Re: Apple IIGS newbie

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

geneb@nwlink.com (Gene Buckle) wrote:

>A2MG (a2mg@aol.com) wrote:
>
>: > Who cares?  We're dealing with 10+ year old systems here.
>
>: However, you are wrong that Apple II developers do not have the right to
>: protect their work just because the hardware is 10 years old.  New programs
are
>
>I never said they didn't have the right to protect their works.  I expect
>authors to do this, especially if they have an investment to protect.  My
>problem is with the folks that sit there and whine about the big nasty man
>that stole their software.  If they won't procecute(sp?) to hell with them.
>They deserve whatever they [don't] get.  They can't use the excuse that it 
>would be too costly to litigate because any proceuting(sp!) attourney(sp)
>with a damn would jump a theft case.  I don't care how good the software is,
>if they won't fight to protect it, screw 'em.  Justice doesn't happen just
>because you _want_ it to happen.  You've got to get off yer dead ass and
>MAKE it happen. [Not you specifically Bev, metphorically]

Good, but then if a software company still cares about their program
and acts to get it off sites, then they are to be applauded, not attacked,
correct?  That means Intrec, publishers of ProTERM, should be
applauded because they still care enough about their program,
correct?

>: still being written today, and the author has every right to expect that the
>: community will respect their hard work.  Not that we are making a whole lot
of
>: money - much of it is free or very low-cost. When renegade copies get out
>
>I've not seen much evidence of "low-cost" software for the A2 that's new.

Have you not checked http://www.crl.com/~joko Shareware
Solution II's site?  Joe has some announcements of SEVERAL
NEW low cost software.

>Maybe I'm not looking in the right places, [which is a distinct possibility]

http://www.crl.com/~joko site has a new spell checker for
sale, among other things.

>or it doesn't exist.  For example, ProTERM is going for $60.  I just about
>choked when I saw that pricetag.  I'd rather scrape my eyeballs out of my
>head with a rusty butterknife that spend that kind of money on a terminal
>program for a computer that was new in 1983.  I'll stick to Ascii Express

Well that's your choice.  But just because you won't buy
it, others are still doing it.  That's why Intrec is still protecting,
producing, and selling the ProTERM A2 package.

This program does amazing things.  Actually, to get the
most out of it, you need an Apple IIGS.  You know, the
ROM 3 model was released in 1989, not 1983.  ;-)  Also,
the program was last updated several years ago...1990s,
not 80s.  It has a powerful feature set and is so good, some
people still use it even though they have other computers.

>in this case. :)  I _won't_ pirate it simply because if they're asking
>that much for it they either a) really like it a lot and want to keep all the
>copies for themselves or b) the existing market is actually paying that
>price for that program on a consistent basis.

Well, you can email them.  They are selling enough copies
on a consistent basis to justify the program's continued
production.

>: there,  users should be wary because (A) it may not be the latest version,
and
>: (B) we may have had other plans for it , which are now spoiled. Everything
then
>: stops.
>
>Why does it stop?  That's silly.  Did Sierra On-Line or Broderbund stop
>producing games that they knew were going to be pirated?

No, Bev was differentiating between old abandoned software
and still viable software.  ProTERM is still viable, as are the
stuff, many of it NEW stuff, that Joe Kohn is selling.

>As another aside, I must hail those at Alltec.  VERY courteous folks
>that sell high quality products at a reasonable price.  If you need
>to buy something for your Apple ][, check with them first!  They deserve
>the business!

I agree.  However, if there is one piece of software you want
to buy in addition to the Focus and Sirius you get from
Alltech, I whole heartedly recommend ProTERM A2.
With the memory of a Sirius and a hard drive, ProTERM
really flies on the IIGS.  Just hook up your 14.4, 28.8, or
56k modem and go.