y H Z
|
||
C R A G O S Y D P J Z C L J K A M E M V T L A
|
||
N U V I B N Y K M H S S S T O N I C M B S H V
|
||
|
||
|
||
BARBER BRAIDS BRUSH
|
||
COMB CONDITIONER CURLER
|
||
CUT DRESSER DRIER
|
||
HAIR LONG MOOSE
|
||
PERM SASSOON SCISSORS
|
||
SHAMPOO SHORT STYLE
|
||
STYLIST TONIC WASH
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
GIVE UP? You will find the answers in the LOG OFF column at the end of
|
||
"""""""" the magazine.
|
||
|
||
This column was created with a program called SEARCH ME,
|
||
an Atari ST program by David Becker.
|
||
|
||
|
||
////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "Correction!!! I was supposed to make a NOTE not a NOT. /
|
||
/ Looked real confusing didn't it? :>" /
|
||
////////////////////////////////////////////// P.VARN ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[AII]//////////////////////////////
|
||
APPLE II /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Apple II History, Part 11
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Steven Weyhrich
|
||
[S.WEYHRICH]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> APPLE II HISTORY <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
Compiled and written by Steven Weyhrich
|
||
(C) Copyright 1993, Zonker Software
|
||
(PART 11 -- THE APPLE IIGS, CONT.)
|
||
[v1.1 :: 05 Mar 93]
|
||
|
||
INTRODUCTION This segment of the Apple II History continues with the
|
||
"""""""""""" description of the IIGS, the 16-bit version of Steve
|
||
Wozniak's legacy. It continues discussion of its hardware, firmware, and
|
||
system software, enhancements, as well as the product introduction.
|
||
Finally, some of the later parts of the IIGS story that have not yet
|
||
appeared in previous releases of this segment of the history are included.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE Other features Apple engineers
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" added to make the Apple IIGS a
|
||
next generation computer included a built-in clock, slot space for internal
|
||
expansion cards, and the electronic equivalents of seven more expansion
|
||
cards.<1> Taking the cue from their experience with the Apple IIc, they
|
||
included as built-in features the peripherals that most users would want to
|
||
use. They allocated serial ports to slots 1 and 2, the classic 80-column
|
||
firmware to slot 3, the mouse controller to slot 4, a Smartport controller
|
||
to slot 5, a 5.25 inch disk controller to slot 6, and AppleTalk capability
|
||
to slot 7. (AppleTalk was Apple's network protocol that had been designed
|
||
originally for use with the Macintosh).
|
||
|
||
Because the engineers wanted to make the IIGS capable of connecting to
|
||
the AppleTalk network, the serial ports they planned were based on a
|
||
different communications controller chip than was used in the older Super
|
||
Serial Card and the Apple IIc serial controller. Although the new
|
||
controller chips were more capable than the older ones used on the 8-bit
|
||
Apple II's, telecommunications programs written for those older Apple's
|
||
wouldn't work. This was because most terminal programs, for the sake of
|
||
speed, were written to directly control the old Super Serial Card (rather
|
||
than going through the slower, built-in firmware commands). The
|
||
controlling commands necessary to manage the newer chip were very
|
||
different, and so caused such software to "break".<2>
|
||
|
||
The case and motherboard used in the Apple IIGS was made smaller than
|
||
that found in the IIe, both in order to make a smaller "footprint" on a
|
||
desktop, and also to make it easier to make an upgrade available for IIe
|
||
owners. They had wanted to make it possible even for Apple II and II Plus
|
||
owners to upgrade, but in the end it turned out to be just too expensive
|
||
and difficult to execute.<2>
|
||
|
||
The Macintosh engineering group was at this time designing a protocol
|
||
for interfacing standard input devices, such as keyboards, mice, and
|
||
graphics tablets. This protocol, called the "Apple Desktop Bus", was first
|
||
implemented on the Apple IIGS. It made possible the interchangeability of
|
||
hardware devices between the Macintosh and Apple II lines, allowing Apple
|
||
to sell a common set of peripherals that both computers could use.<2>
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: FIRMWARE Firmware, you may recall, is that layer of
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""" controlling programs in ROM on a computer that
|
||
sits between an application program and the hardware it is trying to
|
||
control. On the IIGS, the firmware was designed after the hardware was
|
||
finalized. Unlike the older ROM that Wozniak included with the original
|
||
Apple II, the IIGS software engineers tried to make it more than just a set
|
||
of addresses to call to carry out a function (such as clearing the screen).
|
||
Rather, they wanted to make a more comprehensive system (called a
|
||
"toolbox") which could be more flexible for future enhancements of the
|
||
hardware and firmware. In particular, they didn't want to have the
|
||
addresses for carrying out certain functions to be fixed in a single
|
||
location as on the older Apples. This toolbox would have a single address
|
||
to call, and a specific command would be passed on through that address.
|
||
Set up like this, it would allow Apple's firmware programmers to modify the
|
||
ROM in the future without having to take trouble to make multiple addresses
|
||
in the ROM "line up" properly. Additionally, they made it easy to "patch"
|
||
the toolbox code in the ROM using code loaded from disk, allowing
|
||
programmers to fix errors that were later found without having to replace
|
||
the physical ROM chips.
|
||
|
||
At first, they were given 64K of space for the ROM, over four times as
|
||
much as was available on the original Apple II. Later, they had to go back
|
||
and ask for 128K of ROM, because of the many things that they needed and
|
||
wanted to do. Of course, Applesoft had to be present in ROM in order to
|
||
maintain compatibility with the older Apple II software. Additionally, they
|
||
also put all of the mouse-handling tools into the ROM (unlike the II, II
|
||
Plus, and IIe, which had to have the mouse firmware on a card in a
|
||
peripheral slot).<1>
|
||
|
||
A boost to the firmware design of the IIGS came, unexpectedly, as a
|
||
result of the merger between the Apple II and Macintosh divisions. This
|
||
merger came as part of the reorganization that coincided with the departure
|
||
of Steve Jobs from Apple. Since the Macintosh team was now working in the
|
||
same place as the IIGS designers, they were available to offer help and
|
||
ideas. Bill Atkinson, the programming wizard who wrote MacPaint and many
|
||
of the mouse tools for the Macintosh, helped in the creation of the mouse
|
||
tools and QuickDraw II for the IIGS. (This was the name given to the ROM
|
||
tools used to draw on the super hi-res screen, and was borrowed from the
|
||
older QuickDraw routines on the original Macintosh).<1>
|
||
|
||
To allow the user to easily configure certain features of the IIGS to
|
||
their own tastes, a "control panel" was designed (another idea borrowed
|
||
from the Macintosh). It was used to set the clock, the system speed
|
||
(between a "normal" 1 MHz and a "fast" 2.8 MHz), change the standard text
|
||
display from 40 to 80 columns, set colors for the text screen, set
|
||
sensitivity of the mouse and keyboard, and make the standard settings for
|
||
the printer and modem ports. These preferences were saved in a special
|
||
battery-powered RAM that would survive even when the system power was
|
||
turned off.<1>
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: SYSTEM SOFTWARE ProDOS needed to be updated to better
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" take advantage of the additional memory
|
||
on the IIGS, as well as the larger storage devices that were not very
|
||
available when ProDOS was originally written. Back then, five megabytes
|
||
was felt to be quite a large disk size. By the time the IIGS was designed,
|
||
40 megabytes was becoming a common standard. The new IIGS-specific
|
||
version, called "ProDOS 16", would also be able to handle any number of
|
||
open files at the same time (the older version of ProDOS was limited to
|
||
eight files open simultaneously).<1>
|
||
|
||
The first version of ProDOS 16 was more limited than Apple's designers
|
||
wanted it to be, but they didn't want to hold up the new IIGS until a
|
||
better version was ready. The version of ProDOS that would run 8-bit Apple
|
||
II software (on the IIGS or older Apple II's) was renamed "ProDOS 8". That
|
||
version was modified to handle system interrupts better, which was
|
||
important on the IIGS because of the control panel feature and the way in
|
||
which the Apple Desktop Bus worked. (An interrupt refers to a special
|
||
signal that is sent to the microprocessor by a hardware device. This
|
||
signal "interrupts" what the processor is doing, redirects it to do
|
||
something else, and then returns the processor to what it was previously
|
||
doing. The mouse on the IIc and the mouse card for the other Apple II's
|
||
use interrupts to handle movements of the mouse).<2>
|
||
|
||
(Further details about ProDOS 16 and its later replacement system,
|
||
GS/OS, will be found in an upcoming part of the Apple II History).
|
||
|
||
|
||
IIGS PROJECT CODE NAMES AND TEAM MEMBERS The earliest name used
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" internally at Apple for the IIGS
|
||
project was Phoenix (as mentioned earlier). It was also known as "Rambo"
|
||
(when the design team was fighting for final approval from the executive
|
||
staff), "Gumby" (from an impersonation done at Apple's Halloween-day
|
||
parade), and "Cortland".<1>,<3>
|
||
|
||
Some of the members of the design team not yet mentioned here include
|
||
Nancy Stark (an early and energetic champion for the IIGS project); Curtis
|
||
Sasaki (IIGS product manager); Ed Colby (CPU product manager); Jim
|
||
Jatczynski (Operating System group manager); Fern Bachman (who worked to
|
||
ensure compatibility with existing Apple II software); Gus Andrate (who
|
||
developed the sound tools and the unified drive firmware); and Peter Baum,
|
||
Rich Williams, Eagle I. Berns, John Worthington, and Steven Glass, who each
|
||
developed part of the IIGS system software and firmware.<4>
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: PRODUCT INTRODUCTION In September of 1986, Apple
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" introduced the new Apple IIGS,
|
||
bundled with an Apple 3.5 drive, for $999 (not including a monitor). Apple
|
||
management, somewhat surprised by the response that occurred in their
|
||
"Apple II Forever" event two years earlier, made the decision to heavily
|
||
promote this new Apple II. Why they came to this change of heart was
|
||
unclear. Although they showed no slowing in their plans for the Macintosh
|
||
(which was making steady progress in gaining acceptability in the business
|
||
world), a multi-million dollar marketing and media blitz was arranged to
|
||
promote the new IIGS as the ultimate home and recreational use computer.
|
||
Even employees at Apple who had worked on the IIGS project were startled
|
||
(but pleased) at the marketing intensity that was begun, and the order for
|
||
this came directly from the top. John Sculley himself had insisted that
|
||
the Apple IIGS be given highest priority. (Apple's CEO since 1983, he had
|
||
just a year earlier ousted founder Steve Jobs from day to day
|
||
responsibilities at Apple). Rumors flew, but were never confirmed, about a
|
||
shaken Sculley who had come to an executive staff meeting in July of 1986
|
||
with stories of strange things he had experienced. He had supposedly
|
||
received a frightening nighttime visit from a yellow-garbed alien who
|
||
called himself "Darth Vader" from the planet Vulcan. "He told me that he
|
||
would meld my brain if I didn't put all I could into marketing the Apple
|
||
IIGS! I have to do it!!", he was reported to have said, white-fisted and
|
||
pale, at that meeting. Despite the obvious references to science-fiction
|
||
movies and television of the 1960's and late 1970's, the executive staff
|
||
bowed to his requests (which were no less firm after Sculley had taken a
|
||
Valium and had a couple of Diet Pepsi's. After all, he WAS the boss).
|
||
|
||
Of course, the IIGS was received by the Apple II community with
|
||
enthusiasm. After initial sales broke all previous records, including
|
||
those for the Macintosh, Apple re-doubled its efforts to promote this as
|
||
the computer for nearly everyone. After all, it had ties into the past
|
||
(compatible with Steve Wozniak's 4K Integer BASIC Apple II at its core),
|
||
and ties into the future (with the 16-bit technology and expanded memory).
|
||
Within a year it was outselling the Macintosh (which had also received a
|
||
boost in sales, thought to be benefiting from the wave of IIGS sales).
|
||
|
||
By 1988, a significantly enhanced Apple IIGS was released, with more
|
||
advanced system software (which worked more like the easy-to-use Macintosh
|
||
interface) and higher density graphics (the cost of better color monitors
|
||
had come down considerably since the initial design of the IIGS back in
|
||
1985). Apple even decided to take the unprecedented move of licensing the
|
||
Apple II technology to a couple of other companies, who worked on producing
|
||
IIGS emulators for other computers, including IBM and its clones! Software
|
||
and hardware sales hit a spiraling upward curve, which stimulated more
|
||
sales of computers from Apple, which increased software and hardware sales
|
||
further. Apple even produced a IIGS emulator of its own for the Macintosh
|
||
and Macintosh II series of computers. Eventually...
|
||
|
||
(Hold it. Something just doesn't seem right. I don't recall things
|
||
going NEARLY that well for the IIGS. Computer!
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: [ Tweedlesquirge ] State request, please.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Compare time events just outlined in previous section
|
||
with known events in database notes.
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: Working... [ Blinkitydinkitydinkityzeerp ] Events just
|
||
described are from a parallel timeline, which diverged
|
||
from our own timeline in July 1986.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Hmmm. Any way of moving into that timeline?
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: Negative. Insufficient energy available in power
|
||
supply to actually make changes necessary to alter the
|
||
events in our timeline to allow the above scenario to
|
||
actually occur.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Then HOW did we come across that information in the
|
||
first place?
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: Flux capacitor was affected by a momentary surge in
|
||
power lines due to a nearby thunderstorm.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Interesting. Well, maybe someday I'll have to beef up
|
||
this power supply a bit and have a talk with Mr.
|
||
Sculley if I can find my yellow radiation suit... So
|
||
how do we get back to the correct information?
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: You could effect a complete shutdown and memory purge,
|
||
then reload correct data from protected archives.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Very well. Make it so.
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: Working... [ Blinkitydinkitydinkityzeerpity... ]
|
||
|
||
PROOFREADER: Your Apple TALKS???
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: What? Yes, well I had a CPU conversion done in the
|
||
early 24th century...
|
||
|
||
APPLE II: Data reload completed. You may proceed when ready.
|
||
|
||
AUTHOR: Now, let's see if we can get it right this time...)
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: PRODUCT INTRODUCTION (Take 2) In September of 1986, Apple
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" introduced the new Apple
|
||
IIGS, bundled with an Apple 3.5 drive, for $999 (not including a monitor).
|
||
The Apple II community was excited about the new computer, and inCider
|
||
magazine featured a exuberant Steve Wozniak on the cover of its October
|
||
1986 issue with the caption, "It's Amazing!"
|
||
|
||
Apple, for its part, did do some advertising for the new computer in
|
||
the pages of current Apple II publications of the time. However, there was
|
||
no major push for the new computer, and again it seemed destined to be
|
||
dwarfed by Apple's preoccupation with the Macintosh.
|
||
|
||
Though announced in September, the IIGS was not widely available until
|
||
November. Early production models of the IIGS had some problems; one of
|
||
the new chips did not work properly, and necessary changes to fix them
|
||
caused a delay. The upgrade that would turn an Apple IIe into a IIGS was
|
||
also delayed until early 1987.<5>
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: ENHANCEMENTS In September 1987 Apple made an incremental
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""" improvement to the IIGS with the release of
|
||
a new ROM. The ROM 01 revision made a few changes in the original IIGS
|
||
ROMs and included an improved video controller chip. Bugs in the ROM code
|
||
were fixed, and a problem with a "pink fringe" effect with certain graphics
|
||
displays was fixed. The new ROMs were not compatible with any IIGS System
|
||
Disks earlier than version 2.0. The new ROM was identified by a message at
|
||
the bottom of the screen when booting the IIGS that said "ROM Version 01".
|
||
The original IIGS had no message in this location.<6>
|
||
|
||
The next change came with the release of the ROM 03 version of the
|
||
IIGS in August of 1989. This new IIGS computer came standard with 1 meg of
|
||
RAM on the motherboard, and twice as much ROM (256K versus 128K on the
|
||
older IIGS). This allowed more of the operating system to be in ROM,
|
||
rather than having to be loaded from disk when booting. Additionally, fixes
|
||
were made to known bugs in the ROM 01 firmware. (The latest version of the
|
||
IIGS system software made patches to ROM 01 to fix those bugs, but these
|
||
patches still had to be loaded from disk, which slowed startup time.
|
||
Having the latest new tools and fixed new ones already in ROM made booting
|
||
the version 03 IIGS a bit quicker). The new Apple IIGS also had the
|
||
capability of using both the internal slot firmware as well as using a
|
||
peripheral card plugged into a slot. The ROM 01 IIGS could, of course, use
|
||
cards plugged into the slots, but only at the expense of being unable to
|
||
use the internal firmware for that slot. With so much useful system
|
||
firmware built-in, a ROM 01 user who wanted, for example, to add a
|
||
controller card for a hard disk would have to give up either AppleTalk in
|
||
slot 7 or use of 5.25 disks in slot 6. Almost everything else had to be
|
||
set in the control panel to the internal firmware.
|
||
|
||
The ROM 03 IIGS also included enhancements for disabled users. A
|
||
feature called "sticky keys" made it possible to do multiple keypresses.
|
||
(To execute an "Option-Control-X" sequence, for example, required pressing
|
||
three keys at once. This was something that a paralyzed user with a
|
||
mouth-stick to press keys could not previously do). Also, more things that
|
||
had required a mouse now had keyboard equivalents (using the keypad). The
|
||
new IIGS also had somewhat "cleaner" sound and graphics. However, because
|
||
the improvements made were minimal compared to the cost of providing
|
||
upgrades to previous owners, no upgrade program was announced by Apple. In
|
||
any case, many of the new features could be obtained on older IIGS's by
|
||
upgrading the memory to at least one megabyte and using GS/OS System
|
||
Software 5.0.2 or greater.<7>
|
||
|
||
A feature that was added to the ROM 03 firmware that was entirely fun,
|
||
instead of functional, was accessed by a specific key-sequence. If the
|
||
computer was booted with no disk in the drive, a message that said "Check
|
||
startup device" appeared, with an apple symbol sliding back and forth. At
|
||
that point, if the user pressed the keys "Ctrl", "Open Apple", "Option",
|
||
and "N" simultaneously, the digitized voices of the Apple IIGS design team
|
||
could be heard shouting "Apple II!" Also, the names of those people would
|
||
be displayed on the screen. If running any version of GS/OS System 5.0,
|
||
the user would have to hold down the "Option" and "Shift" keys, then pull
|
||
down the "About" menu in the Finder. It would then say "About the System".
|
||
Using the mouse to click on that title would cause the names to be
|
||
displayed and the audio message to be heard.
|
||
|
||
|
||
THE APPLE IIGS: THE FAT LADY SINGS? Unfortunately for the IIGS and its
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" loyal users, decisions were made at
|
||
Apple during the late 1980's that dictated that the future of the company
|
||
would be in the Macintosh computer, and in other entirely new platforms
|
||
they would create after Macintosh. The view by Apple's management, and
|
||
even by some of the engineers that had worked on the IIGS, was that it was
|
||
simply underpowered when compared to the 68000 series Motorola processors
|
||
that were used by the Macintosh. As I've mentioned before, the backward
|
||
compatibility with the 8-bit Apple II was one of the greatest strengths of
|
||
the Apple IIGS; however, this was also one of its greatest weaknesses, as
|
||
it compromised from the start some of the decisions made in its design. It
|
||
could be compared to creating a brand new type of automobile, one that had
|
||
the capability of doing things that owners of earlier cars couldn't even
|
||
imagine, but insisting that it MUST run on gasoline and use a 12 volt
|
||
battery. If it could be allowed to run EXCLUSIVELY on a specialized new
|
||
fuel and a more comprehensive power plant, the new car could perform
|
||
considerably better -- but it needed to be backward compatible with
|
||
previous releases of the car. In terms of the IIGS, it was given the power
|
||
to be very much like a Macintosh, with its ease of use and graphic
|
||
interface. But with all this power came the connections to its 8-bit past,
|
||
and this complicated things for designers as well as programmers.
|
||
|
||
Another problem for the IIGS was that no one at Apple was in a
|
||
position of power to champion the machine and push for full support and
|
||
promotion by the company. After its product introduction, which involved a
|
||
couple of television and magazine ads, Apple turned its attention to other
|
||
concerns and left the Apple IIGS to sell itself. What promotion was done
|
||
for the IIGS or products associated with it was done with all the fervor
|
||
Apple had applied to the Apple II line since the Apple III had been
|
||
designed (in other words, very little).
|
||
|
||
The IIGS still had people within the company that poured out their
|
||
hearts in making changes to improve the computer, both in software and
|
||
hardware. Their advances in system software managed to make the computer
|
||
faster without requiring any changes in hardware, and also made it possible
|
||
to take advantage of new peripherals as they became available. On the
|
||
hardware side, rumors flew for years after the release of the ROM 03 IIGS
|
||
about an updated IIGS that was in the works, one with the capability of
|
||
higher quality graphics, a faster processor, the capability for larger
|
||
memory sizes, and even the possibility of a more advanced processor, the
|
||
65832. But no one in Apple's administration would give approval for these
|
||
dreams to get off the ground. Even at the last minute, just before the
|
||
first Apple User Group television satellite broadcast in October 1991, a
|
||
ROM 04 IIGS that was to have been announced along with several new
|
||
Macintosh models was pulled from the program and disappeared. This new
|
||
IIGS would have included 2 MB of memory, a built-in hard drive (becoming
|
||
almost a necessity to run the sophisticated GS/OS software that was
|
||
available), and possibly a built-in SuperDrive (which would be capable of
|
||
reading and writing 3.5 disks created by MS-DOS computers). But the future
|
||
was Macintosh, and releasing another advancement to what Apple considered
|
||
to be a dead-end platform was not considered to be good business sense.
|
||
|
||
It was the termination the ROM 04 IIGS that reportedly contributed to
|
||
the delay in the introduction of GS/OS System 6.0, which finally arrived in
|
||
April 1992. (The tools that were part of System 6.0 would have been in the
|
||
ROM of the new IIGS, and made as patches to the ROM 01 and 03 machines;
|
||
things had to be changed when it turned out that there was to BE no new
|
||
IIGS).
|
||
|
||
The final blow to the IIGS was, of course, economic. The IIGS had
|
||
been selling itself nearly from the beginning, and Apple had begun to push
|
||
the Macintosh as a computer for schools to use. This had been
|
||
traditionally the stronghouse of the Apple II, back from its earliest days.
|
||
As school sales fell, and the computer public, unaware of the capabilities
|
||
of the IIGS, bought Macs and IBM-compatibles, Apple dealers found it less
|
||
profitable to carry the Apple IIGS. Lower sales also translated into fewer
|
||
new software titles to run on the computer, which further depressed the
|
||
market. The end of the production run of the Apple IIGS came in December
|
||
1993, when it was finally removed from the price lists Apple provided to
|
||
dealers. The Apple IIe was still selling well enough (primarily to the
|
||
education market) that it was left on the price lists for the time being,
|
||
but the Apple IIGS was relegated to sales through the used or resellers
|
||
market. Although Apple pledged to continue software support for the
|
||
machine (with at least two enhancements to System 6.0 planned), there would
|
||
clearly be no new IIGS, ever.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
NEXT INSTALLMENT Peripherals & the Apple II Abroad
|
||
""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
NOTES
|
||
"""""
|
||
<1> Duprau, Jeanne, and Tyson, Molly. "The Making Of The Apple IIGS",
|
||
A+ MAGAZINE, Nov 1986, pp. 57-74.
|
||
|
||
<2> Pinella, Paul. "In The Beginning: An Interview With Harvey
|
||
Lehtman", APPLE IIGS: GRAPHICS AND SOUND, Fall/Winter 1986, pp.
|
||
38-44.
|
||
|
||
<3> Hogan, Thom. "Apple: The First Ten Years", A+ MAGAZINE, Jan 1987,
|
||
p. 45.
|
||
|
||
<4> Szetela, David. "The New II", NIBBLE, Oct 1986, pp. 5-6.
|
||
|
||
<5> Weishaar, Tom. "Miscellanea", OPEN-APPLE, Nov 1986, p. 2.74.
|
||
|
||
<6> Platt, Robert, and Field, Bruce. "A.P.P.L.E. Doctor",
|
||
CALL-A.P.P.L.E., Nov 1987, p. 58.
|
||
|
||
<7> Doms, Dennis. "Apple upgrades IIGS hardware", OPEN-APPLE, Sep
|
||
1989, p. 5.57.
|
||
|
||
|
||
/////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "(Topic cops forward at will..:>)" /
|
||
///////////////////////////////////////////// VANDENHEUVEL ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[GEO]//////////////////////////////
|
||
GEnie ONLINE /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
Using GEnie's Internet GateWay
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
By Bill Garrett
|
||
[BILL.GARRETT]
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> ACCESSING THE WORLDWIDE INTERNET THROUGH GEnie <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
INTERNET GATEWAY GEnie's Internet gateway offers access to the largest
|
||
"""""""""""""""" communications network in the world. GEnie users can
|
||
send and receive Internet mail,subscribe to newsgroups, and even request
|
||
files to be downloaded from the Internet to GEnie (see services offered by
|
||
the Unix RT, below).
|
||
|
||
Following are some answers to commonly asked questions, as found in
|
||
the Unix RT Bulletin Board on page 160;1. While researching this article,
|
||
I found the Unix Rt to be the best place on GEnie to get information about
|
||
the Internet gateway. Most of the info provided here comes from Andy
|
||
Finkenstadt (ANDY), Unix RT SysOp, by way of the messages in Category 12 of
|
||
the Unix RT Blletin Board. Library file references are to files in the Unix
|
||
RT Library on page 160;3.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> HOW DO I SEND MESSAGES TO PEOPLE IN INTERNET?
|
||
""""" There are two ways - one works from page 207, and one works at any
|
||
place you can send a mail item - with the SEND command, or at the Mail
|
||
Command Mode (200;9 or 8004;9).
|
||
|
||
On page 207, there is an option for "Send an Internet Mail" or words
|
||
to that effect. It guides you through the process, and merely asks for the
|
||
internet address of the person you want to send to, allows you to CC any
|
||
addresses, asks for the subject, and then puts you in the 1> 2> line
|
||
editor. .*S at the end and you've sent your first piece of mail.
|
||
|
||
In mail command mode (ENTER) or with the SEND command, at the To: or
|
||
Cc: prompts, or with the .*TO .*ATO .*CC and .*ACC commands you address
|
||
your letter to the person plus the special string @INET# For example:
|
||
|
||
To: andy@vistachrome.com@INET#
|
||
Cc: S.POPKES
|
||
Sub: Testing
|
||
1> Hi there! Just testing a letter to Andy's work account.
|
||
2> .*S
|
||
|
||
Now GEnie will respond with three messages - the item creation message,
|
||
the "queued for INET#" message, and the item sent message. Now your item
|
||
has been sent.
|
||
|
||
If there are problems you will receive a return mail from the gateway
|
||
machine or a machine along the way that discovered the problem or error.
|
||
Typically these come from MAILER-DAEMON or POSTMASTER or other addresses
|
||
that don't contain real people's names.
|
||
|
||
Just like with FAX# delivery you can check on the status of an
|
||
Internet mail item that you sent with the "DIS" command in mail command
|
||
mode. Record the 7 digit item number referred to in the "queued for INET#"
|
||
message and type at the Command? prompt:
|
||
|
||
Command? DIS 1234567
|
||
|
||
It will tell you the current status of the item.
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> HOW DO I GET MESSAGES BACK?
|
||
""""" Typically if you have sent a message, your correspondent will be
|
||
able to merely use the "reply" command on their mailer. Your address is
|
||
S.POPKES@GEnie.geis.com (you can use upper or lower case, it won't matter)
|
||
so you can tell people to write you back at that address easily enough.
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> HOW IS THE GATEWAY TO BE BILLED?
|
||
""""" On page 207 there is a "Rates" menu item. The following prices
|
||
went into effect on Nov. 1, 1992:
|
||
|
||
$2.00 registration fee - this will be a one time charge
|
||
for all new users signing up for the service. However, if
|
||
a user cancels and signs up another $2.00 charge will be
|
||
incurred.
|
||
|
||
$.30 for each 5000 bytes or portion thereof for incoming
|
||
or outgoing messages. For example:
|
||
|
||
A 10000 byte message would cost $.60 A 20000 byte message
|
||
would cost $1.20 A 5000 byte message would cost $.30 A
|
||
12000 byte message would cost $.90
|
||
|
||
(If you read mail during the day, you'll be charged the standard GEnie
|
||
connect rates since the Genie.*Basic pricing plan is only in effect
|
||
weekends and undays during the week. Also, at 9600 baud special charges
|
||
apply for all GEnie access, night or day.)
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> THERE ARE SEVERAL CONFERENCES ON THE INTERNET.
|
||
""""" HOW ARE THESE ACCESSED?
|
||
The files "MAILING-LISTS.TXT" and "INTEREST-GROUPS.TXT" (and the
|
||
corresponding compressed files ending in .Z) show a list of about 300 to
|
||
400 special interest groups and mailing lists available on the Internet.
|
||
|
||
For example, to join the "Christianity Mailing List" sponsored by Liz
|
||
Allen, you send mail to
|
||
|
||
mailjc-request@grian.cps.com
|
||
or to
|
||
mailjc-request@grian.altadena.ca.us
|
||
|
||
and ask to be added. You might re-affirm your mail address as
|
||
USER.NAME@genie.geis.com just in case something gets mangled by a piece of
|
||
software between GEnie and there.
|
||
|
||
Then the moderator of the mailing list (or his/her duly authorized
|
||
program <grin>) sends you back a welcome message, and explains the exact
|
||
procedure for posting to the group. In the case of the foregoing example,
|
||
it's sending mail to
|
||
|
||
mailjc@grian.cps.com or
|
||
mailjc@grian.altadena.ca.us
|
||
|
||
For an explanation of how domain names (the @somewhere.site.com)
|
||
works, the file DOMAIN.INF is available that explains it in rather basic
|
||
untechnical language.
|
||
|
||
Additionally there are over 3000 newsgroups (3572 in my newsgroups
|
||
file at work) of which approximately 700 to 800 are active. Getting on a
|
||
mail feed of that list requires a bit more patience.
|
||
|
||
Sometimes a friendly System administrator can be convinced to set up a
|
||
mail- based feed of a couple newsgroups to a specific address - as part of
|
||
the testing I did this to see what kinds of things would happen. Reading
|
||
newsgroups via mail is quite a trip though .. a real time-sucker-downer. :)
|
||
|
||
CAVEAT: You may want to be aware that at 30 cents per item per 5000
|
||
characters, an active mailing list can easily cost a small fortune per
|
||
month.
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> CAN I SEND MESSAGES FROM GEnie TO FRIENDS ON
|
||
""""" COMPUSERVE AND VICE VERSA?
|
||
Yes, easily. From GEnie do this:
|
||
|
||
To: 76334.641@compuserve.com@inet#
|
||
{useriud} CIS internet mailbag
|
||
|
||
You can leave off the @INET# =if= you are using the form on page 207.
|
||
|
||
Your friend can send from Compuserve to you with this:
|
||
To: >internet:ark.royal@genie.geis.com
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> ARE THERE GATEWAYS TO OTHER NET SERVICES AS WELL? SUCH AS DELPHI
|
||
""""" AND PRODIGY?
|
||
If you mean can you connect with the Delphi or Prodigy services and use
|
||
them as if you had called them directly, No.
|
||
|
||
You can send mail to subscribers on Delphi ( username@delphi.com ),
|
||
and Prodigy has plans to have an Internet gateway for extra cost this year
|
||
or next.
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>Can I use GEnie's special mail commands such as .*ATO, .*ACC and BLIND
|
||
>>with Internet addresses?
|
||
|
||
|
||
Yes, when we were testing, the BLIND,address@site@inet# worked fine.
|
||
(The only reason you use BLIND, I assume, is to avoid the potentially 60
|
||
lines of headers at the beginning of the letter, right?)
|
||
|
||
...you can optimize your ATO commands like this:
|
||
.*ATO,BLIND,address1,address2,address3,address4, <-- note trailing comma
|
||
address5,address6,address7,address8@inet#,
|
||
address9@inet#
|
||
|
||
And so on... It's actually a bit faster that way.
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>>>> IS THERE A WAY TO JOIN USENET GROUPS VIA GENIE'S INTERNET GATEWAY?
|
||
""""" At present, Usenet access is not available on GEnie. There are
|
||
several lists posted in the Unix RT Library of newsgroups and their
|
||
counterpart mailing lists. If you can't find information on the newsgroup
|
||
you're looking for, post it on the Unix RT or drop a note to UNIX$ and
|
||
we'll see if we can find out for you.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
Several files in the Unix library are great starting places for
|
||
information about the Internet and GEnie's part in it. As a convenience to
|
||
the Unix RT participants we have made these available in 3 different forms:
|
||
Text form, Unix Compress form, and ZIP form. The file names and numbers
|
||
are listed below:
|
||
|
||
Description Name Text ZIP Unix
|
||
------------------------------------ ------ ------ ------ ------
|
||
How to find College E-Mail addresses 3625 4361 3512
|
||
Bibliography of Internet Info FYI 3 4365 4364 3529
|
||
New Internet User Questions FYI 4 4366 4367 3530
|
||
Experienced Internet Questions FYI 7 4368 4369 3533
|
||
Who's Who on the Internet FYI 9 4370 4371 3535
|
||
Gold in the Internet FYI10 4363 4362 3536
|
||
ZEN and the Art of the Internet ZEN 3624 3623 3321
|
||
(The Unix compressed version of ZEN requires a PostScript printer.)
|
||
|
||
Other files about the Internet can be found by searching for
|
||
"INTERNET" while in the Unix libraries on page 160.
|
||
|
||
[*][*][*]
|
||
|
||
|
||
Services offered by the Unix RT As mentioned above, the Unix RT is a
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" great place to get more info on the
|
||
Internet and the gateway here on Genie. Here are some of the services
|
||
offered by the Unix RT sysops, and where to find more information:
|
||
|
||
.* Many Frequently Asked Questions archived from the Internet.
|
||
Search on "FAQ" in the software library.
|
||
.* Up to date Usenet UUCP Maps in library #15.
|
||
Start with file #2551 README.MAP for interpretations.
|
||
.* FTP Request Service. If you can't find it elsewhere on a GEnie
|
||
RoundTable, ask us to find it for you. See bulletin board
|
||
category #1, topic #8. Library #41 for listings, #42 for files.
|
||
|
||
|
||
Real Time Conference:
|
||
|
||
Sunday: 8:00p-10:00p Unix & Internet Help Desk in Chat Lines
|
||
|
||
|
||
INTERNET Support in category 12 of the bulletin board. Informational
|
||
files in the software library #33 or search for "INTERNET".
|
||
|
||
Chief Sysop: ANDY Andy Finkenstadt
|
||
Assistants: MIKE.NOLAN Michael Nolan
|
||
GARS Gary Smith
|
||
LRARK Rick Mobley
|
||
DELPHI Brian Riley
|
||
|
||
|
||
////////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
|
||
/ "I dragged Aladdin to the trash 3 times before getting it /
|
||
/ figured out. Now I can't imagine using GEnie without it..." /
|
||
//////////////////////////////////////////////// NTACTONE ////
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
[EOA]
|
||
[LOG]//////////////////////////////
|
||
LOG OFF /
|
||
/////////////////////////////////
|
||
GEnieLamp Information
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
o COMMENTS: Contacting GEnieLamp
|
||
|
||
o GEnieLamp STAFF: Who Are We?
|
||
|
||
o GET_THE_LAMP Scripts & Macros
|
||
|
||
o SEARCH-ME! Answers
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
GEnieLamp GEnieLamp is monthly online magazine published in the
|
||
""""""""" GEnieLamp RoundTable on page 515. You can also find
|
||
GEnieLamp in the ST (475), the Macintosh (605), the IBM (615) Apple II
|
||
(645), A2Pro (530), Unix (160), Mac Pro (480), Geoworks (1050), BBS
|
||
(610), CE Software (1005) and the Mini/Mainframe (1145) RoundTables.
|
||
GEnieLamp can also be found on CrossNet, Internet, America Online and
|
||
many public and commercial BBS systems worldwide.
|
||
|
||
We welcome and respond to all GEmail.To leave messages, suggestions
|
||
or just to say hi, you can contact us in the GEnieLamp RoundTable (515)
|
||
or send GE Mail to John Peters at [GENIELAMP] on page 200.
|
||
|
||
|
||
U.S. MAIL
|
||
"""""""""
|
||
GEnieLamp Online Magazine
|
||
Atten: John Peters
|
||
5102 Galley Rd. Suite 115/B
|
||
Colorado Springs, CO 80915
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> GEnieLamp STAFF <<<
|
||
"""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
GEnieLamp o John Peters [GENIELAMP] Editor-In-Chief
|
||
"""""""""
|
||
|
||
ATARI ST o John Gniewkowski [J.GNIEWKOWSK] Editor
|
||
"""""""" o Mel Motogawa [M.MOTOGAWA] ST Staff Writer
|
||
o Terry Quinn [TQUINN] ST Staff Writer
|
||
o Sheldon Winick [S.WINICK] ST Staff Writer
|
||
o Richard Brown [R.BROWN30] ST Staff Writer
|
||
o John Hoffman [JLHOFFMAN] ST Staff Writer
|
||
o Al Fasoldt [A.FASOLDT] ST Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
ATARI ST/TX2 o Cliff Allen [C.ALLEN17] Editor/TX2
|
||
""""""""""""
|
||
ATARI [PR] o Fred Koch [F.KOCH] Editor/PD_Q
|
||
""""""""""
|
||
IBM o Robert M. Connors [R.CONNORS2] Editor
|
||
""" o Peter Bogert [P.BOGERT1] IBM Staff Writer
|
||
o Brad Biondo [B.BIONDO] IBM Staff Writer
|
||
o Tippy Martinez [TIPPY.ONE] IBM Staff Writer
|
||
o David Holmes [D.HOLMES14] IBM Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
MACINTOSH o James Flanagan [JFLANAGAN] Editor
|
||
""""""""" o Richard Vega [R.VEGA] Mac Co-Editor
|
||
o Dan "Remo" Barter [D.BARTER] Mac Staff Writer
|
||
o Tom Trinko [T.TRINKO] Mac Staff Writer
|
||
o Bret Fledderjohn [FLEDDERJOHN] Mac Staff Writer
|
||
o Bill Garrett [BILL.GARRETT] Mac Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
MacPRO o James Flanagan [JFLANAGAN] Editor
|
||
"""""" o Erik C. Thauvin [MACSPECT] Supervising Editor
|
||
o Chris Innanen [C.INNANEN] MacPRO Staff Writer
|
||
o Paul Collins [P.COLLINS] MacPRO Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
APPLE II o Darrel Raines [D.RAINES] Editor
|
||
"""""""" o Phil Shapiro [P.SHAPIRO1] A2 Co-Editor
|
||
o Mel Fowler [MELSOFT] A2 Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
A2Pro o Jim B. Couch [J.COUCH2] Editor
|
||
""""" o Nate C. Trost [N.TROST] A2Pro Staff Writer
|
||
|
||
INTERNET o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] GEnieLamp IBM
|
||
""""""""
|
||
|
||
ETC. o Jim Lubin [JIM.LUBIN] Add Aladdin
|
||
"""" o Scott Garrigus [S.GARRIGUS] Search-ME!
|
||
o Bruce Faulkner [R.FAULKNER4] CrossNET Support
|
||
o Mike White [M.WHITE25] Cowlumnist/Asst. SysOp
|
||
|
||
|
||
GEnieLamp CONTRIBUTORS
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""
|
||
|
||
o Steven Weyhrich [S.WEYHRICH]
|
||
o Gina Saikin [G.SAIKIN]
|
||
o Paul Varn [P.VARN]
|
||
o Larry E. Elseman [L.ELSEMAN1]
|
||
o Les Blatt [L.BLATT]
|
||
|
||
|
||
>>> SEARCH-ME! ANSWERS <<<
|
||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""
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||
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|
||
|
||
BARBER BRAIDS BRUSH
|
||
COMB CONDITIONER CURLER
|
||
CUT DRESSER DRIER
|
||
HAIR LONG MOOSE
|
||
PERM SASSOON SCISSORS
|
||
SHAMPOO SHORT STYLE
|
||
STYLIST TONIC WASH
|
||
|
||
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
|
||
Material published in this edition may be reprinted under the
|
||
following terms only. All articles must remain unedited and
|
||
include the issue number and author at the top of each article
|
||
reprinted. Reprint permission granted, unless otherwise noted, to
|
||
registered computer user groups and not for profit publications.
|
||
Opinions present herein are those of the individual authors and
|
||
does not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or staff of
|
||
GEnieLamp. We reserve the right to edit all letters and copy.
|
||
Include the following at the end or the beginning of every reprint:
|
||
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
|
||
(c) Copyright 1993 T/TalkNET Online Publishing and GEnie. To join
|
||
GEnie, set your modem to 2400 baud (or less) and half duplex
|
||
(local echo). Have the modem dial 1-800-638-8369. When you get a
|
||
CONNECT message, type HHH. At the U#= prompt, type:
|
||
XTX99014,DIGIPUB
|
||
and hit the [return] key. The system will then ask you for your
|
||
information. Call (voice) 1-800-638-9636 for more information.
|
||
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\////////////////////////////////////
|
||
[EOF]
|
||
|
||
|