December 1981 — Vol 3 No 11

Overview

Year-end issue. Headlining content: Walton Francis's SuperScribe II word-processor review (continuing his prolific 1981 WP coverage); David Morganstein's "Space War (or How to Live with the HIRES Page)"; The Accountant review; Dr. Wo's "Switched-On Blocks" Pascal article; Friederich Schulz's Memory Expansion Beyond 64K (the long-promised article from September preview); Paul Hoffman on Automatic Dial for Data Capture 4.0; Herb Rand on visiting an Apple user in England; John DeMarco on changing linear pot values to 150K for joystick construction; an Apple II Plus troubleshooting guide; and a Christmas Message from Randy Philipp — yet another Philipp family contribution. New advertiser: Clinton Computer (Authorized Apple Dealer & Service Center) running substantial discounts on the full Apple line. Riverbank Industries' International Gran Prix by Richard Orban (author of Three Mile Island) — $30 racing simulation.

Table of contents

Articles

Editorial (page 3) — Bernard Urban

Year-end wrap-up.

"President's Corner" (page 5) — David Morganstein

Year-end president's column.

"SuperScribe II Word Processor Review" (page 10) — Walton Francis

Cover-highlight. The latest in Francis's substantial WP coverage of 1981 — SuperScribe II from On-Line Systems (Ken Williams's company, later Sierra On-Line).

"Space War (or How to Live with the HIRES Page)" (page 17) — David Morganstein

Cover-highlight. Morganstein walks through using HI-RES Page 2 while keeping a working environment — likely the strategies article promised after Ed Knepley's October Pascal piece.

"So You Want to Upgrade Your Apple II" (page 18) — Bernard Urban

Buyer's guide / upgrade-path advice from Urban — Apple II → Apple II Plus → Language Card → Pascal → etc.

"Apple Roots: A Review" (page 19) — Jim Graham

Review of Apple Roots (a software product, likely genealogy or "family tree" themed).

"The Accountant: A Review" (page 20) — R.G. Bickel

Cover-highlight. Review of The Accountant — a serious accounting package for the Apple.

"Blaise Away — Switched-On Blocks" (page 24) — Dr. Wo (Tom Woteki)

Cover-highlight. Pascal block-manipulation tricks.

"Automatic Dial for Data Capture 4.0" (page 31) — Paul Hoffman

Auto-dial extension for Data Capture 4.0.

"Memory Expansion Beyond 64K" (page 32) — Friederich Schulz (Fred Schulz)

The article previewed in September 1981. Covers products that take the Apple II past its native 64K limit (likely Legend Industries 64KC and others). Foreshadows the multi-bank RAM products that would dominate Apple II expansion in the next few years.

"A Visit with an Apple User in England" (page 34) — Herb Rand

Companion to Duncan Langford's English-perspective piece earlier in 1981.

"Changing the Value of Linear Pots to 150K: A Joystick Project" (page 36) — John DeMarco

Cover-highlight. Final SIGAMES joystick-project technical note — change linear potentiometers from stock to 150K for proper Apple paddle behavior.

"Trouble Shooting Guide for the Apple II Plus System" (page 38)

Cover-highlight area. Reference troubleshooting guide for Apple II Plus systems.

"Christmas Message" (page 41) — Randy Philipp

Holiday note from one of the Philipp children — extending the family-contribution tradition through another generation.

"A Page from the Stack" (page 14) — Jill Giboney and Vance Giboney

First Giboney family contribution — likely a guest librarian-corner piece since Morganstein is now President.

Club news / events / announcements

• Year-end issue
• Tutorial registration continues
• Inside Apple Pi continues sales
• December Pi meeting: holiday-adjusted date

Notable advertisements

• Riverbank Industries International Gran Prix (page 3) — $30 racing simulation by Richard Orban (author of Three Mile Island from MUSE). Five Grand Prix circuits (Oulton Park, Warwick Farm, Karlskoga, Monaco, …), speeds to 198 MPH, "Christmas tree" controlled start, controlled skids/spinouts, fully instrumented control panel.
• Clinton Computer (Clinton MD, Route 5 South from Beltway) — full Apple discount price list:
• Apple II Plus 48K — $1,095 (retail $1,530)
• Pascal Language System — $419
• Disk II w/Interface/DOS 3.3 — $530
• Apple Language Card — $175
• Epson MX-80 — $499
• Silentype Printer — $345
• Apple Clock/Calendar — $249
• Programmer's Aid #1 — $46
• Autostart ROM — $59
• • Insurance/Shipping 1%, 5% MD sales tax
• Computerland Tysons Corner (page 2)
• Inside Apple Pi order form continues

Key quotes

• (Year-end content varies; substantive editorial and quotes embedded in articles above)

Entities

People: David Morganstein, Mark L. Crosby, Dana Schwartz, Jesse Wagstaff, John Moon, Nancy Philipp, Rich Wasserstrom, Bernard Urban, Genevie Urban, Bob Peck, Howard Lefkowitz, Boris Levine, Walton Francis, Paul Hoffman, Tom Woteki, Friederich Schulz, Herb Rand, John DeMarco, Randy Philipp, Jim Graham, R.G. Bickel, John Alden, Jill Giboney, Vance Giboney Topics: SuperScribe II, Apple II Upgrade Path, The Accountant, Memory Expansion Beyond 64K, Joystick Pot Modification, Apple II Plus Troubleshooting, Pascal Block Manipulation References: Clinton Computer, Riverbank International Gran Prix, Richard Orban, Three Mile Island Game, SuperScribe II, The Accountant Software, Apple Roots, Data Capture 4.0

Connections to other issues

• Walt Francis WP series continues from Feb 1981 (1981-02 — V03 N02) → Sept 1981 synopsis (1981-09 — V03 N08) → this SuperScribe II review
• Fred Schulz Memory Expansion article delivers on Sept 1981 promise (1981-09 — V03 N08)
• Joystick project from SIGAMES (started 1980-11 — V02 N11) culminates here
• Volume 3 closes the second year of Morganstein-as-President-or-Librarian

Open questions

• 1982 issues (Volume 4) will tell us how SuperScribe II adoption played out
• Did Inside Apple Pi compilation sell well in its first season?
• Mike Cornblith / Apple — any 1981 follow-through on his April NOVAPPLE appearance?