Re: What's Next for the Apple II?

[obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2)]

<< What do Apple II users have to expect (of) the next 10 to 20 years?   Any
hardware or software innovations that may come along?  Or is development for
the Apple II slowly coming to the end of the line?  >>

Well, we've recently added hardware with the reliable CompactFlash hard drive
card and the PS/2 Mouse Adapter allows users of Apple MouseCards to use modern
PS/2 mice.  Me?  I'm using a CFFA card with a 256 Meg Compact Flash for my
solid state hard drive, along with a wireless presenter's mouse that operates
in midair, as well as on the table top.  Hmm, I still haven't tried playing
Flobynoids from across the room with full body motions.

With the AnyCard coming out this year (fingers and toes crossed!  Come on, Hans
and Jeri!), the ][+, e, & gs will be able to access modern memory devices with
ease, and when folks write the drivers for them, modern USB printers, cameras,
keyboards and mice (and Howard wants a flat bed scanner)!  Jeri plans to add
the Commodore clocks to the card to give the Apples a clock, too.

Which of us will be the first to add a flat panel monitor to their //e or //c
when their last color monitor fizzles out, or simply go to video projection
sunglasses?  Why not a color LCD projector to view the screen magnified on the
wall as our eyes fizzle out, too?

When it comes to software, the IIgs can currently surf the web, handle AOL
Instant Messages, and transfer files from the web via FTP.

The Contiki desktop environment, web surfer, emailer, ... is the hottest
software currently headed the way of the //c and //e crowds.  

Gee, I'd still like some more desktop accessories for Apple II Desktop, such as
a file finder.

I'm having some fun porting, modifying and enhancing to the Apple II some of
the modern programs that I use or see to better suit my own classroom needs.

There are reports of a hacked version of ProDOS out there that allows 510 files
on the main directory, so an unofficial update of ProDOS 2.0.3 might be a nice
addition to feed our Apple IIs in the near future.       

One last item for hardware:  someone, please, make a kit to update the arrow
keys.  The arrows never had a good layout, all strung out in a row like that. 
Now the half-a-key height arrow keys on the G3 laptop are easy to use,
intuitive in any game, and should leave plenty of room for an extra open-apple
key on the right side of the space bar.

JaY