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From: alfter@uns-helios.nevada.edu (SCOTT ALFTER)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: ProDos versions and some general Apple ][e questions
Message-ID: <2488@unsvax.NEVADA.EDU>
Date: 13 Dec 90 09:00:29 GMT
References: <1990Dec12.182649.14336@uncecs.edu>
Sender: news@unsvax.NEVADA.EDU
Organization: University of Nevada System Computing Services
Lines: 56

In article <1990Dec12.182649.14336@uncecs.edu> seals@uncecs.edu (Larry W. Seals) writes:
>As someone who is new to the Apple arena (I was given a //e), I am
>in need of some information on ProDos.  I was given DOS 3.3 and a
>copy of ProDos, version 1.1.1 (I think that's right - the memory's
>starting to go...).  I have read various references to newer releases
>and would like to know:
> 1. Are the newer versions downwardly compatible to older releases
>    (will my software running under my current rev. of ProDos continue
>    to do so? Is disk formatting the same?)

Yes, you can use newer versions of ProDOS with older software.  I use
the latest, v1.9, with a program (Apple Writer) that originally
shipped with 1.0.2.  In fact, if you have a clock card in your IIe,
you should only use the newer versions because an idiosyncracy of the
clock card requires that the clock driver in ProDOS be updated
periodically.  (Explanation: the clock card doesn't know what year it
is, so ProDOS has to munge it from the month, date, and day of the
week.  A particular routine will only be valid for a few years, though.)

> 2. How are the newer versions different (improved/changed)?

Same as any other OS--bugs fixed, support added for some newer
hardware (GS clock, AppleShare), etc.

> 3. Would it behoove me to acquire a newer version of ProDos (which
>    one)?

Highly recommended.

>Also, my previous experience has been with MS-DOS or an Op/Sys
>where a kernal stays loaded in memory. So far, I'm seeing an Op/Sys
>that must be reloaded after launching and exiting each application.
>If someone would be so kind as to explain a better way, I (as an Apple
>neophyte) would appreciate it.

ProDOS itself does stay in memory as you switch from one application
to another.  You're probably rebooting the machine to switch
applications; as with any other computer, this will require the OS to
be reloaded.  If you select the quit option in an application, though,
you will be greeted by the infamous "ENTER PREFIX/ENTER PATHNAME"
dialog that prompts you to switch to another application.  (Note that
if you get ProDOS 8 v1.9 and have enhanced ROMs installed in your IIe,
you'll never see this message, but will get a much friendlier program
selector.)

>Also, I would like to find a PD/Shareware telecomm package with a least
>vt100 emulation if such a thing exists (Christmas budget woes).

Get Kermit.  The latest version I've seen for Kermit is v3.86 (though
v3.87 was supposed to have been released just days ago).  FTP to
watsun.cc.columbia.edu to get it straight from the source.

Scott Alfter-----------------------------_/_----------------------------
                                        / v \ Apple II:
Internet: alfter@uns-helios.nevada.edu (    ( the power to be your best!
   GEnie: S.ALFTER                      \_^_/