Re: Best option for writing (book) on Apple II

["Warren 'Llama' Ernst" <wernst@gmail.com>]

Responses below...


> > The WPS file is going to be saved on an Apple II formatted diskette,
> > meaning you're going to have to transfer it to a PC (or mac, I guess
>
> I assumed I was going to use a terminal program to transfer it over
> RS232.

Yup. That's the old-school way.

>
> > the 8-bit version of WordPerfect to make you happy. Perhaps you can
> > report back after trying it!
>
> The only features I really want are bold, underline and italic.

Then 8-Bit WordPerfect should be just fine.

> There is no way to convert AppleWorks 2 files? I have plenty of
> original copies of AppleWorks 2.0 here.

I'm pretty sure CiderPress converts AppleWorks 2 files into RTF as
well.


> > 3. With a 128KB 8-bit Apple II, you'll be limited to, hmmm, 54KB (?)
>
> 56KB :)

Shows you what you know. ;-) The available Desktop space has changed
over the years with the ever-expanding size of AppleWorks.

>
> > when I say this, but in 2009 it is a lot easier for a beginner to the
> > Apple II world to use a IIgs instead, even if you only ever use it as
>
> I'm hardly a beginner to the Apple II world, though.

Apologies. I should have said "rebuilding a usable Apple II from
scratch."

> If I was going to use a IIgs, I think I might as well just use a Mac.
> And if I was going to use a Mac, might as well just use the MacBook on
> which I'm typing this :)

Not true. Just don't boot up anything but DOS 3.3 and ProDOS 8 disks
(i.e. the disks that work in a //c or //e) and your GS performs
exactly like the older machines, except that it has more RAM and
resources and costs a lot less to get a fully built-up machine in
2009. Hook up a green-screen instead of a now-hard-to-locate RGB
monitor, and I promise, it's just like using a //e or //c software
wise.

I'm not suggesting getting a GS to run GS/OS and a modern GUI. I'm
just suggesting it as a more pleasant and cheaper way to run 8-bit
office software.

>
> > find them, and the memory card for a //c goes for close to $200 these
>
> yes... I've been thinking about building an expansion board for my
> IIc, since I have oodles of 256Kx1 and 1Mx1 (and the same, x4) DRAMs
> lying around. Haven't been able to locate a schematic yet though, so I
> don't know how easy it would be - is much additional logic required?
> (yes I do have what it takes to write the equations for and program
> PALs and CPLDs).

I'm afraid I don't know much about this, other than to say that the
later //c's had a socket on the mainboard to accept memory cards built
for it. Early models needed memory cards that basically fit into the
CPU and ROM sockets of the mainboard - quite the kludge. If you're
going to do this with a //c, I hope you have a later one, or a //c+.

Incidentally, the //c+ was the finest AppleWorks machine I ever used:
1MB of ram when populated, built-in 3.5" drive, 4MHz speed, and
honestly the best feeling keyboard Apple Computer ever made, all in a
really cute case. Were my office desk not already home to 2 Apple
II's, I'd pick up a //c+ in a heartbeat.

-Warr