Re: What has changed in the Apple world last 6 months?

[pausch@saaf.se (Paul Schlyter)]

In article <3a313113@news.svn.net>, Paul Grammens <grammens@svn.net> wrote:
 
> Paul Schlyter <pausch@saaf.se> wrote
> 
>> But of course the Apple II is hopelessly inadequate for an
>> application using a 50 Meg database; however many (most?) businesses
>> don't need such large databases.  Remember that most businesses are
>> small businesses...
> 
> These are small businesses. They have typically two to six PC's networked
> and running DOS and Windows apps.
 
Well, you could connect two to six Apple II's to e.g. a Corvus
Constellation....  I've seen that done -- back in the early 1980'ies.
 
> They often have continued to use their old DOS software, updated for Y2K.
> On a 600MHz machine it's very fast.
 
If they started computerizing their administration already during the
Apple II era, they could just as well have continued using that
software.
 
>> Finally, I wonder how efficient regarding usage of disk space those
>> 50+ Meg databases you referred to were.  I mean, it's just as easy
>> to waste disk space as it is to waste CPU cycles....
> 
> They are not very efficient, judging by the tremendous compression ratios I
> get on backups.  But using the example of the vet software, they use
> packages customized for their type of business. I suppose someone could set
> one up in AppleWorks,
 
I'm not suggesting anyone should do that.  But if the business already
had set it up in e.g. AppleWorks, back in the early 1980'ies, they
could probably use the same setup even today.  And it's not really that
remarkable that some people actually do this.
 
> but businesses have a hard enough time finding computer help for PC's.
> Imagine finding someone to help with your Apple II's, either hardware
> or software.
 
THAT would be easy: just ask in comp.sys.apple2.  Here people give good
advice for free -- now imagine if you were prepared to pay cash for
getting some help....
 
-- 
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