rob (03/10/83)
A friend of mine has been given the opportunity to exchange an APPLE II+* for either an APPLE ///* or an APPLE //e*. (The //e will include additional goodies to make up for the difference in market value of the ///). I would like your opinions on which is a better hobbyists machine, and why you feel this way. Thanks, - Ian ...!uw-beaver!ubc-vision!alberta!rob P.S. There will be no additional charge for upgrading the computer, and the friend already has a large collection of APPLE II+* software. * APPLE II+, APPLE //e, and APPLE /// are registered trade marks of Apple Computer Corp.
bam (03/14/83)
I've had a chance to use both the Apple IIe and the Apple III. Given the choice between the two of them I'd stay with the the IIe. All your Apple II software will run, your peripherals will still work and the 80 column option at $100 isn't bad at all. Even though Apple has re-released the III after fixing a few bugs and in fact it isn't too bad a machine, you will have to start from scratch with compatible software and hardware. Apple foolishly changed their bus structure between models so all those millions of disk,tape,printer and modem controllers available for the II won't work in the III. Software is *becoming* available for the III but has not reached the scale of what is available for the II(e). As far as I can tell, the only limitation on the IIe is that the 80 column option isn't fast enough to work at 1200 baud if you use the computer as a terminal. You would have to use an add on 80 column board (such as the videx) if you wanted a fast, full display. Bret Marquis UC San Diego {ucbvax, philabs} sdcsvax!sdchema!bam
jcw (03/15/83)
Good comparison except for one error: my 80-column card on my IIe works fine at 1200 baud. I'm running Softerm and using the Apple Super Serial Card, emulating a VT-100.
bernie (03/18/83)
My advice is to get whichever has the highest market value, sell it, and buy an IBM PC. If this does not appeal to you, the ][e gets my vote. There's more software and peripheral support for it than there will ever be for the ///. --Bernie Roehl ...decvax!watmath!watarts!bernie