December 1986 — Vol 8 No 12

Overview

Year-end issue, dominated by the launch of the New WAP TCS (Telecommunications System) — Pi's BBS infrastructure has been completely rebuilt under Leon H. Raesly. The new system has 4 phone lines, 4 conferences (Pi General, Apple ][/II, Macintosh, Classified), each with up to 32 boards. Annual fee: $6 in addition to dues. Pages 44–77 of the issue are devoted to TCS coverage. Letter to the Editor from Steve Wozniak ("Woz") appears on page 16 — direct correspondence from Apple's co-founder to the Pi membership. Microsoft Works (full ad and review by James M. Burger) and Microsoft Word 3.0 demo both featured, marking Microsoft's deepening Mac commitment. ReadySetGo 3.0 review by Martin Milrod continues desktop publishing coverage. Cult of Information book review by Joseph A. Hasson adds intellectual heft.

Table of contents (selected)

Highlights

Letter to the Editor from Woz — Steve Wozniak

Apple's co-founder writes directly to the Pi membership on page 16 — a signed contribution from Wozniak to a user group he had visited in person in 1983.

The New WAP TCS — Leon H. Raesly

Major infrastructure upgrade of Pi's BBS. The original Apple Bulletin Board System (ABBS) under Tom Warrick / John Moon from 1981 has now been replaced by a true multi-user TCS: 4 phone lines, 4 conferences (Pi General, Apple ][/II, Macintosh, Classified), up to 32 boards per conference, $6/year add-on to membership. Online at (301) 986-8085, 24 hours/day, 300/1200/2400 bps.

Microsoft Works Review — James M. Burger

Microsoft's integrated suite for Macintosh — word processor, spreadsheet, database, comms. The Family Computer Center ad on page 2 shows WAP-special pricing of $235 ($295 list).

ReadySetGo 3.0: A Review — Martin Milrod

Continuing desktop publishing coverage (Pi launched the dPub SIG (Desktop Publishing) last month). ReadySetGo competes with PageMaker on the Mac.

Annapolis Apple Slice News — Claire Johnson

Second installment of the Slice column — the first regional Pi chapter is finding its rhythm.

Club news / events / announcements

• New WAP TCS now live: (301) 986-8085, 24h, 300/1200/2400 bps
• Annual TCS access fee: $6 (on top of regular dues)
• Treasurer: Edward Myerson (now listed solo on Board roster); Secretary: Peter Combes
• VP-Apple: Bruce F. Field; VP-Mac: Jay Heller

Entities

People: Tom Warrick, Bruce F. Field, Jay Heller, Edward Myerson, Peter Combes, Leon H. Raesly, Eric Rall, Richard Langston, Steve Wozniak, Claire Johnson, David Ottalini, Robert C. Platt, Raymond Hobbs, Brian G. Mason, Steven Payne, Thomas Johnston, Charles Don Hall, David L. Porter, Bob Oringel, Peg Matzen, Hunter Alexander, Joseph A. Hasson, Jonathan E. Hardis, Ralph J. Begleiter, Rich Norling, Jon Thelin, David Morganstein, John Rogers, Martin Milrod, James M. Burger, Jim Lanford, Bob Marder, Lynn R. Trusal, James F. Cumber Jr., Tom Vier Topics: WAP TCS, ABBS (legacy predecessor), Annapolis Apple Slice, dPub SIG (Desktop Publishing) (continued) References: Microsoft Works, Microsoft Word 3.0, ReadySetGo, Data Desk, Jet (Sublogic), Leather Goddesses of Phobos, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Amnesia, The Cult of Information

Connections to other issues

• WAP TCS succeeds the original ABBS (founded by Warrick/Moon ~1981)
• Steve Wozniak visited Pi in person in May 1983; this written letter is a continued relationship
• dPub SIG (Desktop Publishing) launched in 1986-11 — V08 N11; ReadySetGo review here continues that thread
• Annapolis Apple Slice debuted in 1986-10 — V08 N10