ANN: A2-2000 release

["Charles T. 'Dr. Tom' Turley" <cturley@grin.net>]

July 15th, 1997 - A letter from the Editor of A2-2000

Announcing the release of the first issue of A2-2000, a freeware monthly disk-a-zine 
devoted to all Apple II models and users worldwide!

Celebrating Twenty Years of Apple II Productivity
 
I've been active and involved with the Apple II series of computers - for well over
twelve years now. I started out with buying my first Apple IIc - after having been
introduced to it by Woz at the US Festival.  I've watched the Apple II computer
industry rise to it's peak in 1986 thru 1990 and then slide back to its current
state of affairs with a healthy Internet presents, user community, websites,
Usenet news groups, online services, BBS's, ftp sites and user groups worldwide.
I've explored them all on a daily basis, for several years now.  I see a very long
and promising future still ahead for the Apple II computers and for those that
continue to use and support them.

I've seen many Apple II commercial software and hardware companies come and go.
I've watched many publications come, prosper and end too.  This is a fact one must
accept in any computer platform and with any such industry.  I'm sure many others
will come and go.  I've watched many Apple II computer users come, go and return
also!  It seems there is something about the Apple II computers they just can't
do without.

After twenty years of Apple II activities the A2 platform and its users are still
very present amd very active (in smaller numbers - that's true).  But, I'm also
observing new and younger users inheriting Apple II models, buying them used and
new (The Tiger Learning Computer). I've also noticed a fair share of new and
older users enter and return to the Apple II community over the past few years -
with much vigor and interest in the Apple II models they own and use for many,
many needs.

Over the years I've had some great joy and many rewards from the Apple II
computers, with many friends and users, as well as some disappointments and
problems that caused a bit of aggravation and pain. I've made some stupid
mistakes and errors with my efforts over the years and I've learned a lot along 
the way too. I've considered - on more than one occasion the option of leaving 
the Apple II models behind and venturing into other more current computer 
technologies and platforms.

But, in the end - I've decided to remain and give all my productive efforts to the
Apple II community that I possibly can give, for the balance of this century and
for as long as I'm able to into the next millennium!  Why?  Because it's given me
much more joy and rewards than it has aggravation and pain.  Besides, I still
have much faith in the future of the Apple II computers and a few more years of
productive efforts I'd like to offer to it. I even intend to tap all the other
computer platforms for what they can offer to the Apple II models and their many
users.  And, why not - that's what they are there for anyway.  I've found a great
enhancement device to use for the Apple II computers too.  It's called a Mac  :)

Using my great Apple II enhancement device to explore and tap all the resources
during the past four years, I've learned about the offerings from the Internet
and I've enjoyed using it from 5 up to as much as 12 hours per day, exploring all
it has to offer the Apple II community.  I've hosted a 'MegaWeb Site' (The GS
WorldView EZine) and founded a worldwide Internet user group (US-A2WUG) both of
which have offered much in the way of help to Apple II users around the world,
who visit and enjoy their offered contents - for the past several months and
years now.  Pay a visit to it and check it all out for yourself.

http://www.grin.net/~cturley/

With the departure of all of our Apple II monthly publications over the past
years, I've felt the need for making available - a freeware monthly disk-a-zine
like this - to offer support, news and information on all the Apple II computer
models have to offer their users around the world.  Thus, I've decided to release
A2 -2000 as such, in the hopes it will stimulate new interest, faith, production,
development and the deserved appreciation in the Apple II computer models. 

And, I'm presenting some old classic and forgotten materials within the monthly
issues of A2 -2000 also.  To show the readers that after all these years, the
Apple II's past is its future!

Along with many old veterans and ICONS in the Apple II community, I intend to
prove that Apple's past is INDEED it's future, to the best of my abilities. I've
obtained ample permission to use most of the material from many old classic Apple
II publications in this issue and all future issues of A2-2000.  I'll also be
presenting in each issue of A2-2000 - the most current news and product information
I can gather.  I intend to continue with monthly releases of A2-2000 until
at least - April, 2001 and as far beyond that date as possible.

I'm sorry to say -  with my many other personal and computer related obligations,
priorities, etc. and in my haste to present it by the monthly release date
(7/15/97) - there is no table of contents to show you exactly what it contains
with this first issue.  If you are a real devoted Apple II user with a real
desire to explore it - you can simply read the contents of each text file present 
in this premiere issue of A2-2000.

I'll tell you this - you won't be sorry you did. So, take the time and explore
it all at your leasure.  With exclusive contributions by Steve Wozniak and many
other Apple II ICONS and 6502 legends in the computer industry, I think you'll be
impressed with what you find within this first issue of A2-2000. I had a mountain
of contributions, past articles, reviews, interviews, etc. available and spent
over a week just sorting thru them all - to determine what I wanted to include
with this first issue of A2-2000.  The contents just about cover everything you'd
care to know about the Apple II computers over the past 20 years.  Take your
time, relax, read it all and enjoy!  There's a lot more to come with each new
monthly issue and I promiss you there will be a detailed table of contents for
you to review - in each future monthly issue of A2-2000!

The Apple II models have been improved, developed for and expanded - to offer
things never thought possible with the introduction of each new Apple II model
over the years of it's production.  In this premiere issue of A2-2000 and every
issue that follows - I hope to present an informative review for the reader with
all the Apple II models have offered, can still offer and will be able to offer
during the next several years.

Expanding the user base of the Apple II computers with current emulators now
available for all Apple II models on nearly every computer platform and many
other Apple II model emulators now under development, the Apple II models
abilities can be experienced by every user on every computer platform - in the
near future.  This surge in the Apple II models emulation development proves that
the Apple II still has a place and special need that no other computers can
replace.

This first issue of A2-2000 is ASCII text in all of its information file content.  
No graphics, program archives, fonts, etc. are presented with this first issue.  It's 
simply text and nothing else.  It's designed as a self-booting ProDOS 800k - using 
Karl Bunkers public domain program 'Sneeze v2.2' as the startup basic program.

I've designed the style and format of this premiere issue of A2-2000 to meet the
request of many of my friends and contributors, with their suggestions as to
just how they wanted to see its first release to the Apple II community.  I'm
certainly opened to all suggestions on improvements with the A2-2000 disk-a-zine
format, style, offerings and contents with each new issue released.

I hope to receive feedback on a steady basis from the readers of A2-2000, with
expressing what they do and don't like about it, what they want to see added or
removed from its style and format - and what ever suggestions they can offer to
improve it - to meet their needs, with each new issue.  A2-2000 is devoted to
the needs and desires of its readers and users.  Please let me know how YOU want
it presented!

A2-2000 will be offered in three manners outlined below - in the hope that these
will cover all options worldwide with its distribution and availability for
everybody that wants it.

(1) Each monthly release with this first issue will be available for download
presented as a ShrinkIt self-booting disk archive - from the following ftp and 
http urls over the Net.

ftp://128.255.21.234/2/apple2/A2.2000/
http://128.255.21.234/2/apple2/A2.2000/
http://www.grin.net/~cturley/gsezine/GS.WorldView/A2.2000/

All other ftp, BBS', web sites and online services are also welcome to make the
A2-2000 monthly freeware archives available - if they wish (FOR FREE ONLY - with
no restrictions).  Posting the archive each month as a binary file to the Usenet
Apple II binary news group is also an option - should anybody care to do that!

(2) For those without Internet access or that simply wish to receive A2-2000 on a
disk, ready to boot, read, review and enjoy - by mail each month, you can also
send $1.50 (US) per monthly issue or prepay $12.00 (U.S) yearly in advance - for
covering the cost of each monthly 3.5 - 800k ProDOS disk, postage and shipping only 
to:

Charles T. Turley
115 Santa Clara St.
Brisbane, CA 94005-1736

(3) For those that prefer it on 3.5 - 800k disk or in monthly disks bundles on
5.25 ProDOS disks only (if that's the only way you can use it) - you can email
your request to Ben Johnson: 

bmbj13@aol.com  (or)  bmbj@juno.com 

and arrange to receive it from him directly - as he is the only authorized and 
permitted distributor of A2-2000 in this manner - currently!

My final thoughts to the A2-2000 readers are simply that I hope the monthly
issues of A2-2000 (to be released on the 15th of each month) will prove to be of
some useful value to the needs of the Apple II worldwide community.  I can't
please everybody and don't expect to.  But, I try!

I've presented this first issue of A2-2000 for viewing by any Apple II computer
with 80 column text abilities - such as the the Apple IIe (enhanced) and on up -
having a 3.5 - 800k disk drive.  If your Apple II model does not have this
ability - you can simply view each text file - with your favorite text file
viewing program.  I realize there will be several Apple II users with models that
can't use it as presented with this 800k disk format. But, you do have the option 
of requesting it from Ben Johnson - as outlined above - on 5.25 data disk bundles 
for your needs.

Also, In my haste to get this first issue of A2-2000 completed, archived and 
uploaded to meet the release date of 7/15/97, having passed each text file thru a
multitude of computers, platforms and text file processing programs and having the
annoying resource attachments added to them and removed again and again - it may
have some typos and text file format irregularities in viewing.  Produced and
edited by me and me alone - no doubt the readers will find them all and either
overlook them or complain to me about them. I invite you to email me and express
your thoughts on the contents as offered - in any way you wish.   

Email: cturley@grin.net

Cheers,
Tom