Re: Just got an Apple II -- What to do ?? :-)

["Ringo Langly" <rlangly@gmail.com>]

Martin Doherty wrote:
> Ringo Langly wrote:
> > Hi all,
> >
> > After doing some web work for a friend of mine, he gave me an old
Apple
> > II as 'payment' with two working floppy drives and a TON of
software.
> > Based on the dates and serial number this is an original Apple II
from
> > around 1979, so now I'm trying to decide what to do with it :)
> >
> [snip]
> >
> > Ringo
>
> Welcome Ringo!
>
> First thing you should be aware of is the high and growing market
value
> of your friend's gift.  Consider wrapping it up and storing it in a
> cool, dry, dark place (as Vince Briel is considering doing with his).
If
> it's truly an Apple ][ and not a ][+, it's a rare beast indeed. Is
yours
> in good shape, or is it beat up with gouges, dents & broken keys?
>
> Then again, there are some vintage car enthusiasts who like to keep
> their Model T clean and running, and take the family for Sunday
drives
> in it. This might appeal to you more. But just be conscious that it's
a
> valuable vintage classic you have been entrusted with. Look after it!
:)
>
> <snip>

Hi Martin and everyone else who replied...

I can't remember the serial number, but when i looked it up online it
was indeed that of an original Apple II.  I'm picking it up today, so
I'll post some pics on my web server once it's home.  All keys are
there and it seems to be very clean and in perfect working order.  The
guy who gave it to me, his dad bought it around 1978 or 1979 (not sure
-- friend was only like 10 then), but this guy ALWAYS buys stuff early
(Betamax, CD-ROM in the mid 80s, etc).  It was in a closet in their
home for MANY years until my friend brought it up to his computer shop
for me to checkout because he knows I'm a classic computer nut and
didn't have an Apple II in my grasps.

After seeing it at his shop for a number of years and playing with it,
and after spending over a year writing, hosting, and maintaining his
website for free, I threwout the idea of him giving me the Apple II -
actually I threw it out to his girlfriend :P  After that he told me I
could have it.

Anyway, I've aleady been looking at Apple II books on ebay and though I
was a HUGE basic programmer back in the day (roots are in TRS-80's), I
hope I can remember enough to get this sucker churping again.  He has
lots of software, and with the serial card you guys talk about
hopefully I can get it 'networked' to either my Linux box or OSX box.
I just hope I can find a terminal program since I have no way to
transfer files to the Apple II (unless you guys know some tricks).

Thanks for all the suggestions and links!  I think I'm going to have
MUCH more fun with this old box then any of the systems in my
collection -- save my PowerMac and iBook :)

Take care, and I'll post further when i get the Apple II home.

Ringo