Shareware Solutions II

[joko@well.sf.ca.us (Joe Kohn)]

Here is a review of Shareware Solutions II that appeared in the
August, 1993 issue of SIGNAL, the newsletter of the Hawaii
Macintosh and Apple Users Society.

SHAREWARE SOLUTIONS II

Review by Mel (MelSoft) Fowler

InCider/A+ magazine has gone the way of the Dodo and now publishes, what
else, a Macintosh magazine. However, one of the best parts of InCider/A+ is
still supporting the Apple II. Joe Kohn, a Contributing Editor with
InCider/A+ for almost three years, of Shareware Solutions and Grapevine
fame, is now publishing his own newsletter entitled, appropriate enough,
Shareware Solutions II. I just received the July  premiere issue and was
so impressed with it that I needed to tell you all about it.

Shareware Solutions II continues to carry on the great Shareware Solutions
columns that you found in InCider/A+. There is even a Grapevine column
which also continues that tradition as well.

But that is not all. Grapevine now covers all the little tid bits of news
and inside information about the people who are supporting the Apple II.
Need to replace or repair your Apple IIe, Joe has included that
information. Where you can send your hard disk drive for repair,
specifically those hard drives that no other technician will touch like the
ProAPP, Profile, or Inner Drive. You will find this information in the
premiere issue of Shareware Solutions II. Joe seems to have access to
inside information and delights in scooping everyone.

Learn about the price war of the on-line services and how you can take
advantage of it. What a bargain buying a modem is and how you can gain
access to the latest in shareware, freeware, and public domain software.
Apple Expo West is covered by a five page article that starts you at the
door and gives your a booth by booth description of the goings on. You are
there because Joe puts you right in the thick of things. There is the
latest on new products like a new ADB trackerball from Alltech Electronics,
what's the latest from Big Red, DigiSoft Innovations and how Twilight II,
developed by a 17 year old, has taken Expo West by storm. All the booths
were covered including Econ Technology, NAUG, Parsons Engineering with
their Focus Hard Card, an exciting new hard drive on a card. You don't
have to spend those bucks to fly to San Francisco to attend Apple Expo
West, Joe gives you a guided tour. I imagine he will be doing the same
thing for the up and coming KansasFest that meets in Kansas
City in July.

A First Look: IIGS System 6.0.1 gives you a detailed "First Look" and the
recently released system software upgrade. See my feeble attempt in this
issue. Joe's article gives a much better account of the bug fixes and new
features.

Finally, Joe covers the mystery of Icons and how to customize and use them
with System 6. This is indeed a well written article that solves a lot of
the Icon problems being encountered ever since System 6 came out.

Joe also maintains a small but very complete Shareware Solutions Library
from which you can order shareware, freeware, and public domain software.
This library is only available to subscribers to the newsletter, of course.
Subscribers also benefit from bargains and special offers throughout the
newsletter. Probably the best one is from Seven Hills were all you have to
do is write to them, identify yourself as a subscriber to Shareware
Solutions II and you get an almost 50% discount on all their Apple IIGS
software. Such programs as Font Factory GS v2.0, Express v2.0,
GraphicWriter III v1.1, Kangaroo v1.3, SuperConvert v3.0, the newly
released The Manager v1.0, and TransProg III v1.1 are included in this
offer.

So, as you can see, Shareware Solutions II is not just about shareware. You
get the inside dope from an enthusiastic, energetic writer that has been
reporting on the Apple II world for many years.  Joe knows the people in
the know and is not bashful about reporting on it.

Shareware Solutions II is currently published every other month and is
priced at $25.00 for twelve issues ($40 for overseas subscriptions). Joe
said that he may go to every month if the bi-monthly issue gets too big.
The premiere July issue is 19 pages of all articles, no advertising.

I highly recommend you subscribe to this newsletter if you want to keep
up to date on what is happening in the Apple II world. Send your check
or money order to:

     Joe Kohn
     166 Alpine Street
     San Rafael, CA 94901