Shareware Solutions vs. Passport House Newsletter

[myoung@sempco.UUCP (Mike Young)]

The following is my review of the newsletters Shareware Solutions II and the 
Passport House Newsletter.  This review was written for my club newsletter, 
the APDC Journal, but I thought it would be of interest to others.  It 
contains some basic info you probably already know, but keep in mind it was basically written for my club newsletter.

--------------------------

Support for your Apple II computer
comes in many different forms,
but one of the best forms of insight is
the newsletter.  Two prominent
newsletters exist for the Apple
II, The Passport House Newsletter by
Passport House and Shareware
Solutions II by Joe Kohn, former
contributing editor at inCider/A+ 
magazine.  Both newsletters are
created and published exclusively on
Apple II computers.

The Passport House Newsletter is
published every month and costs $24
for a one year subscription. 
Sharewrae Solutions II costs $24 for
twelve issues, but is being published
currently on a bi-monthly schedule. 
That is supposed to change to monthly
in the future.

As far as print quality goes,
Shareware Solutions II is far
superior.  SSII is professionally
published on quality paper in a smooth
and easy to read type.  The back
cover also features extremely amusing
graphics.  The Passport House
Newsletter, frankly, looks like it is
reproduced with an average copy 
machine.  The type is small and faded
which makes the newsletter very hard
to read at times, but the pictures on
the front page do provide a nice
touch.

The Passport House Newsletter includes
press releases of many of the new
Apple Ii products and developments. 
For those that aren't online, this is
an exciting and valued portion of
the newsletter.  Shareware Solutions
II, however, goes a step further by
also providing newsn product
information that couldn't be found
online, at least not publicly.

The Passport House Newsletter's main
features include articles covering
topics such as disk drives and file
management.  These excellent pieces
describe things well and provide many
helpful tips.  The Passport House
Newsletter also gives fairly thorough
reviews on a variety of Apple
products.  The Letter also offers a
few special Apple II hardware offers.

Shareware Solutions II again goes a
step beyond this.  In the July 1993
issue, SSII featured a detailed
article on Apple Expo West.  A
complete report was given of many of
the companies and groups that
displayed at the Expo, covering the
new developments and where to reach
the exhibitors.  A review of the new
IIgs System 6.0.1. was also given, as
was an article on customized icons. 
The articles in SSII are extremely
clear and informative, especially for
beginning and novice users.  The
newsletter also devotes a few pages
to SSII's software collection and
provides a low cost way to get copies
of these disks.

Which newsletter should one buy? 
Well, if you can afford it, get them
both!  But, for most people that isn't
a viable solution.  The Passport House
Newsletter is a good Apple II
publication, but Shareware Solutions
II is clearly the better choice.  The
appearance of the newsletter is
better, the writing style is more
understandable, the articles are more
informative, and Shareware Solutions
II frankly has more "bang for your
buck!"  One thing is for sure, the
Apple II computer will survive as long
as publications like these two
continue to exist!




Passport House Newsletter
P.O. Box 145
Miles City, MT  59301-0145

  GEnie:    D.DILGER
  Internet: phletter@delphi.com


Shareware Solutions II
Joe Kohn
166 Alpine Street
San Rafael, CA  94901

  CompuServe: 76702,565
  GEnie:      J.KOHN
  Internet:   joko@well.sf.ca.us

--Via CUseNET v1.00 (Cnet Amiga)

Mike Young - myoung@sempco.uucp - President of APDC - the best national 
by-mail Apple II computer club.  5821 Kerth Road. St. Louis, MO  63128  (314) 487-4160