Apple ///

Are there still sources for hardware and commercial software?

Yes, there are still some places we can go to obtain not only the
old-line products like Visicalc, Apple Writer, and /// EZ Pieces, but
new hardware and software that is still being developed for us.

Joe Consorti
Apple /// Products,
6303 Green Garden Drive,
Bakersfield, California 93313
1-805-397-6119
(NOTE - This is a NEW Address as of 6/95)

As excellent source of software (primarily). On Three's programs
include BOS3 - the new SOS Upgrade, DAR - a disk archival and
retrieval program (shareware, Disk Directory/File Fixer /// - a
must-have repair disk. There's also Draw-On Three (a graphics

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Where do I find information about the ///?

* /// USER GROUPS

A user group is a great way to obtain more information about the
Apple ///. Members are knowledgable, ready to answer questions and
most offer PD (public domain) libraries with Apple /// software.
There is only one Apple /// user group still active:
Washing Apple Pi
/// SIG
12022 Parklawn Drive
Rockville, MD. 20852
(303) 984-0300
Check out WAP PD disks 3INF-01 through 15, as well as WAP01-10 for
information-on-disk.

* ONLINE SERVICES

The best place is on CompuServe, where SARAsaurs meet on board 13
of the Micronetworked Apple Users Group (MAUG) (GO APPUSER). MAUG's
Apple /// section (13) provides a fantastic forum for information
exchange, and its Data Libraries for the /// has a number of files
for downloading. (WAP PD DISK 3INF-03 offers the "Best of MAUG" for
the ///.)
Apple's EWORLD On-Line service offers some Apple /// services - Apple
// tech notes are available for download. Unforunetly, it is only
available to Mac or (soon) PC folks. (WAP is working to convert these
files to include them into our PD).

* INTERNET

There's only one real place to go on the Internet for Apple ///
discussions - West Virginia University! Message:

LISTSERV@WVNVM.WVNET.EDU

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What about emulation mode?

Your /// can operate as-is in an emulation mode to make it think
it's a 48k Apple//+ (WAP has the emulation software: Disk 3EMM-01).
Titan made a ///+// card for the /// you might also be able to find -
it increased memory up to 128k in //+ emulation and offered a RAM
disk in native mode.

You might also be on the lookout at computer garage sales for the
"Titan ///+//e" - a set of two cards that turns your /// into a 128k
//e. You'll want to add a 65c802 CPU (in place of the 6502) to ensure
compatibility with newer Apple // programs (it has no effect on
native mode applications). The cards offer a RAM disk in native mode

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What is BOS3?

BOS3 is a wonderful upgrade to SOS, released in December, 1994.
Developer by Bob Consorti, it was financed entirely by the Apple ///
community. BOS3 adds a tremendous number of capabilities to the ///
with a hard disk. They include an easy to set-up and use menu system,
disk caching, password protection, screen saver, macro capability to
run programs with just two keystroke and compatibility with Selector
/// pathnames. It is available from On Three (Bob Consorti).

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What's this about SOS?

As mentioned earlier, the Apple /// uses an operating system
called SOS, or Sophisticated Operating System. It is entirely
ram-based. That means every time you load a program, it loads the
operating system as well. You will find three files on all program
disks: SOS.Kernel; SOS Interp and SOS.Driver. The KERNEL is the
operating system itself. You want to make sure you have the latest
version: 1.3. You can tell what version you have when you boot up.
You will see a message that tells you the version along with the
Apple copyright. You can get an auto-upgrade disk from WAP - ask for
disk #sys-01.

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What other hardware/software do I need?

a) A second disk drive. It speeds up your work considerably, makes
it easier to load and save data, etc. Also usable: 1.4 MB Superdrive
and 800k Unidisk for the /// (using Apple // interface cards and On
Three drivers) and many hard disks (Profiles and SCSI).

b) System Utilities disk. This program lets you copy files, format
disks, and configure your SOS.Driver file (WAP PD disk 3UTL-02).

c) /// EZ Pieces. This is an excellent integrated software program
that is easy to learn and use. Its files are also compatiable with
the Apple // version called AppleWorks. (Sun Remarketing)

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What about SOS - The ///'s Operating System?

First ever written to be user friendly.

Data base capabilities. Hierarchical file-structure.

Manages ALL memory locations and I/O.

One disk format for ALL allows file sharing and
communication.

Able to share files with Apple //e; c and gs ProDos
systems.

Easily updated without hurting existing compatibilities.

Abilitiy to rewrite software drivers instead of changing
hardware.

Will locate which drive a file is in for you.

Error proof menu system.

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Is my Apple /// still useful today?

Despite the fact that the Apple /// was built more than 10 years
ago, it is far from useless. To the contrary, it was designed as a
business machine and it remains one of the best Apple // family
computers ever built by Apple. In fact, you can put together an
excellent system based on the Apple /// for about $100.00 (or less)
that will provide you with powerful word processing, data base,
spreadsheet, and telecommunications capabilities that are unmatched
for the price. The bottom line here is: Can the machine do the basic
things you need it to do? For many, given the low cost of both

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What are the ///'s capabilities?

Keyboard Friendliness

Arranged in a strictly traditional typewriter layout.

Sculptured, stepped and angled keys.

Numeric key pad. Recognized differently from main
keyboard.

Software definable character set. Can be used for
graphics.

All characters used by programming languages.

Dedicated cursor or arrow keys.

Two-key method to boot a disk without powering on and
off.

Alpha lock key. Shift locks alphabetical keys only.

The entire ASCII code.

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What is the Apple ///?

The Apple /// (code name: SARA) was the first computer ever
designed from the ground-up by Apple Computer as a company. It
included many of the "extras" one had to buy separately for the Apple
//: an 80 column card, a serial card, larger memory, etc. In
addition, it came with the most advanced operating system for small
computers of its day: SOS or the Sophisticated Operating System. So
good, in fact, that Apple later based its ProDos Operating System for
the Apple //e, //c, and //gs on SOS. The Macintosh's HFS, or
Heirarchical Filing System was also based on a similar system that
was part of SOS.

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