REWING@TRINCC.BITNET (02/15/88)
I think that one of the next things that you will see from Apple in the next coming months is a network solution for Apple ][ computers that is Appleshare (or Macsomething) compatible. The new Inside Macintosh V defines Apple_PRODOS as one of the recognized disk format structures (along with MS DOS, Unix, etc.) I figure its only a matter of time before it gets used, probably by Apple although third party solutions are not out of the question. The real problem implementing all this is that lots of software on the ][, even educational comes on its own custom DOS format, or worse, DOS 3.3, and usually protected up the butt. Apple needs to convince the developers to buil;d around ProDOS without protection and network capable. The final hurdle is to produce a ProDOS compatible Appletalk card for all those schools or organizations who would like to use existing iron instead of having to spend mucho buckage on IIGS upgrades. And last but not least, the usage of a Mac II for the server is not as outrageous as it sounds. Currently, the Mac II bests supports the SCSI partition manager for various volumes, although it would not be impossible to implement on an SE or Plus. I suspect that if Apple has its lower priced Mac II configuration ready by when it finishes the network Apple II problem, that this system will be offered to schools as a server, at of course, the usual discounts that schools get. Then again, I may be wrong. But this seems like the most logical solution to it all. _____________________________________________________________________________ INTERNET: REWING%TRINCC@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU-------Richard A. Ewing, IV Bitnet: REWING@TRINCC---------------Trinity College Mac/Apple ][ Consultant Compu$erve: [76474,1732]---------Box 1520 Trinity College, Hartford, CT 06106 USENET: ...ihnp4!psuvax!trincc.bitnet!rewing----(203)-524-5152