If you are a /// EZ Pieces user,
you can check out any of the older AppleWorks books in most
libraries, since the two programs (at least in earlier versions)
shared the same file formats (Appleworks 3.0 and 4.0 can read older
AW or 3EAP files, but there will be incompatibilities once those
files have been worked on and saved - especially with spreadsheet and
data base functions). There are also some excellent books out on
Apple Writerand Visicalc - which you
might be able to find at your local library or at a computer garage
sale or Ham Fest.
Finally, Sun Remarketing offered a booklet at one time designed to
help Apple /// users diagnose and repair their machines.
17) WHAT ABOUT TECHNICAL MATERIALS?
Apple produced a /// Service Manual
that includes schematics, information, service tips, etc., along with
a host of Technical Notes. WAP has a copy of the Service Manual and
can make copies for those interested. The cost for a copy of the
double-sided manual (printing + P&H) is $75.00 (the manual is
huge). All the Apple /// Tech Notes are available on Apple's WWW home
page - www.apple.com.
Dave Ottalini (Dave.Ottalini@tcs.wap.org)
has a hugh collection of Apple /// technical materials. Reprints
available for postage and a donation to WAP.
18) WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE IS AVAILABLE?
There were a number of
communications programs produced for the Apple /// over the years,
but there are three generally considered to be the best:
a) Access /// Interp Version: An
excellent assembly-language terminal program that can provide VT100
emulation. Scripts can be used to automate log-ons to Compuserve and
other on-line services. It does NOT offer Xmodem protocol. It is
available in the WAP /// SIG PD library as disk 3TEL-02 (which
includes an excellent Apple /// communications tutorial).
b) XMODEM /// is also in the WAP PD
- an excellent stand-alone telecom program that offers the user
XMODEM Protocol for error-free downloads and uploads. In the WAP PD
it's disk 3TEL-05. Manual is on disk.
c) The Communications Manager was
aprogramfrom
On Three that is no longer available commercially. It is the best ///
communications program ever produced and offers a host of features,
including XModem and turbo downloading capabilities. It can be run as
a stand-alone program or as a Desktop Manager module.
Please see the Apple ///
Communications FAQ (by Al Bloom and others) for more details about
telecommunications on the Apple ///.
19) WHAT ABOUT MODEMS?
You can connect just about any speed
modem to the ///, but the terminal programs above have settings that
only go up to 9600 baud. Your best bet is to use a 2400 baud or
14,400 baud modem - they will work fine and are very inexpensive (get
one at a computer garage sale or your local user group).
20) CAN THE APPLE /// ACCESS THE
INTERNET?
You bet! The /// and its
communications software is definitely equal to the task of accessing
an Internet host to "surf the Internet". In fact, internet access via
the /// is both viable and enjoyable. The lack of graphics seldom is
a barrier. The world's most popular
Internet hosts are still Unix computer systems.
Unix systems have traditionally
integrated well into the Internet,
andplenty of text- based Internet
software is available on these hosts
toenable your Apple /// to become a
powerful Internet surfer.
