Re: IIgs stuff to sell / give away

[obsbedia2@aol.com (Obsbedia2)]

<< Louis Cornelio wrote:

> Ok, it is not a popular idea in school that just "upgrade because" -- and
> I DO think kids deserve MODERN computers, but there is plenty of use in
> these machines.

Sure, and lets teach the next generation that 'new' is better and 'old' is
useless.

I think there's a lot of value left in the old systems. They are easier for
most students to use. Lots of great software still available, much of
it free!

Phoenyx
 >>

The problem may be that those in charge of the purse strings like to buy the
way they buy:  Whole systems that don't require thought.

They don't have to be knowledgeable about the product, they just have to but a
complete system so that it will work out of the box--and let's face it; a lot
of those boxes are never even opened, let alone plugged in.

I've already written a grant for upgrading the Apple IIs at school.  Nothing
fancy, just hard drives, mice and BeagleWrite.  It died and I was told that it
would die long before it was issued.

I did get a site license for BeagleWrite and here is how:

	I bought a copy, became proficent at it, bought all the add-ons (extra fonts,
desk accessories, Picture Manager), became pretty proficent at them as well
(Picture Manager is still troublesome for me), and THEN showed off the program
to students.  

	They liked it!  They told their teachers.  

	They liked it!  They asked me to give a workshop.  They loved it. 

	I talked the High School into (well, begged on my hands and knees for five
months actually) to let our school use the 29 Apple IIes that they had
disassembled in an empty classroom.  They finally said, "Come get them."  Eight
truck loads later, they were in the classrooms.

	My principal asked, "What do the teachers need to make use of these
computers?"  
	
	"Well, they already have a lot of programs for basic skills, but if we'd like
to raise our writings scores, I'd suggest we purchase BeagleWrite.  It turns
the Apple II into a Macintosh.  The teachers already know the program and like
it.

	"What does it cost?"

	"My copy cost $59.00, but a site license is $199.95."

We had a site license before you could swear at Steve Jobs.

The lesson of this tale is to get grassroots support.  The powers that be don't
like to add money to old systems, but if you lay the ground work first with the
faculty and students, then the purse strings are loosened just as much as it
you had asked for IBM with the works.

Jay