Apple II Vendors List 1/2

[Nie Loeb <76711.2013@CompuServe.COM>]

Dear Fellow Apple II Enthusiasts:
     I am finally posting my Apple II vendors list.
     "Hey wait a minute," you might say.  "I thought some other guy kept up a really nice Apple II vendors list."
     You are right.  However, mine has 193 companies on it.  That doesn't make it better, though.  You see, mine is really only up to date as of January 1, 1994.  I've been procrastinating a little.  Also, mine only lists the companies and the cheapest way to contact them (either 800 number or snail mail, with a few others).  Remember, in early 1994, hardly anyone had an e-mail address.
     Why am I doing this?  First, the Apple II is a great computer and I want to see it live a long time.  Second, someone gave me their Mac, and I find myself using it more and more (although I don't see ever giving up some Apple stuff).  Third, I've changed careers to one where not only do I work exclusively on Macs all day, but part of my job is to keep up with the Mac world and help the department deal with it.  I now work for CNN Interactive, who maintains CNN's areas on Compuserve, produces CNN's Web page (http://www.cnn.com), makes CNN's CD-ROMs, and is going to be ever-expanding.
     Well, enough about me, you just want the list, don't you?  First, some caveats.
     I contacted all these companies and asked for catalogs.  I have quite a collection.
     The majority of these companies produce software strictly for school use... not that you can't buy them-- you just wouldn't be interested unless you're a teacher who's students use Apple IIs.  Some of these are very small companies or individuals who produce just a few or even just one program.
     Some friendly advice:  If you decide to venture into contacting all of them like I did, I would recommend screening them first to determine whether a catalog would be worth it to you.  If a lot of people obtain catalogs, and then don't buy anything, the companies will think twice about continuing to carry Apple II products.  This is because they will be spending money to produce and mail catalogs which just lose money for them.
     Speaking of which, here is a list of companies I feel are most beneficial to the normal Apple II enthusiast.  They include those with lots of programs, lots of stacks and graphic libraries, and lots of potential:  A+ Special Products, Advantage Computing, Christella Enterprise, Educational Resources, EGO Systems, Kula Software, Lost Classics, Moonlight Software, Preferred Computing, The Public Domain Exchange, Quality Computers, Resource Central, Shreve Systems, TCA Software, Raymark Enterprises,  Washington Apple Pi.
     And everyone with an Apple computer should subscribe to Joe Kohn's
Shareware Solutions II.  It's incredibly great.
     Now, the uncomfortable part.  I am subscribing to this newsgroup only long enough to post this.  I will not re-post it.  I am also putting it in the Apple II Forum library on Compuserve, but no longer participate in that or any other Apple II forum or newsgroup.  I just don't have the time.  Sorry.  If you are desperate and cannot get it from any other source, go ahead and e-mail me and I will e-mail it back to you.  My address is 76711.2013@compuserve.com.
     Finally, for those of you who notice a particularly obvious company
seems to have been left out... well, I did it on purpose.  I had a bad
experience with them, then they compounded it, and lastly, they refused to
acknowledge their idiocy.  I won't name them because it would be libel.
     The list follows, as a separate posting.

--Niel

APPLE II INFINITUM!!!