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From: youngdahl@gacvx1.gac.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: info for the masses
Message-ID: <1991Jan14.005429.1@gacvx1.gac.edu>
Date: 14 Jan 91 06:54:29 GMT
Organization: Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minnesota
Lines: 41
Nntp-Posting-Host: gacvx1
Nntp-Posting-User: youngdahl

Hello everyone... since I'm new to this discussion, I'll introduce myself:

My name is Ben Youngdahl, and I'm a student of Comp. Sci. at Gustavus Adolphus
College in Minnesota.  I've been programming on Apple II's since 1982 when I
owned a II+.  Now I'm equipted with a IIgs and a strong will to create
something new for this fantastic computer.

I have a great interest in the 3200 "mode" of the IIgs.  I understand the basic
ideas behind tweaking out the extra colors, but the Orca/C code I have written
to date performs below my expectations.  I have to wonder:  is there any source
code for the 3200 mode available?  Even the source to a simple display program
would be all I need to get my programming going in the right direction.

It strikes me as funny that the IIgs has such fantastic demos out for it,
showing border animation, multiple pallettes on screen, better-than-apple-tools
sound, etc. ... and yet there is really no clear source of getting information
on how this is done.  

Since Apple refuses to enhance the IIgs by providing information on how to
access the "tweaks" of border-animation, 3200 color graphics, and quick
scrolling techniques they essentially have stripped the developing community of
any "punch" behind their products.  Their apears to be simply *NO* clear source
of information on these topics beyond word-of-mouth...

Now if this FTA book is REAL, then we may all have a source to some fresh new
ideas on programming the IIgs.

Any comments?  Maybe I'm missing some fantastic Apple programmer magazine that
tells the nitty-gritty on programming stuff like the FTA demos...

I mean if FTA REALLY wants to save the IIgs, they should do as Apple has not --
make the true power of the IIgs known to the "programming masses."  Otherwise,
a few flashy demos does nothing but remind us that Apple is taking us for a
ride.  

In summary:  I hope this FTA book is real... 


Ben Youngdahl
youngdahl@gacvx1.gac.edu
(Generic signature -- no quotes, no calories, no questions asked)