Wanted:II GS software and more..

[Alan Macaluso <alan@reutershealth.com>]

Hi there everyone,

My 75 year old mother was recently given an Apple IIgs as a gift 
(minus ANY helpful manuals). She's in the process of "writing her life
story" and could really benefit from a simple, yet functional GUI word
processing program for the IIgs. 

She is a total novice regarding computers. I have extensive experience
with Macintoshen.  

(the following is dictated from memory....)

I'm a bit confused with the IIgs and how to get it booted up into
the desktop environment.  There are disks labled "IIgs System Disc"
(or something like that).  There are also Claris Appleworks discs.

My intuition tells me to start with the IIgs system disks.  However, the
system complains that the disk is unreadable or check the start-up
device.  

I can start the "system" up with the Claris Appleworks disc but it comes
up in some strange ascii version of the Desktop.  I can navigate
into a directory called desktop where there is a 'file' called desktop.1
(or something like that).  If I select that, VIOLA, I come up into
a familiar looking Mac desktop environment.  However, I still cannot
load any applications.

So.....my adventures begin.  1. What key information do I need to 
get this beast functioning?  2. What system software do in I need?
3. Is Claris Appleworks a good program for her needs?  

Any and all help would be GREATLY appreciated!!

Please respond via email: anm@interport.net

Thank you!!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Alan Macaluso   email: alan@reutershealth.com
  Internet Systems Developer/System Admin/Webmaster
    Reuters Health Information Services
      http://www.reutershealth.com
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