Re: Hi-Res Art Contest? -- Apple IIx

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Bruce Baker writes ...
> 
>  >Saw you at the Swap Meet-- one of the few genuine Apple II sellers in a
>  >sea of Mac stuff. Darn good turnout, though. (And, I did get a nice
>  >250MB
> 
> Darn, you didn't introduce yourself.

     Maybe should have-- like the worst that might happen is that you'd say
"Who?". 


> Funny my old A2 buddy "sold out" and
> bought a cheap Mac SE with printer (for less than $100).  But still I
> figure he can buy a real PC for $700-800 and be able to get on the net, etc.
> It seems to me a Mac SE is no solution, you still cannot use netscape and
> your CPU will be comparatively slower than the Apple 2.   But he's going
> to have fun, I'm sure form his point of view it was worth it.
 ....

     Back in 1989, a friend sold all of his Apple II stuff-- he was very (Very)
chapped at Apple's obvious abondonment of the II series. Now, he has a nice PC
(best Creative sound card, 32MB-- or 64MB, not sure-- Voo-doo video, ...) and
seems bored.

     A Mac SE is the classic dead end. Your friend might as well spend the
$1500 necessary to get a decent PC. At least, he would have good net access and
a way to play Apple II games on an emu-- and a way to get sucked back into II
computing!


> Turnout was actually not too good.  Only a few years ago they had to set up
> over flow.  People fought for tables.  Now anyone could walk in off the
> street and set up.  But there did seem to be more paid tables, more
> businesses.  I dont think as many people come to buy either.  I didnt see
> many computers leave as purchases, did you?
> 
> But I did have to leave by noon, a little early.

     Me, too. Was pretty much limited to an hour or so.

     This is only the third HAAUG Swap Meet I've attended (unless you count one
or two in the 1980's);  so, no doubt, some of the bigger 1990's 'Meets were
missed. Even so, the room at UH is a moderate size auditorium and it was
flocking with buyers and sellers.

     As you say, not many computers or other big stuff was being sold early on.
(Lots of hard disks, boards, software, etc. seemed to be moving, okay.) 
Probably, this changed after noon as sellers (and daughters of sellers)
considered lugging unsold stuff back.

     But, then, aside from good deals on hard disks and cables, there was not
really enough in the way of Apple II goodies. The only Apple II computer
available seemed to be the platinum //e you sold to some guy before I noticed
it.  (Should have scarfed up on that stack of IIe's at the 'Meet a couple years
ago!)

     HAAUG should consider an Apple II Only Swap Meet for November (one of the
few sane times to be walking around and lugging stuff in Houston, Texas). 
Besides users, we could encourage schools, thrift shops, and other likely
sources to participate. With decent promotion, bet the turnout would be good.



Rubywand