A2 Internet ID Information Easter Egg Hunt and Contest

[cturley@grin.net (Charles Turley)]

April 23, 2000
(7:10 PM - PDT)

I�m not sure if this got posted to this newsgroup - although I DID make
the post on Saturday afternoon, I have not seen it appear yet - so here
it is again.  Although Easter is almost over, the contest and EE hunt is
still valid and will remain valid until the winner sends me their winning
email submission.

________________________________________________________________________________

To celebrate Easter, I�m offering to give an Apple IIgs computer to the
first person who can furnish me the true identity with the REAL name of
the individual noted below. This is an �A2 Internet ID Information Easter Egg
Hunt and Contest�, open to all A2 users.  The first person to correctly
furnish the REAL and actual name of Sara Cortland (who uses the two email
addresses);

sara2gs@apple2.com
sara2gs@aol.com

to me by email reply at: cturley@grin.net  

Will win an Apple IIgs computer.

Could it be that this mystery individual �Sara Cortland� 
actually was the individual that the IIgs prototype
�Cortland� was named after?

Hints to help you with this �A2 Internet ID Information Easter Egg
Hunt and Contest� are included below.
 

Public information hints available follow.
---------------------------------------------------
AOL MEMBER PROFILE:
Member Name:   Sara Cortland (sara2gs@apple2.com)
Location:   Cupertino, California
Birthdate:  Sep. 86
Sex:  Female
Hobbies: graphics, music, games
Computers:  Apple IIgs
Personal Quote:   Apple II Forever!
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The only post from <sara2gs@aol.com> (Sara2GS) is included below.

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Subject: Re: A2 Users:  Endanged Species?  I think not.
From: sara2gs@aol.com (Sara2GS)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Lines: 66
NNTP-Posting-Host: ladder05.news.aol.com
X-Admin: news@aol.com
Date: 01 Aug 1999 15:41:10 GMT
References: <19990724234255.03996.00002426@ng-da1.aol.com>
Organization: AOL http://www.aol.com
Message-ID: <19990801114110.20388.00001316@ng-ch1.aol.com>



The problem with older Apple II hardware is the same as that faced by
older video games.  Since the hardware units are no longer in
production, it is true that when the last board dies, that's it. 
Emulation will never replace the original system.  I view it as a
necessary supplement.

Consider MAME (multi-arcade machine emulator).  As a result of circuit
degradation, and in some cases, simple neglect or abuse, the original
console systems will no longer function properly.  Certain arcade
classics can now be run only via emulation.  Hardware will eventually
fail.  And the Apple II is no exception.  While I prefer the real thing,
I'm glad that emulators exist. Without them, there would eventually come
a day when I could never run AppleWorks or GS/OS again.  And for a loyal
][ user, this would be a tragic fate.

While I would love to see the ]['s revive themselves, even a redesigned
successor to the IIgs based on the (apparently mythical) 65832 would be
doomed to a niche market.  Half of classic computing is based in a
market of people that refuse to let go of their favourite old systems. 
And more power to them. The other half is comprised of new or first-time
users who learn to appreciate where their desktop PC came from (and
usually through emulation).  But I doubt seriously that anyone with a
PIII-500 would replace that system with a 32-bit, 50 MHz IIgs, were it
available.

The power in older computers is necessarily limited.  With the ingenuity
and labour born of love for a computer, the Apple II will continue to
evolve.  Look at Wolfenstein IIgs and GS-AIM for examples.  But without
the widespread popularity the Macintosh and Wintel platforms enjoy, our
older systems will never reach out to new users again.  At least, not in
numbers large enough to ensure the evolution of the platform.

While the RamFAST is beautiful, look at the Second Sight video card for
a different example.  Enhanced graphics capability has been a long-time
shortcoming of the IIgs.  And yet, of all the users on csa2, very few
seem to have the SS card.  Why?  Even in this most loyal of customer
bases, with so few new products being released, it simply doesn't make
sense to invest in hardware for a dying (or dead -- it's really just
semantics) platform.  There are few programs for the SS card, and,
seeing none coming, the cards remain unsold, collecting dust on
warehouse shelves.  If the Apple II community itself itself is reluctant
to embrace new technologies for their own platform, how can we expect to
reach out to new users?  Without the nostalgic appeal the computer has
for those who remember it, there is almost certainly no chance to
proselytise members into our ranks.  Let a 12-year-old play a couple
rounds of Quake 3 over the Internet, and then show him Little Brickout
on the IIe. Realistically, which platform would he choose?

The idea of implementing a FSF/GNU-style method of software development
has its merits.  Current ][ products, like ProDOS and GS/OS, could
evolve.  New products would be made possible by documenting all system
calls and entry points.  More efficient code would lead to better
programs.  But new, better software wouldn't bring in new users.  At
best, it would increase the amount of time current users spend on their
Apples.

I've had a dream for a long time of winning the state lottery, and using
the winnings to make a Super IIgs available.  You know, buy the rights
from Apple, rewrite the OS, add TCP/IP support, a good FPU... breathe
some life back into my baby, and haul 'em all up to Kansasfest for
distribution.  But even if I gave them away, I'm afraid that would be
the full extent of the market.

I was naive enough to believe the "Apple II Forever" slogan when I first
heard it.  But Apple has abandoned us, and new members are not
forthcoming to our community.  The last major enhancement to the Apple
II was almost 13 years ago, since the IIgs was introduced.  The ]['s
growth has been stunted by malnutrition.

I must agree with the original sentiment of this thread.  The Apple II
will not last forever.  It's more a case of "Apple II... for now."

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Well, there you have it all. Do your Internet ID searching, send me an
email submission and make your guess:  First correct submission by email
to me at:

 cturley@grin.net 

...will be the winner of the Apple IIgs (I�m holding as the winners prize).
BTW, it�s personally signed by Woz.  It�s a ROM 01 IIgs and not a stamped
�Limited Edition�.

Cheers, Happy Easter and Good Luck!
Tom

-- 
Charles T. 'Dr. Tom' Turley
WWW: http://www.grin.net/~cturley