Re: Apple2 and AOL

[sagochangi@aol.com (Sagochangi)]

The Apple II Forum may be abandoned, and it is true that AOL for Apple is no
longer functional.  But the files in that area are mostly intact, and still
available for download.

Another suggestion made some time ago was that someone archive those files
before they're lost forever.  I agree with that idea, and to that end, I have
begun the process of creating what I hope will be an official mirror of the
Apple II Forum on the web.  Once I've completed all the downloads and indexing,
I will write AOL asking permission to officially mirror their database.  I
already have space reserved on a web server for this project.  If AOL refuses
to grant permission, I will explore the legality of which files can be released
without their explicit consent.

I've wanted to play a larger role in the Apple II community for a while, and
I'm looking forward to seeing if I can complete this project.

Some files are no longer accessible, and some have even been overwritten by
files in other, newer areas.  Two files, which should have been tech notes on
the IIe, turned out to be German OS/2 video card drivers.

The Apple II Forum can be accessed by entering the address:
aol://4344:1264.a2main.10029531.514525857
in the Keyword shortcut field, in any version of AOL.

I'm a bit worried about attempting to revive the forum.  If some files have
already been overwritten, perhaps the influx of attention would remind AOL that
they have so much "wasted" space they could clean out.  Or perhaps it is a
possibility?  There is an icon in the area, reading "Join us on the first
Thursday of each month at 10 PM EST for the Apple II Forum chat".  I'm sure the
moderator for that area has since found other projects to occupy his time, but
perhaps we, ourselves, could bring this area back to life?

I hope you all wish me luck in the mirroring project; there are a lot of good
files in there, waiting to be re-released into the A2 community.

Adam Murray