Re: Why still using Apple II?

[AppleTO@gmail.com]

I don't use the Apple II much any more, but I used it a lot around 1997
and 1998 (my 486 failed, and I didn't want to buy another white
elephant).  And yes, I did get it online and was able to use email,
usenet, the web, and a few other toys.  Granted, it was with the help
of a Unix shell account.

Why was I using it a lot?  I was a bit fed up with computers consuming
enormous sums of money.  A calculation at the time gave about $4 or $5
per day, between the original hardware, upgrades, and repairs.  And
that was a 5 year old computer!  I also found that the Apple II was
suitable for a lot of the work I had to do as a university student,
namely writing.  Apple II's are great for writing because they don't
offer many distractions.  They also offer better editing facilities
than typewriters. :)

While I haven't done any Apple II programming in years, I still enjoy
going through the documentation I have and marvelling at the simplicity
of it.  With very little effort, one could memorise those manuals
inside and out.  It probably won't make you an expert programmer, but
it would be satisfying.  It is also satisfying to see such an open
machine.  Modern computers tend to be veiled in trade secrets so thick
that it is probably a felony to do any fancy graphics programming.

Byron Desnoyers Winmill