Re: Why Apple II?

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

Tilghman Lesher wrote:
> Troy Perchotte (tperchot@direct.ca) wrote:
> : I'm curious to know why people here are still using Apple II computers,
> : particularily the 8-bit machines?
> : Can someone give me just a couple of reasons.  I know that it can't be
> : money, since older 386's sell as paperweights.  Not performance nor
> : popularity.  Is it then just for sentimental reasons? :-/
> 
> Older 386's get upgraded to UNIX and run IRCD servers.  I don't know
> if you have one of those monstrosities like Packard Bell or Gateway
> 2000 which masquerade as computers, but 386's are quite productive,
> thank you.

I agree. I have a 486SLC, somewhere between a i386 and i486
in terms of performance.  At 25MHz, it runs many things on
the GUI slower than the 13.75MHz GS on its GUI.

> 
> Apple IIs get used as word processors, spreadsheets, Point of Sale
> systems, and many other applications where the user wants stability,
> simplicity, and ease of modification.

Yep.  I've seen some Lamps Plus stores (California) that used
Apple IIe's as Point of Sale machines.  They can do the job
and they are inexpensive.  Why pay more?

> 
> That's to say nothing of the 16-bit Apple II, which can do all that
> the 8-bits can do, plus run its own flavor of UNIX, produce designs,
> and many other things which will make my fingers very, VERY tired,
> if I type them all out here...

Exactly.  People always forget the 16-bit Apple IIGS.  I
regularly write 10-20 page documents in AppleWorks GS
along with graphical plots using scalable graphics and
truetype fonts printed on a high resolution ink-jet
printer.  The output is indistinguishable from that of
a PC and since my PC is a 25MHz '486 (slow for a PC) and
my GS is accelerated so that it runs faster than the PC,
I prefer to word process and do page layout on the GS.
Add to that the fact that the GS is a very decent
Ensoniq synthesizer.  Oh sure, it may not be able
to match the newfangled Roland wavetable boards, but
the 32-oscillator wavetable synthesis baby can still
outsing the "consumer level" keyboards (Yamaha PSR,
Casio, etc.) out there.  In fact, I sometimes plug
in the one I have into the GS just to get better
sound.  Cheap keyboard plus GS equals Mirage :)

Not everyone can or wants to dump tons of money on
every new revision of PC that comes around.

-Scott G.