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When printing the document, you have the option of setting the
resolution at either 100 dots per inch (fast but not much detail) or 200
dots per inch (slow but greater detail). You also have the option of
having the document sent as soon as the printing is finished, or sending it
manually later.
Once you've printed the document and created a fax file for
FAXination, you can set the printer device back to your normal printer, if
you like. It really doesn't matter if you do this or not... as long as you
remember to change it back before you want to print something!
SENDING A FAX With the fax file safely on disk, you should pull down the
""""""""""""" Apple menu again and choose FAXination from the list of
NDAs. The FAXination NDA gives you six options:
o Receive log;
o Send log;
o Receive fax;
o Phone book;
o Local station ID; and
o FAXination options.
When you select "Send log", FAXination shows you what fax files it
has waiting to send. You can select one with the mouse, then send it, view
it on the screen, or print it to the printer. You can also delete it, or
address it.
When you view a fax, only a part of it will fit on the screen at a
time. You have to use the scroll bars to slide various parts of the fax
into the viewing window. This allows you to see details of the fax
clearly. A chance to get an overview would be nice, too, but FAXination
doesn't allow it. Note that you cannot change a fax file as you view it.
Once a fax file has been created, the only way to change it is to use your
application to make the changes, then "print" it again.
When you print a fax (you didn't forget to change the Direct Connect
printer in the Control Panels, did you?), you may be a little distressed at
the fuzziness of the image on an ImageWriter II. For a fax you're sending,
this doesn't matter very much, since the limitation in resolution is due to
your printer and its printer driver, not FAXination. In other words, the
fax won't appear that fuzzy to the person who receives it. Unfortunately,
the same limitation applies to printing faxes you receive. Unless you have
an inkjet or laser printer, you may have to both print _and_ view a fax
you've received in order to decipher it all, since the printed version
gives you an overview and the onscreen version gives you sharper detail.
If you do have an inkjet or laser printer, you're more likely to be
satisfied with the FAXination printout.
When you click on Send, FAXination sets up your fax/modem for
transmission, and dials the number you assigned to it on the "envelope".
Unfortunately, what is supposed to happen then is a mystery to this
reviewer. I was utterly unable to get FAXination to send a fax to anyone,
despite three different fax machines and numerous tries. I couldn't
shift-boot to eliminate all Desk Accessories and Inits, since FAXination
itself is an NDA, so I trimmed my active DAs and Inits as follows:
Temporary Init ZipInit
''''''''''''''
New Desk Accessories Control Panels
'''''''''''''''''''' FAXination
CDEVs Direct Connect Printer
'''''
File System Translators Pro.FST
''''''''''''''''''''''' Char.FST
Drivers RAM5
''''''' AppleDisk3.5
Console.Driver
Printer
Modem
RamFAST
FAXination
That didn't help, either. In short, I absolutely could not get
FAXination to send a fax. This was particularly discouraging, since I had
received Vitesse's special hardware/software bundle of a 14.4 modem and a
copy of FAXination (priced at $189.95). I badly wanted FAXination to work
for me, and I thought by ordering the modem that Vitesse themselves were
selling, I'd avoid the proverbial vicious circle of the software publisher
blaming the hardware manufacturer, and so on ad infinitum.
RECEIVING A FAX After admitting defeat in my inability to send a fax, I
""""""""""""""" moved on to the part that was really important to me.
After all, as a GEnie user, I can use their fax service to at least send
ASCII-only fax messages. What I was really looking forward to was the
ability to receive faxes from others.
FAXination's Receive Log menu offers you the chance to view, print,
or delete a fax you've already received. To actually receive a fax, you
can either select "Receive Fax" from the FAXination NDA's menu when the
phone rings--in effect saying "Hey, get that, will you?"--or you can select
"Auto Receive" from the "FAXination Options" menu, which allows FAXination
to receive a fax "in the background"... that is, FAXination will answer all
incoming calls, even if you happen to be typing a letter in AppleWorks GS
at the time.
Unfortunately, I didn't have any success in receiving faxes in either
mode. So I can't tell you any more about the process.
THE MODEM BUNDLE As I've said, I was shipped the hardware/software
"""""""""""""""" bundle. Apart from the FAXination disk and manual, it
included a high-speed modem cable and a 14.4EFX external data fax modem
that seemingly doesn't have a brand name. Other GEnie users tell me it's
an Aspen modem. I can't verify this, but that's what they say, for
whatever that's worth.
As I've also said, I decided on the bundle to avoid problems. That
was a mistake. This is a very cheap modem. It's the smallest modem I've
ever seen: it's not as long as two 3.5" disks laid side by side. It's
only slightly wide than a 3.5" disk. It's as thick as a stack of 6 disks.
The first modem I received was clearly defective. The second modem would
not connect at all, so I put it away in a box for several months. I took
it out again this August, and to my surprise, it sort of worked! I could
connect to the local GEnie line at 2400 baud, and to the local university
line at 14,400 baud. (I was not able to connect to a local BBS, no matter
what speed I tried.)
It's just barely possible (I'm trying to give Vitesse every break I
possibly can, for reasons that will shortly become apparent) that the Aspen
modem doesn't get along well with Bell Canada. Another Canadian purchaser
of the bundle was heard to complain of symptoms similar to mine. So it's
unlikely but possible.
SUPPORT Let's turn to a more pleasant topic: support from Vitesse. I've
""""""" found it to be just fine, thank you... within certain limits.
The first modem I received in my hardware/software bundle was
evidently no good. It would not dial unless I lifted the receiver of my
telephone as I issued the dial command. When I made them aware of the
problem, Vitesse replaced the modem as promptly as international post and
customs would allow.
Vitesse has been providing updates of FAXination to registered owners
on its BBS. As this is in California, it is prohibitively expensive for me
to call from here in Canada. This, frankly, is a little galling. "Having
to pay to be a beta tester," one GEnie customer called it. Since my bundle
was a Christmas present, and since I'm every bit as poor as you would
expect a freelance editor and writer to be, I resented the perceived
implication that anyone with anyone money to buy the software in the first
place has sufficient expendable income to pay for support.
To their great credit, when I E-mailed Vitesse here on GEnie, and
pointed out this expense, they sent me an updated version via E-mail (using
GEnie's "File-mail" option). Why on earth they don't ask for a private
library in A2Pro is beyond me, but at least Vitesse is doing something.
DOCUMENTATION The documentation is fair. It gets points for being clear.
""""""""""""" Its overview tells you the history of faxing--beginning in
1843--in two pages, which is nice, but largely irrelevant.
One big problem is that the manual is organized from the point of
view of a programmer--introduction, installation, NDA, printer driver,
status dialog, and technical support--rather than a user--creating a fax,
sending a fax, receiving a fax, printing, viewing, address book, and so on.
Chapter 5, The FAXination Status Dialog, provides an important clue to
"what's wrong with this picture". It has just four paragraphs (three of
which are one sentence long). The first paragraph is this self-evident
sentence: "The FAXination status dialog is simply a dialog that indicates
that status of a transmission." Apparently, a equals a! I think they call
this the reflexive axiom, fellas. This would be the ideal point to list
the possible messages in the dialog (particularly since this reviewer got
to see only two, "Dialing" and "Establishing Connection").
Overall, though, the manual is adequate. To its great credit, it
only puns on "fax/facts" once.
SUMMARY FAXination doesn't work, at least not for me. No way, nohow.
""""""" This is almost certainly because it was released too soon.
Notice that the version number, 0.1.5, indicates a pre-release version.
(Version 0.1.6 has been released by now, but I've heard no word of version
1.0.)
Because I wasn't able to get FAXination either to receive or send a
fax, it's difficult for me to comment on it in detail. Others have
reported limited success, but I have not heard anyone say they got it to
work, first crack out of the box. (Indeed, a friend of mine also bought
FAXination, and has had no luck getting it to work with his IIgs and his
LineLink 144e modem.)
I recommend you wait for a stable and reliable version of FAXination
before buying. If you're the adventuresome type and would like to give
FAXination a try, I'll see you my copy, bundled with the Aspen 14.4 modem,
for less than half price. No kidding.
RATING
""""""
(_|_) It is with some reluctance that I award FAXination the
(o o) GEnieLamp Turkey Award, and a rating of 0 out of 5 points.
()v() I know that programmer Steven McQueen has worked hard on
_| |_ FAXination. When I asked Vitesse for help, I found them to
\(( ))/ be very easy to get along with.
q( ~ ~ )p
\ ~ / Nevertheless, I cannot in good conscience give
|~| FAXination a better score. I tried my absolute best to make
^ ^ it work, and I cannot. What a computer newcomer would do if
(0 out of 5) faced with FAXination is not something I care to consider.
Let's hope that Vitesse gets a really reliable version 1.0 of
FAXination to market before word of mouth completely destroys the
reputation of this piece of software. Come on, guys, you can do it!
RATING SYSTEM
"""""""""""""
5 LAMPS.........What? You haven't bought this program YET?
4 LAMPS.........Innovative or feature-rich; take a look!
3 LAMPS.........Good execution, stable program.
2 LAMPS.........Gets the job done.
1 LAMP..........A marginal program.
0 ..............GEnieLamp Turkey Award!
[EOA]
[PRO]//////////////////////////////
PROFILES /
/////////////////////////////////
Who's Who In Apple II
"""""""""""""""""""""
by Charlie Hartley
[A2.CHARLIE]
>>> WHO'S WHO? <<<
""""""""""""""""""
~ GEnieLamp Profile: John Van Dam, a/k/a Froggie ~
This month we are featuring John Van Dam, a frequent visitor to the
Apple II RoundTable Bulletin Board. John is better known as Froggie, and
all of us in the bulletin board enjoy his ASCII art signatures immensely.
Although Froggie has been visiting the bulletin board for less than a
year, he has made his presence felt with timely tips and advice in a wide
range of subjects. We feel certain that you will enjoy this interview.
GEnieLamp> John, you are known online for your unique ASCII art
""""""""" signatures depicting a frog. What made you decide to use this
signature?
_ _
(o)-(o)
( _ ) In my first grade class in school, there were FIVE
__ooo_)_____(_ooo__ boys named John in the same room, so a nickname
""""""""""""""""""" seemed imperative when I logged on to GEnie. I had
to change my GEnie address because I was assigned J.VANDAM. One of my
major peeves has always been that there MUST be a space in "Van Dam" and
this has been a major battle over the years. :-( I realized that I needed
to do this before I started posting, to avoid later confusion.
I work at frogdesign, inc and everybody who works there are known
affectionally as "frogs". Even earlier, in high school my changing, often
croaking voice, blonde hair and glasses led to the appellation "froggie"
after the famous member of Our Gang. My choice of address was fairly easy
with that history. Online communication has an inherent tendency to be
terse and impersonal, so I wanted something that would help define the tone
of my messages. I had no idea if I could even make an ASCII frog, but I
gave it a go one night. He seemed kinda cute, so I began posting him in my
messages despite online concerns about using elaborate sigs. I wasn't sure
how elaborate was too elaborate. The frog was greeted kindly, and has
apparently gained his own fan club of sorts. Someone actually said that I
didn't post him often enough :-)
GEnieLamp> Your frogs have certainly caught on in the Apple II Bulletin
""""""""" Board. We will feature some of them throughout this article.
Are computers a part of your daytime job? Please tell us a little
about what you do between 9 and 5.
_ _
(o)-(o)
( _ ) I use several platforms at work. Macs, PeeCees, SGIs
__ooo_)_____(_ooo__ (Unix), and two different machine tool controllers.
""""""""""""""""""" I am a professional modelmaker for a leading
industrial design firm. It is a German company which was contracted by
Steve Jobs at Apple to create a design language for them, starting with the
IIc. We did the NeXT computer, the new Packard Bell design, Motorola
Envoy, ATT/EO personal communicator, and a new design language for a PeeCee
company that should make quite a splash when it's released very soon.
Everything I work on is very confidential, so it's good that I'm =not= a
PeeCee user in the IBM RT, or I'd be biting my tongue all the time. Ouch!
I've built models ranging from toothbrushes to supercomputers, and
everything in between, usually full-size. I usually build appearance
models (that is, no electronics, etc), but I also make working models and
prototypes. Most people don't realize my profession exists, which in a way
is a nice compliment. The public sees models all the time without
realizing it. The pictures found on product packaging are usually photos
of models for two reasons: 1) The models look better, being hand-made for
that purpose rather than mass-produced; 2) If they waited until the product
came off the assembly line to photograph it, then print up the boxes, then
put the product in the boxes, THEN ship it, production schedules would be a
nightmare.
GEnieLamp> What caused you to go into modelmaking?
"""""""""
_ _
(o)-(o)
( ,_, ) Good question... most of the modelmakers I know
__ooo_)_____(_ooo__ started out in a different vocation. I trained as a
""""""""""""""""""" drafter and found out about modelmaking when an
instructer from another college gave a slide presentation to my drafting
class. I immediately realized I was heading the wrong way... I didn't want
just to draw the parts, I wanted to build the parts. It seems obvious in
retrospect, because object visualization was what had always intrigued me.
An idea is the spark, but bringing that ideal form into reality is the
challenge.
Modelmaking provides that in a big way. It is a renaissance art,
involving design, materials science, fabrication, purchasing, color
matching, painting, etc. In my field, which is basically R&D modelmaking,
we rarely make more than one of whatever we're building. Every project is
radically different, and the deadline is usually less than two weeks,
sometimes two hours, often at a moment's notice. This goes well with my
short attention span and the urge to be doing several different things at
once :-)
GEnieLamp> What sorts of things do you like to do for fun (i.e.
""""""""" non-computer hobbies)?
Froggie> I like to design and build furniture, I love good food and
""""""" microbrewed beer, and I'm a big Star Trek fan, but not
necessarily in that order.
_____)))))
___ (6)-(6)
Warp Factor II! ___ ( _, )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo
GEnieLamp> What is your favorite Star Trek episode/movie? Why?
"""""""""
Froggie> That's a tough one. There are so many great ones, I'd almost
""""""" have to pick one for every character...
If I had to choose one, I think it would be DARMOK (season 5, episode
2). This episode takes place at El'A'Drel where Picard encounters Captain
Dathon, member of a race whose language is metaphoric in structure.
"Darmok and Jelad at Tanagra" refers to mythical characters who meet at a
place called Tanagra, fight a common foe, and become good friends. Captain
Dathon is hoping the same will happen between him and Picard.
This episode shows the Enterprise crew struggling with the Starfleet
database, trying to locate and make sense of the historical archives,
something every GEnie A2 user can appreciate. I've always been fascinated
with different forms of communication, whether it is in the form of
drawings, other languages, secret codes, and this episode illustrates the
struggle to impart the internal imagery one has to another person very
effectively, IMHO.
I also appreciated that in DARMOK, the bridge crew suffers a critical
misunderstanding of the situation, and in trying to rescue Picard, may have
contributed to the demise of poor Captain Dathon. Even Picard wasn't
getting any breaks this time. After saving the universe with seconds to
spare on countless occasions, it was refreshing to see the Enterprise crew
baffled throughout the encounter, with only a glimmer of understanding at
the end of the episode.
___\\\\\\\
___ (o)-(o)\
ENGAGE! ___ ( _, )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo
GEnieLamp> How did you first get interested in the Apple II computer?
"""""""""
Froggie> About 1983, I went to a party and the host had an Apple II. I
""""""" remember playing Castle Wolfenstein on it. The seed was
planted, though I didn't realize it at the time. About 1986, my sister's
boyfriend at the time was the son of an Apple engineer, and they had a IIc
system at their house. When I went to visit them, she did an Appleworks
demo for me. Then she showed me this dungeon game which displayed a
perspective view down the corridor. I spent the weekend playing that game.
Still, I resisted.
Then I became a modelmaker and saw a CNC mill which cut really cool
shapes by computer and I discovered that computers can give a person the
freedom to accomplish things that would otherwise be impossible or
impractical, and I finally got the computing bug. One day, I asked my boss
if I could buy one of the IIc computers that were in storage. She said
they were needed for the archives, and instead just gave me a IIe system.
I was elated! Later I came to appreciate that the IIe was the right choice
for me. Now I can't imagine owning a computer without lots of slots :-)
GEnieLamp> Do you have any anecdotes you can share with us about your
""""""""" first experiences with the Apple II?
Froggie> That first IIe ignited my latent hacker tendencies. I quickly
""""""" learned that it was a rev. A motherboard in a prototype IIe
case. After a logic board upgrade, I was set. Until the gremlins hit.
One day, while playing Montezuma, my poor little guy just kept jumping up
and down uncontrollably. Hmmm, joystick? Nope. It also happened without
any joystick attached. Later, using Yo-Yo Duck [utilities], I discovered
quite by accident that if I lifted the front of the IIe an inch or two, the
"button" would stop being pressed. I took it to the dealer, they scratched
their heads, swapped the board for free, and the problem remained. I was
bummed. No games!!??
By this time I had gotten a second IIe for my daughter, so I took
them both apart and began swapping components determined to find and fix
the problem. I was on my own now. Even the dealer couldn't help me. I
finally discovered that the power supply was going bad. I replaced the
power supply and the joystick button problem was fixed. It was then I
learned that computers aren't cold, calculating, unfeeling machines. They
are talented, twisted, and need to be nurtured and understood for the
relationship to be successful. Now I have two IIgs computers, and our
whole family loves them. They are part of the family. I'd sell my cats
before I'd sell my GSes.
GEnieLamp> Describe your current hardware setup for us.
"""""""""
,,,,,
(b)-(d)
( _, ) We've got two "Woz" ROM 01 IIgs computers at home.
__ooo_)_____(_ooo__ They both have RamFAST SCSI cards. The main GS has a
""""""""""""""""""" 240MB and a 40MB hard drive, 2x CD-ROM drive,
Bluedisk with two 1.44meg drives, one Apple 3.5 drive, one Apple IIc 5.25
drive, extended keyboard, TurboMouse, System Saver, 4.25MB RAM, ZIP 8/64,
Soundmeister hooked up to my stereo system, Grappler+ parallel interface
hooked to a DeskJet 500c inkjet printer, and a 15" SVGA monitor w/Second
Sight card.
The other GS has a 20MB hard drive, Quickie scanner, 1.75MB RAM,1 MB
Ramfactor, RGB monitor, standard keyboard, TurboMouse, and lots of room for
expansion. I'm planning on getting a Bluedisk setup for this GS, and I've
also got my eye on one of those new Syquests.
GEnieLamp> What do you see as the future for the Apple II and its owners?
"""""""""
Froggie> I feel that the Apple II is a mirror of its owner. The whole
""""""" concept of the Apple II is adaptability, versatility, and
expandability. The sky was the limit and still is.... We went to the moon
using computers less powerful than the IIgs, yet the true limits of the
Apple II are defined by our own limitations. I think the success/failure
of products like Second Sight and BlueDisk will say a lot about the future
of the Apple II. Are we willing to take risks, adapt and find new and
innovative uses for our computers, or do we just want to play it safe?
To me, the Apple II is like a classic roadster. You really need to
know what's going on under the hood, and the local dealer isn't going to be
much help beyond trying to sell you a new [computer]. You need to find
fellow enthusiasts who share your interest, where you can benefit from
others experience and likewise offer assistance. It may not be the newest,
the fastest, or the most expensive, but the ride is an unforgettable
experience, the distillation of a moment in time when an assembly of parts
becomes pure poetry in motion. Can you imagine someone telling you to give
up your '36 coupe and buy a new Lexus? You might end up with both, but
give up the coupe... never!
__________ _ _ __________
| (o)-(o) |
| IIGS ( _, ) FEVER | The Apple II is a classic design.
|______ooo_)_____(_ooo______| Computers just haven't been around long
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" enough for many people to realize it yet.
Right now, it's just old. My dad still talks about the classic cars he has
owned, wishing he had kept them. My Apple II is one classic that isn't
going to get away!
GEnieLamp> Can you offer some advice about software and hardware that a
""""""""" new Apple II user might want to invest in? What do you have
and use?
Froggie> Get a hard drive, and software to manage it. I've got
""""""" ProSel-16, Universe Master, UtilityWorks and I also want to get
the Salvation series by Vitesse. One utility just can't do it all, but
together they've saved me on countless occasions. A modem and a GEnie
account are a must. I sure could have used a lot of help when I first
started out, and all of that assistance is available right here in A2!
System 6.0.1 is another requirement. I would also recommend a Softdisk
subscription, and for IIgs users a GS+ magazine/disk subscription. A lot
of people seem to think it's only for programmers, but they've produced
some absolutely indispensible programs, whatever the skill level. Oh, and
get a fan like a Kensington System Saver to keep your system cool and
long-lasting. Beyond that, whatever you can afford... there is a lot of
great stuff available, it just depends on your interests.
YAHOO!!
|||||||
(@)-(@)
( O )
______OOO_)_____(_OOO______
GEnieLamp> Have you done any Apple II programming?
"""""""""
Froggie> I've done some Applesoft BASIC programming. For the last three
""""""" years, though, I've concentrated my programming efforts at work,
content to enjoy my GS purely as a user. I've done some code-snooping and
byte twiddling, but I've finally succumbed to my IIgs programming urges.
I've acquired ORCA/M and ORCA/C, now I just have to take the time to
learn them. I probably wouldn't even try if I didn't know that A2Pro is
just next door ;-)
GEnieLamp> How do your children use computers?
"""""""""
,,,,,
(d)-(d) My 9 year-old daughter Brandy loves to compose
( ,_, ) stories using EGOed, and she likes drawing
___ooo_)_____(_ooo___ pictures with DreamGrafix. Of course, games are
""""""""""""""""""""" also popular. My 4 year-old son Isaac loves to
draw on the computer, as well. Most games are still pretty frustrating for
him, but he likes tic-tac-toe and concentration. Mostly he's interested in
how the computer works. I think I've got a born hacker on my hands. I
knew I was in trouble a little over a year ago when he showed me his hand
puppet. I asked about a rectanglar object he had drawn on the front of it.
"That's his hard drive" was the immediate reply. = :-()
GEnieLamp> How long have you been a member of GEnie? What new services
""""""""" do you think GEnie should provide its subscribers?
\|||||/ I signed up on Stardate 9411.14, so that's makes
(o)-(o) nine months now.
( O )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
I'm just scratching the surface of what is already provided :-) How
about official 14.4 connects, and more comprehensive Internet access.
GEnieLamp> Where do you see the future of telecommunications moving in
""""""""" the next five to ten years?
)) There is a lot of hype about telecommunications in
(( general, and the Internet in particular, but my
(%)-(%) interest is in the everyday effects. Being online
( _ ) gives you an immediacy and a reach which makes
___ooo_) (_ooo___ it seem very unnatural to be distant and dis-
fried frog connected. I think soon not being online will
be like not having a television.
I see the dream of the "information appliance" really coming true in
the next 5-10 years, where people who wouldn't dream of buying a computer
today will be studying the recipes from the cooking show they just
downloaded on the TV/computer/mailbox/etc that's sitting on the kitchen
counter, so they can whip it up in time for dinner.
GEnieLamp> How can the Apple II Roundtable be improved to serve you
""""""""" better?
Froggie> The main thing I would like to see is more lurkers participating
""""""" in A2. With any endeavor, you only really get out of it in
proportion to what you put into it, so the more participation from A2
users, the more we all benefit from it...
GEnieLamp> What one piece of advice would you pass along to a new
""""""""" Apple II telecommunications enthusiast?
Froggie> Get an offline navigator! Before I started using one, I found
""""""" it difficult to keep track of topic threads, I was reluctant to
post because of the effort involved, and archiving was a chore. Now I
frequent four RTs daily and my wife visits another RT as well, using
CoPilot. I still log on manually to explore new areas, but the lion's
share is done offline.
GEnieLamp> What do you consider your proudest accomplishment?
"""""""""
Froggie> Hmmmm, I don't really think that way... I'd say my two children,
""""""" but they're not finished yet ;-)
GEnieLamp> Who do you look up to as your mentors?
"""""""""
Froggie> Jesus Christ. My parents. I'm a big fan of Bucky Fuller.
""""""" Other than that, I try to learn from everyone I can.
GEnieLamp> Well, I think I can safely say that folks in the Apple II
""""""""" bulletin board have learned a few things from you as well.
Froggie, this has been an enjoyable experience for me. I know that
our readers will enjoy it just as much as I have.
_ _
(o)-(o)
___(@ _, @)___ Thank you for having me here.
o| Oh, Gawrsh! |o
8| ::blush:: |8
'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^'
GEnieLamp> Here are some more of Froggie's ASCII art frogs for you to
""""""""" enjoy.
_ _
(9)-(9)
( ,_, )
<O<O>O>
__ooo(_______)ooo__
~~~~~\^/~~~\^/~~~~~
froggie
This is my wife's signature on the FOOD RT:
:froggietta (m)-(m)
( _, )
*)._.(*
\|||||||/ Oh no, it's the TOPIC COP!
(+)-(+)
( O )
____OOO_)_____(_OOO____
_ _
(o)-(o)
( _, )
ooo_) (_ooo
_ _
(o)-(^)
( _, ) My motto: NO RISK, NO FUN!
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
_ _
(o)-(o) __________ _ _ __________
( ___ ) | GS+ (o)-(o) since |
___ooo_)_____(_ooo___ | reader ( _, ) V3.N5 |
| KANSASFEST | |______ooo_)_____(_ooo______|
| OR BUST! |
"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"!"
_ _
(o)-(o)
______ooo_( _, )_ooo______
| GS+ subscriber since V3.N5 |
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/
_ _
(p)-(q)
( ___ )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
(~)-(~)
( _, )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
(+)-(+)
( ___ ) *@#$=^&%!!
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
__________ _ _ __________
| (o)-(o) | (^)-(^)
| ( o ) | ( _, )
|______ooo_)_____(_ooo______| ______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
_ _
(*)-(*)
( ___ ) MANUAL! I don't need no STEENKING MANUAL!
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
__________ _ _ __________
| (=)-(=) | _ _
| ( __ ) | (+)-(+)
|______ooo_)_____(_ooo______| ( __ ')
______ooo_)_____(_ooo_____
(*)-(*)
( ___ )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
(~)-(~)
( <@> )
______ooo_)_____(_ooo______
_ _
(p)-(q)
( '___ ')
___ooo_)_____(_ooo___
I have not yet begun to fight...
(~)______________________
|| _ _ |
|| (X)-(o) |
|| ( ___ ) |
|| _)_____(_ |
||______________________|
|| Jolly Frogger
||
__________ _ _ __________
| (o)-(o) |
| ( __ ') | II INFINITUM
|______ooo_)_____(_ooo______|
[*][*][*]
A note to our readers: If you want to know more about a particular
person and want him/her to be interviewed for the GEnieLamp A2 profile
column, send E-mail to A2.CHARLIE or EDITOR.A2 and we'll see what we can
do. In your E-mail message, tell why you think this person is a good
candidate for the profile.
[EOA]
[PNL]//////////////////////////////
PAUG NEWSLETTER /
/////////////////////////////////
September 1995 Report
"""""""""""""""""""""
by David R. Kerwood
[D.KERWOOD]
The mission of the Planetary Apple User's Group (PAUG) is to serve as
the online heart of the worldwide Apple II Community. PAUG's goals include
providing help and support for folks who may not have a local group nearby,
and to create a virtual link between both the online and offline user group
community. PAUG sponsorship of an online user group is focused on
promoting the fact that the Apple II is still alive, and doing very well.
There _is_ support; PAUG can provide it, or help you find it! We
meet the third Sunday of every month at 7:00 P.M. Eastern in the Apple II
RoundTable Real Time Conference area. With no dues to pay or miles to
drive, PAUG offers the Apple II user a friendly and comfortable association
with others with similar computing interests, plenty of accurate
information, hints, tips, and the security that comes with knowing that you
have all the computing support you could possibly need right at your
fingertips. What could be more convenient?
THE MAIN EVENTS In our last newsletter we briefly described the
""""""""""""""" history of PAUG, and some of the more significant goings
on since this virtual user group came about. Since that time, the Apple II
user community has seen quite a bit of activity, with perhaps one of the
high points being the KansasFest celebration this past July. If you are
able to read this newsletter, then you have probably already heard enough
about KFest to last you till next year, so we won't rehash anything from
that.
Central to the philosophy of what this user group should be about
(helping others with similar interests to get the most out of their Apple
II computers) has been a resurgence of interest in increasing the
capability and utility of these machines. The online PAUG community has
been right there in the thick of things, testing new setups, reporting
results and, most importantly, helping others to get the most out of their
systems. The theme of this edition of the PAUG newsletter will be how we
have been helping Apple II online users in upgrading, repairing, and
enhancing their favorite machines, often at an amazingly low cost.
"YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON AN APPLE II!"? As mentioned above, the KansasFest
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" social festivities were not the only
thing of interest in the Apple II universe this summer. The hottest things
happening online have been on the hardware front, with several items of
high interest that have sparked the online and user group communities.
First among these was that the distribution of Sequential Systems' Second
Sight VGA video board finally went into high gear. Designed for use on the
Apple IIgs or IIe, it is an expansion card that allows the use of
relatively inexpensive VGA or Super VGA monitors, or will even accommodate
the standard IIgs Applecolor RGB monitor up to a resolution of 640x400,
with 256 colors.
This card has piqued the interest of many, particularly so since many
of the monitors originally purchased for the IIe and IIgs are nearing the
end of their useful lives. So it has arrived upon the scene in just the
nick of time for many Apple II users, who were getting tired of dim and
fuzzy displays, or who simply wanted to enhance their existing setups.
PAUG members (if you have a GEnie account, then YOU are a member!) have
been most active in buying, installing, testing, and critiquing the various
ways the Second Sight card can be used. We have forwarded our findings to
the developers, who are working on a user-installable ROM upgrade to the
card which will further enhance its already formidable capabilities. Most
importantly, we have been working with the online community in assisting
with installation, answering questions, and otherwise providing information
to help the Apple II user make an informed purchasing decision.
So, if you have a need to know anything and everything about the
Second Sight VGA video card, then drop by during any of our Real Time
Conferences (RTC) each evening, or read the messages in the Second Sight
topic in the A2 Roundtable, Category 20, Topic 14 (Sequential Systems
Online - Second Sight VGA Card).
One other bugaboo which has frequently vexed Apple II users has been
the question of what to do with all those disks we keep getting from AOL.
For many Apple II'ers these disks present limited utility beyond being a
coaster, due to the fact that they are High Density disks. While it is
possible to reformat these to the standard 800K floppy, differences in the
media between regular 800K disks and the 1.44 MByte floppies add some
additional risk, as far as the integrity of your archived data are
concerned.
There have been several solutions to this problem, starting with
Apple's own high density Superdrive unit. This drives requires an
additional controller card, which is no longer available from Apple. It
was recently noted in the A2 Roundtable that another supplier may step in
to fill this void, that being ABC Direct (800-800-3630). PAUG members have
been in contact with the CEO, David Hardaway (formerly with Applied
Engineering, RIP), in an effort to get an ABC Direct presence online in the
A2 RT. We'll keep you informed of any progress.
Another solution has been offered by our own Joachim Lange
[J.LANGE7@genie.com], with his BlueDisk controller card and a 3.5" HD disk
drive. This supremely flexible setup not only allows you to read and write
to high density floppy disks, but will also let you do it using inexpensive
drives commonly used in the MS-DOS world. Extensively tested and reported
upon by our own Harold Hislop [HAROLD.H@genie.com], the BlueDisk setup has
proved to be just what the doctor ordered for many Apple II users. If you
want to find out more, then drop by during any RTC, or read the messages in
Category 46, Topic 12 (Independent Hardware Companies Online - BlueDisk
Card -- ///SHH Systeme).
In a late breaking and related development, still another solution to
high density disk capability has been offered by our old friend Chua Lin,
from Tulin Technology. Some years ago, Tulin began shipping a device
called a Floptical disk drive, a SCSI device that used 21 MByte 3.5" floppy
disks. As a bonus, the unit also functioned as a high density floppy drive
as well, bringing 1.44 MByte disk capability to the Apple II. With the
appropriate file system translators provided in the IIgs system software,
the Floptical drive allows the IIgs user to utilize both MSDOS and
Macintosh-format high density disks, in addition to high density disks
formatted for ProDOS.
The upside to the Floptical drive is that it gives this flexibility
without taking up a precious slot in the computer. The downside to the
Floptical drive has always been that they were a bit pricey, however,
retailing for about $400. Tulin has rectified this handicap, when in
August 1995 they posted an offer in the A2 Roundtable, announcing the
availability of refurbished Floptical disk drives for $129! For more
information, you can contact Tulin at 408-432-9057, or email at
T.TULIN@genie.com.
Speaking of disk drives, PAUG members have jumped right in with two
new affordable removable media SCSI disk drives; the Iomega "Zip" drive, an
SCSI device that uses unique ejectable 100 MByte disks, and a similar
device from SyQuest, the EZ 135-Drive, with 135 MByte removable disks. The
bottom line for both is that they cost in the $200 range, and they both
work well as Apple II SCSI devices. The popularity and interest in these
units was enough that we opened a special topic for each in the A2
Roundtable; see Category 21 (Add On II Online), Topic 13 - Iomega ZIP
Drives, and Topic 14 - SyQuest Drives. In addition, the Zip Drive was
recently the topic of a Real Time Conference (RTC), and enough valuable
information was presented that it warranted a special archive of the
transcript of the RTC. Just download file #25002 (IOMEGA.ZIP.BXY) for the
whole story. And if you're not familiar with A2 Real Time Conference
sessions, this transcript will give you a good idea of what the RTCs are
all about!
WHAT'S NEW IN GENIE'S A2 ROUNDTABLE? In keeping with the theme of
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""" this edition of the newsletter, we
are proud to announce that our favorite Topic Cop, Charles Hartley
[A2.CHARLIE@genie.com], has completed a top to bottom reorganization of the
A2 Roundtable's buying and selling arena, Category 4 (The A2 Free Trade
Zone). What follows is a breakdown of the topics as they now exist,
allowing the online Apple II user to quickly and easily find exactly what
it is they want to buy, or a place to post what they want to sell.
CATEGORY 4 : The A2 Free Trade Zone (Items For Sale, Items Wanted, Etc.)
===========================================================================
No. Subject Msgs Status Author
1 Guidelines For Posting 2 Closed A2.CHARLIE
2 General Discussion on Buying & Selling 89 Open A2.CHARLIE
3 ...reserved... 1 Clo/Ma A2.CHARLIE
4 === Used Software For Sale === 1 Clo/Ma A2.CHARLIE
5 Used 8 Bit Software For Sale 75 Open A2.CHARLIE
6 Used 16 Bit Software For Sale 62 Open A2.CHARLIE
7 Used CD-ROMs For Sale 6 Open A2.CHARLIE
8 Used Software Auctions 12 Open A2.CHARLIE
9 ...reserved... 1 Clo/Ma A2.CHARLIE
10 ...reserved... 1 Clo/Ma A2.CHARLIE
11 === Used Hardware For Sale === 1 Clo/Ma A2.CHARLIE
12 Used Computers For Sale 29 Open A2.CHARLIE
13 Used Monitors For Sale 12 Open A2.CHARLIE
14 Used Floppy Drives For Sale 51 Open A2.CHARLIE
15 Used Hard Drives For Sale 37 Open A2.CHARLIE
16 Used Tape Drives For Sale 6 Open A2.CHARLIE
17 Used CD-ROM Drives For Sale 11 Open A2.CHARLIE
18 Used Printers For Sale 39 Open A2.CHARLIE
19 Used Modems For Sale 39 Open A2.CHARLIE
20 Used Interface Cards For Sale 43 Open A2.CHARLIE
21 Used RAM Expansion Cards For Sale 19 Open A2.CHARLIE
22 Used Systems/Bundled Items For Sale 36 Open A2.CHARLIE
23 Other Used Hardware For Sale 121 Open A2.CHARLIE
24 Used Hardware Auctions 15 Open A2.CHARLIE
25 ...reserved... 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
26 ...reserved... 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
27 Used Books/Periodicals For Sale 58 Open A2.CHARLIE
28 ...reserved... 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
29 === Items Wanted === 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
30 Software/CD-ROMs Wanted 36 Open A2.CHARLIE
31 Hardware Wanted 108 Open A2.CHARLIE
32 Books/Periodicals Wanted 1 Open A2.CHARLIE
33 Other Items Wanted 8 Open A2.CHARLIE
34 ...reserved... 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
35 === Vendor Items For Sale === 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
36 Vendor Software For Sale 12 Open A2.CHARLIE
37 Vendor Hardware For Sale 8 Open A2.CHARLIE
38 Vendor Books/Periodicals For Sale 2 Open A2.CHARLIE
39 Vendor Products Press Releases 70 Open A2.CHARLIE
40 Vendor Re-sellers Only 13 Open A2.CHARLIE
41 === Miscellaneous Topics === 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
42 Computer Shows and Fairs 1 Open A2.CHARLIE
43 Apple /// Hardware And Software 1 Open A2.CHARLIE
44 ...reserved... 1 Closed A2.CHARLIE
45 Apple II Product Recommendations 48 Open A2.CHARLIE
46 Apple II Vendor Reviews 56 Open A2.CHARLIE
47 Apple II Vendor Phone Book 52 Open A2.CHARLIE
Charlie's reorganization has worked out well in bringing both sellers
and buyers together. Of particular interest to many are topics 36 through
40, where the A2 Roundtable has taken the initiative in inviting our
favorite resellers online. This is where the announcement of Tulin
Technology's low cost Floptical Drive offer was made, for example. Another
new vendor on the scene that has been active in these topics has been Tracy
Cook of A+ Technologies, whose business is buying used Apple II hardware
and software by the truckload (literally!), cleaning it up, making sure it
works, and then offering it for resale to Apple II users worldwide. He has
been offering some fantastic bargains on hardware and software, some rare
items, and many which have not been seen for some time. Take a look!
IN CONCLUSION Remember, the goal of the Planetary Apple User Group is to
""""""""""""" be _your_ primary Apple II resource! If you have any
suggestions, insights, or ways to help us help you...let us know! Future
plans include working with groups on the "outside" to create a stronger
bond within the Apple II community. Just email C.ADAMS11@genie.com or
A2.GENA@genie.com, or if you are already online with GEnie (good move!)
make a post in Category 3, Topic 34 (Planetary Apple Users Group) in the A2
Roundtable Bulletin Board (m645;1).
//////////////////////////////////////// GEnie_QWIK_QUOTE ////
/ God hasn't finished with me yet, and all I got was this /
/ lousy T-shirt! /
///////////////////////////////////////////// EDITOR.A2 ////
[EOA]
[LOG]///////////////////////////////
LOG OFF //
//////////////////////////////////
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