Re: Why an Apple II?

[goldbug@oanet.com@oanet.com]

Previouslyi leed@sfsu.edu (DONALD CY LEE) writes:

>HI!
>	Late last night, a idea popped into my head for a post on the II 
>Newsgroups.  I have 2 questions:  Why did you get an Apple II computer in 
>the first place, and the second one is:  Why are you continuing to use an 

In my earlier years I was somewhat nieve about computers. Back at in
'83-84 school year, everyone I knew owned an Apple II+ or the clones.
The idea was that I could 'trade' software with my friends made the
decision to buy a II+ clone. Of course as I said, I didn't know much
about copyrights and stuff. Sure there were a few games I played on
that machine, but I soon found that I could do my homework on it,
enter
programs printed in books or magazines and run them. And in the later
years I actually bought a few programs for it. It saw it's final days
in
'87 when the floppy drive started to chew up my disks. After that, I
pretty much left it alone. It was during this year that one of my
friends
got an 'upgrade' to a IIGS after some thieves stole his II+ clone. I
was
awestruck at the graphics and speed, and at the price: $3100CAN. Whoa,
baby! It looks like I won't be using a computer for sometime now.

Cut to the summer of '89 I've graduated out of high school for a year
already, and worked most of that time. In fact during the spring
months
I was working two jobs at the same time. So, I now had over 3 grand
in my bank account and the first thing that pops into mind is that
IIGS.
I could now afford it. July 7th, 1989 I plunk down $3100CAN for the
standard ROM 01 IIGS with 512k. Why? Because I was so impressed
when I first saw the machine and my excuse was that I could still use
all my old software and data disks from my II+ clone. Not so really
because the old drive destroyed most of what I had before.

Two months later I learn of the release of the ROM 3 GS with 1MB RAM.
D'OH! If only I waited. Oh well. The remainder of the year the GS
would
see another 800k drive, AWGS, TWGS, 20MB Vulcan, upgrade to 1MB,
HyperStudio, Silpheed, & Thexder. At this point, all the commercial
software I owned, and will own have _all_ been purchased. I soon
subscribed to inCider/A+. I remember reading there that if I wanted
to see new software for the GS I would have to vote for it with my
wallet, which meant buying whatever I could for my GS. I believe I
have lived up to this as my bank account can well attest. In fact,
I've
said it alot before, if I didn't buy my GS, I'd be a rich man today,
but I
wouldn't have had as much fun!

>Apple II, despite the emergence of new computers, etc......?  The 
>questions are will sound a bit narrow for those who have used more than 1 
>Apple II, so if you have for instance, bought a II+, went to IIe, then to 
>a IIGS, please tell us why.  

Hell, I spent so much on my GS I could have bought a very nice new
car or two average new cars. What makes you think I can afford to
switch to another platform. Well to be honest, I've been fiercely
loyal
with my GS. I think all the software and hardware that I bought for it
really tells that story clearly. I've used my GS for years and it had
suited my needs.

Sure, eventually I bought a Mac Classic for college as it was a
requirement for the program, but after that, I just put it aside. Yes,
I do
own a 486 now as I have studied to be a microcomputer specialist.
It wouldn't be prudent not to own a PC based machine when the field
I'm going into is dominated with them. But why the GS? Because I put
in so much effort over the years. I made a promise several years ago
that I'd do whatever I could to keep my GS running and I think for the
most part I have. The only major problem I have now is an apparent
incompatibility of my new hard drive with my RamFAST (Jawaid is trying
to help on this end), which has put my GS on hiatus.

But still, when I buy peripherals for my PC, I always keep my GS in
mind.
Most recent examples, a SCSI CD-ROM drive, and an external 28.8 modem.
Sure they are more expensive than other similar equipment, but this
way I
can still use them with my GS. I suspect that many II users here have
similar attitudes if they own more than one platform of computers.

Gee, I think I've rambled on more than I planned to so I'd better give
someone else some bandwidth to rant and rave with. Thanks for reading.
I enjoyed going back in time for this.