Re: Best option for writing (book) on Apple II

[zwsdotcom@gmail.com]

On Mar 22, 3:33 pm, "Warren 'Llama' Ernst" <wer...@gmail.com> wrote:
> At Last! I can meaningfully contribute to an Apple II Conversation!

:)

> The WPS file is going to be saved on an Apple II formatted diskette,
> meaning you're going to have to transfer it to a PC (or mac, I guess

I assumed I was going to use a terminal program to transfer it over
RS232.

> the 8-bit version of WordPerfect to make you happy. Perhaps you can
> report back after trying it!

The only features I really want are bold, underline and italic. I
never use spellcheck or thesaurus features - I rely on my own meatware
or (occasionally when I've been beating some simile way too hard and
REALLY need another synonym to tie five or six ideas together in one
metaphor) thesaurus.com

> 1. You need a copy of AppleWorks 3 or better, and it isn't freeware.
> I'm not saying it isn't downloadable from various sources, or that

There is no way to convert AppleWorks 2 files? I have plenty of
original copies of AppleWorks 2.0 here.

> 2. You'll really need a second floppy drive. AppleWorks works

This is no problem, I have many. I do collect vintage computers, you
know :) (I am slowly building my museum at www.commodoretalk.com but
am still in the process of bringing in the actual content - all that's
up right now is a few pictures and test JavaScript).

> 3. With a 128KB 8-bit Apple II, you'll be limited to, hmmm, 54KB (?)

56KB :)

> when I say this, but in 2009 it is a lot easier for a beginner to the
> Apple II world to use a IIgs instead, even if you only ever use it as

I'm hardly a beginner to the Apple II world, though. My first paid
program was a piece of BASIC classroom software back in 1985... I want
to use a IIc because that's what I used for my writing assignments ~24
years ago, and the book I'm writing is trying, among other things, to
capture some of that magical feeling.

If I was going to use a IIgs, I think I might as well just use a Mac.
And if I was going to use a Mac, might as well just use the MacBook on
which I'm typing this :)

> find them, and the memory card for a //c goes for close to $200 these

yes... I've been thinking about building an expansion board for my
IIc, since I have oodles of 256Kx1 and 1Mx1 (and the same, x4) DRAMs
lying around. Haven't been able to locate a schematic yet though, so I
don't know how easy it would be - is much additional logic required?
(yes I do have what it takes to write the equations for and program
PALs and CPLDs).