Why Apple II?

[avsystem@rain.org (Adrian Vance)]

   In spite of the fact it has not been made for 23 months, the Apple II 
is still the most popular computer in the schools and it would continue 
to be if company had continued to make the II GS and dropped the price to 
what it cost, plus a reasonable profit instead of gouging the buyers.  By 
raising the price of the GS they hoped to make Macs more attractive, but 
the schools didn't like the monochrome output and the software for the 
Macs.  Now with the color Macs the situation has changed, but before 
Windows 95 boosted the entry price for IBM type computers there was a 
huge price differtial between Macs and IBM clones.

   If you remember your school days, recall that the chalkboard, invented 
in antiquity, the wall chart, the textbook, models, etc. are still in use 
in the schools, and always will be, because success in teaching is 
predicated on figuring out many ways of saying the same thing over and 
over again.  Then, and then only, do "they" get it.  The Apple II won in 
the schools in many ways:  It was easy to use, presented the same 
information in a new way, and in a new medium, and could be understood 
and programmed.  (Try to write a program for the new machines.)  

   There is still a place, and need, for a simple computer in education.  
Apple II could have been forever.

Adrian Vance