Re: Philosophy of emulators

[Gabriel Morales <Togega@Concentric.net>]

	When using an Apple IIgs the keyboard is different, usually the disk
drives are different, and 8-bit programs are run in emulation!
Therefore, the Apple IIgs is an inferior machine to run all Apple II
8-bit software...

	I agree that part of the fun of playing with an Apple II is actually
physically interfacing with the hardware. It is the sheer fun of having
"real physical Apple II hardware". But, as the Apple II hardware,
although to my liking and particularly attractive for its time, does not
provide any special features that personal computers today lack, there
is no real advantage to using a real, physical Apple II as opposed to a
good emulator.

	I prefer the old Apple //e enhanced keyboard to an Apple IIg's ADB
keyboard, really. But, I don't think that it detracts from the
experience. it is simply a different hardware design. The same goes for
emulators. If the software is what's important to you (using AppleWorks,
playing Lode Runner) then you should really have no problem with a good
emulator such as Bernie.

	If the Apple II line wouldn't have been killed off, the disk sounds and
physical attributes would have changed again over time and models, as
they did with (most notably) the Apple IIc and the Apple IIgs.

	But, I DO like running the darn machines. Just for the "sheer fun" of
looking at people's expressions, and as a testament to another era of
personal computing ended not so very long ago, yet many generations past.

	Some people also like the hardware aspect of the Apple II. And this,
obviously, can't be duplicated with an emulator. However you see it
though, it's mostly a preferential issue.

-- 
Gabriel Morales <http://www.GabrielMorales.net>