ericw@gemini.SGI.COM (Eric Williams) (08/25/88)
I appreciate some advice from the net at large. I'd like to set my mother
up with a word processor. Her school has Apple //e's so we'd like to stick
with Apple. We have an old Apple II (from '78) with monitor, printer and
two disk drives (only 40 column display), still running DOS 3.3!
What word processors do you like? From what I've seen of Appleworks, I like
it, but what does it take to run on a pre-//e?
For the money to make the old ][ a decent word processor (80 column board,
maybe some more memory, some kind of keyboard fix, etc) we could get a
Laser 128 ($470 last I saw). What do you think of them? How compatible
are they?
thanks very much,
Eric Williams
uucp: ...{decwrl,sun}!sgi!ericw
internet: ericw@sgi.com -or- ericw%sgi.com@decwrl.dec.comSEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) (08/25/88)
>What word processors do you like? From what I've seen of Appleworks, I like >it, but what does it take to run on a pre-//e? ProDOS will run on a II+ with 64K and an 80 column card. However, the desktop is only 10K. There may be some patch that'll let a II+ have a larger desktop in a RAM card, but the cost of all that probably is out of hand versus a Laser 128. Hayden's PIE Writer works just fine on a (64K) 40 column Apple II+. Alas, Hayden went Chapter 11 and sold out to Spinnaker which kept Sargon and punted the rest. Perhaps Spinnaker still markets the "Writer" (which was sort of a cheapo "poor man's" PIE Writer -- had just about everything but the mail merge -- but I don't recall whether that worked with a 40 column II+ 'tho I suspect it did). The real difficulty with the II+ is that most of the software that was designed for it is no longer on the market (no longer supported by the original vendor even if the company remains in business). >For the money to make the old ][ a decent word processor (80 column board, >maybe some more memory, some kind of keyboard fix, etc) we could get a >Laser 128 ($470 last I saw). What do you think of them? How compatible >are they? For what you indicate you want to do (word processing), the Laser 128 may be your best bet (most software thinks a Laser 128 is a //c). You can get FreDwriter from APPLE2-L (a freeware word processor by the author of AppleWriter which has nearly all of AppleWriter's features except WPL). I don't know that FreDwriter will work with a 64K II+ (under ProDOS) even if you get an 80 column card (possibly it will as it doesn't make use of the "Apple keys."). Murph Sewall Sewall@UCONNVM.BITNET Business School sewall%uconnvm.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu [INTERNET] U of Connecticut {rutgers psuvax1 ucbvax & in Europe - mcvax} !UCONNVM.BITNET!SEWALL [UUCP] -+- My employer isn't responsible for my mistakes AND vice-versa! (subject to change without notice; void where prohibited) ** I've been on vacation for two weeks; still catching up with the mail **
halp@TCGOULD.TN.CORNELL.EDU ("Bruce P. Halpern") (08/26/88)
AppleWorks 2.0 is quite good. If the appropriate Beagle Bros. Timeout enhancements (perhaps quickspell and SuperFonts in your case), it is very good (UltraMacros is also very good. I haven't had a chance to try Thesaurus yet). The regular Laser 128 (1 MHz, 128K version) can be had for <$400. Look for ads in _A+_, _Computer Shopper_, etc. It is quite reliable. Runs AppleWorks just fine, but originally had some problems with Beagle Bros Macros for it. Probably all fixed now. ****DISCLAMER: My comments, etc., are my own shakey opinions ******** | Bruce P. Halpern Psychology & Neurobiology & Behavior Cornell Ithaca | | INTERNET:halp@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu BITNET:D57J@CORNELLA D57J@CRNLVAX5| | UUCP:{vax135,rochester,decvax}!cornell!batcomputer!halp | | PHONE: 607-255-6433 Uris Hall, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14853-7601 |
rlb2980@ritcv.UUCP (Robert L. Beaver) (08/26/88)
Quick question; What is the current version of AppleWorks? What is their policy on updating previous versions? I currantly am using version 1.2 and find some things lacking. If there is (of course there is!) a higher version, what features does it have over version 1.2? Thanks For Your Help! Robert L. Beaver Please excuse any problems with this, it's my first time posting news!
LBaker.ES@XEROX.COM (08/26/88)
I'm still using Screen Writer II on my II+ (On Line ?). It does all the things you need to do for writing a paper, upper case for footnote numbers, footnotes, underline, italics, etc. You can switch into a 70 column mode with narrow characters so an 80 col card isn't needed. Lamar
STEIN@UCONNVM.BITNET (Alan Stein) (08/26/88)
T{_he current version of Appleworks is 2.1. The main avantage is has
over 1.x versions is a mail merge. It also is necessary in order to use
with the Timeout series, which itself is a necessity.
Alan H. Stein Department of Mathematics
The University of Connecticut at Waterbury
Internet: stein%uconnvm.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu
BITNET: STEIN@UCONNVM
UUCP: {rutgers psuvax1 ucbvax & in Europe mcvax} !UCONNVM.BITNET!STEIN
Compu$erve: 71545,1500 Genie: ah.steinCAMHARK@UBVMSC.CC.BUFFALO.EDU ("Daniel J. Harkavy") (08/26/88)
To run appleworks on a ][ of any sort requires some hardware and some software mods. You need 80 column, and at least 64K of RAM. But without at least 128K you have a practically non-existent desktop. I also reccommend a shift-key mod of some sort if you don't already have it set up. Applied engineering puts out software that will allow the ][+ and I think the ][ as well to use the program. Instead of usin g open-apple on the program to run a function, you hit esc and then the key. esc-esc acts as the esc key does on the program. I don't think there is a good WP out for the ][ series without some mods. The AE mod works well, as my roomate has used it for two years now without problems. The laser 128 is a good alternative if you want to do more than Word-process, as the ][ is totally inadequate for anything in todays software maket. My //c is becoming obsolete as the market concentrates on the GS, and NOTHING is being put out these days that will work on anythin less than the //e. Dan Harkavy Camhark@ubvms.bitnet
halp@TCGOULD.TN.CORNELL.EDU ("Bruce P. Halpern") (08/29/88)
The current version of AppleWorks is 2.0. Claris Corp. had an upgrade offer. It may still be in effect. If you have a IIgs, you may want to wait for AppleWorks GS. 2.0 has mail merge, can use 3.5 disks, and is required for the Beagle Bros. Timeout enhancements. ****DISCLAMER: My comments, etc., are my own shakey opinions ******** | Bruce P. Halpern Psychology & Neurobiology & Behavior Cornell Ithaca | | INTERNET:halp@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu BITNET:D57J@CORNELLA D57J@CRNLVAX5| | UUCP:{vax135,rochester,decvax}!cornell!batcomputer!halp | | PHONE: 607-255-6433 Uris Hall, Cornell U., Ithaca, NY 14853-7601 |
rjs@inuxa.UUCP (Robert Snyder) (09/01/88)
> I'm still using Screen Writer II on my II+ (On Line ?). It does all the things > you need to do for writing a paper, upper case for footnote numbers, footnotes, > underline, italics, etc. You can switch into a 70 column mode with narrow > characters so an 80 col card isn't needed. > > Lamar Since the original posting mentioned a computer from 1978, it probably is an original ][, meaning Integer BASIC in ROM! This places severe limits on the use of PRODOS: you can run a program that uses PRODOS, but you can't boot PRODOS itself, since PRODOS insists on having Applesoft BASIC in ROM. I don't know if Appleworks will even run on an original ][. I've got an original ][ myself and use ScreenWriter II. Note that this is an editor/formatter package with embedded formatting commands, i.e., it is NOT a WYSIWYG word processor. The company's current name is Sierra On-Line and they are in Coarsegold, CA. You can get their number from information or go to a software store and look for their game King's Quest (for IBM, Apple ][, etc.); the box should have an address and maybe a phone number on the back. The last catalog they sent me did NOT list ScreenWriter II, but they may still have some copies hanging around. If you order it, be sure to tell them if you have Integer BASIC in ROM, because the package includes some utility programs in BASIC and they need to know which set to send you (there is not enough room on the disk to hold both versions). As for using ScreenWriter, it's got a decent number of features, even macros. Insertion is fine in 40 column mode, but in 70 column mode the screen can't keep up with you. The keyboard is buffered, so you don't lose any characters, but you never know for sure where you are unless you wait for the screen to catch up. The biggest problem is the lack of an upper/lower case keyboard. While the program can compensate by using ESC as a shift prefix, it just isn't the same. Also, the 70 column mode isn't very readable on a TV; it looks OK on a monochrome monitor. R.J.