Re: suggestions for small school computer lab?

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Francis A Uy writes ...
> 
> I've been roped into administering a tiny computer lab in
>  an elementary/middle school, with a few PCs (which I will
>  be required to install Win95 on) and several Apple 2's
>  (including //e, GS, possibly others).
> 
> They want to keep using their Apple 2 software library.
>  I know some businesses willing to donate 68030 Macs and
>  386 PC's.  My question: will emulators running on such
>  machines be equivalent to actual Apple 2's?  There isn't
>  enough room in the building for both sets of computers.
> 
> I'm partial to Macs, but can deal with PC's and A2's.
>

     Your best bet is to keep the newer, Win95 PC's and as many Apple 
II's as possible.

     Regarding the latter, you should, probably, keep as many GS's as 
possible but at least one IIe. Pick an "enhanced" IIe (128k, 
double-hires, etc.) model if one is available.

     The '386 PC's and older Macs are of little use to someone 
concerned with running Apple II wares and current PC wares. You may 
be able to unload them at a swap meet for enough to pay for some 
useful GS upgrades. 

     The newer PC's can run most II+/IIe software under an emmulator, 
such as AppleWin. This requires converting Apple II diskettes to disk 
image files called "DSK files". Usually, you will need to ...

 1. On an Apple II, make a deprotected copy of the Apple II diskette 
(e.g. an MECC program, etc.) you want to use on the emmulator.

 2. On an Apple II, using a program like DSK2FILE, convert the 
deprotected copy diskette to a DSK file.

 3. Transfer the DSK file to the PC (e.g. via NULL modem).


     As long as you have genuine Apple II's on-site, you can avoid a 
lot of bother by running II wares on II's and PC wares on PC's.

 
Rubywand