Re: Prodos Woes

["Charlie" <charlied@NOSPAMbboard.com>]

"Bill Garber" <willy46pa@comcast.net> wrote in message
cpydnde7AIN1hUCiRVn-vg@comcast.com">news:cpydnde7AIN1hUCiRVn-vg@comcast.com...

> I wish I had gone with the Apple II instead of Atari, but
> I had a houseful of those where only one Apple II would have
> cost me as much or more. As far as emulators go, I haven't
> yet found one that can drag me away from the real Apple II.
> They just don't open the creative doors like the real machine,
> and I would get too "User-oriented" if I used one. The actual
> Apple II gives me the hackability that I desire in an 8-bit
> computer. Even the C64 doesn't thrill me as much. To do anything
> with those you have to either use the expansion port, or open
> the case. Such a big deal to get inside, not to mention that
> once inside, there are covers on everything that need to be
> removed as well. Open the top on the Apple II and everything
> is right there to get at and work with.

In 1980 I visited every computer store within an hour drive of my house (all 5
of them).  Each of the stores carried Apple IIs, Ataris, Commodore Pets and
TI-99s.  Most of the questions I asked about the Atari, Pet and TI-99 computers
got an answer something like,
"I don't know how you do that on this computer but let me show you how on the
Apple".  The sales person would then go over to the Apple II, pop the lid and
show me how to do whatever.  I asked if opening up the Apple II would void the
warranty and was told that Apple encouraged it.  I also asked about
programming.  Again the demonstration was on the Apple II.  I asked where he
got all the hardware and programming information and he told me from the books
that came with the Apple II.  I had never heard of Apple before but what I saw
convinced me to buy one (an Apple II+) and I never regretted it.
Incidentally, the Apple was actually cheaper than the TI-99 at that time and
not all that much more than the Pet and Atari (800?).

Charlie