Re: HFS Utils?

[shack@deimos.frii.com (Randy Shackelford)]

In article <01bc0965$037cf900$432aedcc@default>,
Barry Rees <Barry.Rees@prodigy.net> wrote:

>> Not correct, Apple does provide the needed info, even online (in Adobe
>> Acrobat format). It's just that
>
>Well, maybe that's your experience with Apple, Inc. However, over the last
>few years especially, I have heard more than one or two Apple software
>developers complain about Apple's unwillingness to answer Apple II related
>technical questions in any kind of a timely fashion - if at at all.

Like so many things, ya gotta talk to a knowledgeable person. I spent an 
unholy long time on SOS-APPL trying to get an answer about a SCSI problem
on my Q840AV (a Mac mind you) and got told "gee, I dunno" basically. I'd
say a mail straight to the former II DTS gang would get an answer.

>> I think the interest would be tremendous. ...............
>
>Perhaps. However, when you look at what Apple II equipment and software
>sell for (even new shrink wrapped stuff), who do you think is going risk
>putting in the time and money developing this software when it would seem
>to be a real roll of the dice to even getting their money back, let alone
>make any kind of profit?

Anyone who will tackle this will already have the assembler etc to write 
the code. If you can get the info online for free, what money do you need
to get back?

>Please don't misunderstand. I'd like to see future project for the IIGS,
>but with a few exceptions I no longer expect them and for good reason.

The thing people need to keep in mind is, for all practical purposes,
the Apple II is commercially dead. No one is gonna found a company and
make a fortune writing II software, like in the days of Penguin, Sierra,
BudgeCo, etc etc. People should program because they want to contribute,
because they like to, not because of the money. That simply isn't there
any more. Kinda like the IIgs emulator authors, none of which plan to ask 
for a cent for their efforts, to my knowledge.
As far as this particular instance goes, I'd really like to see HFS volume
management tools. But face it, I can hook my hard disk up to my Mac and
run Norton on it many times before reaching the point of paying for such a 
utility.
-- 
Randy Shackelford                                 
shack@frii.com