Re: ANN: Retiring from A2 world - Good Bye All!

[Ronin Hyde <roninhyde@mac.com>]

Obsbedia2 wrote:
> 
> << What about an online programming course
> specficially geared towards the II or IIgs? >>
> 
>         Sounds like a great idea!  Might this even be a plus for signing up to
> Syndicom?

   I wouldn't want that to start with. Use the drug dealer approach,
first one
is free. Give lessons in Basic for free and advanced languages behind a login
or something to provide more personal interaction. (Like assigning a group
of 10 people for IRC chats with an instructor or something.) The main problem
that causes a breakdown is capitalism. People want money for it but it would
do more good if people understood it.
    When I worked for a computer dealer as tech support I always tried
to get
the customer to understand basic maintenance of their machines. If they
understand how to solve the simple problems, they will only come when it is
serious. Saves money for them, increases their knowledge, saves the techs
some sanity and, if all goes well, the informed customer buys higher
ticket items because they know what they want and how to use it.
    Unfortunately my programming skills would make a 12 year old wet
themselves with laughter. Lots of ideas but books alone won't cut it for
me. I need to bounce ideas off of someone and most times nobody in the
area has an Apple 2 nor is interested in teaching someone from the
ground up. Someone needs to if we are going to be able to truly master the
care of these aging beasts.

>         I've had few Nibble Articles to work from, but that's as friendly as I've
> found.  Bev tried to do something similar with AppleWorks, emailed lessons as a
> beginner's guide, but it only lasted a couple of lessons.

    If it is for profit, it is almost always bound to fail. The demand just
isn't there. Anything beyond basic use or specific programs (like a
secretary trying to understand Microsoft Office) is geared to a smaller
audience.

>         I still remember typing in the one and two liner from Nibble, and the short
> Beagle Bros programs from their ads.  It's fun and amazing to learn what some
> programming knowledge can achieve on an Apple ][.

  Beagle Bros. ads always amazed me that so much could be done with so
little. Heh.