Re: Apple ][e - Getting started (DITTO!!!)

[cv436@torfree.net (Jeffery Thomas)]

: I have even searched many WWW pages and I guess they all assume you know
: what to do from the beginning.  
: Someone please respond to this question.  I bet it is a common problem
: (what to do as a true Apple newbie)  Specifically, if you need a boot
: disk....where does one obtain it?  

There are several places to get a hold of FAQ files, although they are 
only of some value, they are not a complete documentation.

I did something else, I went to my local library to try and dig some 
stuff up.  I found the "Apple Numerics Manual" which is interesting if 
you want to know how the apple version of IEEE floating point math works 
(source code included).  

I also found a really good book on Apple 
graphics called "Apple Graphics!: Tools and Techniques".  It makes the 
assumption that the reader is new to the Apple, so they discuss alot of 
the beginner system operation stuff upfront.

I also lucked out with something called "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to 
Artificial Intelligence".  I like this book mostly for it's readability 
on a subject that can get very dense.  All the examples are in Applesoft 
BASIC.

The boot disk issue is a tricky one.  I've got a 3.5" drive on this IIc+ 
with a disk that has UltiDOS, but it won't read ProDOS formatted Apple II 
system and tutorial disks.  What I've hoped to do is find a local user 
group, but there doesn't seem to be one in Toronto, Canada anymore, I 
could be wrong.  I figured they'd have disks still just like the Atari 
group I belong to still keeps a PD file archive alive.  The only other 
place I know to get the boot disk is from Apple's FTP site.  This is part 
of the battle though since you then need a way to transfer the data from 
the disk, or computer (via null-modem) which has the boot disk archive.  
I imagine none of us have a telecom program for the Apple, nor do I know 
of any program that'll read a DOS floppy in the A2.

Once the DOS and the docs to a computer system are lost, there's a lot of 
hassle in getting the system functional. 

Later...