Re: Newbie

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer) writes...

>Matt Bodnarchuk <bmatt@udel.edu> wrote:
>
>>Hi Apple fans,
>>
>>  I just got an Apple IIe for free.  Being a collector/enjoyer of
>>"older" computers, Commodore, Tandy, etc.  I can't wait to start
>>computing with this machine.  The problem is, that I have absolutely no
>>knowledge of Apple machines.  I would appreciate it very much if someone
>>would point me in the right direction so that I could learn about this
>>computer.  Thanks in advance! :)
>
>Think of it like a Commodore 128 without a sound chip or a
>CP/M processor built in.  You can add either one later.

    That's a poor analogy. The Commodore 128 was a three-in-one
machine out of the box, consisting of a C64, CP/M machine and
natively, the C128. It had a 128K and 80 column text built-in,
supported graphics modes of 320x200 (16 colors with no pixel
placement restrictions) and 640x200. It had hardware sprites for
animation and a sound chip that far surpassed what you could do
with the AY-3-8910 used in a Mockingboard plug-in card.

    The Apple IIe was technically an Apple II Plus that had a
built-in 16K Language Card, a full ASCII keyboard with lower-
case support and an expansion slot to add bank-switchable
memory (with support for using any extra memory for 80 column
text and Double-Hi-Res graphics).

>http://www.allelec.com/ for the OS and software and a much
>needed hard disk drive.

    A hardrive is more a luxury than a necessity on an Apple IIe.
The majority of software for 8-bit Apple II's was written to run
off 5.25 floppy disks, though obviously there are some productivity
titles out there that benefit from a hardrive (e.g. AppleWorks 5,
Publish-It, GEOS, MouseDesk). The Apple IIgs is a different story,
I can't imagine using one without one. :)

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca