Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site tekig1.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!tektronix!tekid!tekig1!gregr
From: gregr@tekig1.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Why people own Apples
Message-ID: <1303@tekig1.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 3-Sep-83 23:46:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: tekig1.1303
Posted: Sat Sep  3 23:46:41 1983
Date-Received: Sun, 4-Sep-83 13:37:34 EDT
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 47

Someone recently asked in a fairly sarcastic manner why anyone would own
a lowly Apple computer.  I thought someone should take a few moments to
defend the old horse so I wrote the following reply.  I've posted it here
because most REAL micro owner's probably don't know it still has a few
breath's left before Big Blue runs it over.  Others may at least be curious.

Why does anyone own an Apple you ask? 

Well my Apple
 
     1. Has a keyboard with its own uP which produces all possible ASCII 
	characters, allows each key to be redefined to produce any of 8 
	different macros per key (redefinition via keyboard or disk file),
	has both slow and fast auto-repeat capability, and includes 16 
	macro-redefinable function keys to name only a few of its keyboard
	features.  (Videx)  Does your PC?

     2. Has an excellent 80 column display (I believe it to be far better
	than my IBM monochrome display at work.  An optional 128, 132, or even
	160 columns by up to 48 row display is very inexpensively available.
	(Also Videx)  Does your PC?

     3. Currently has 144K of RAM and can be expanded practically indefinitely.		I am about to add a 294K disk emulator board.  Does your PC have this
	capability?

     4. Has both a 6502 uP which runs the largest selection of software
	for any PC known, and a 6Mhz Z80B which is running CPM PLUS (3.0) which 
	provides such useful features as I/O redirection, path searches, banked
	memory management, and much, much more.  In addition a super fast 
	3.6 MHZ 6502 uP is available if desired, several 8088 boards, and 
	several 68000 boards.  In short it provides all the expandibility
	of an S100 system, with the advantage of OEM focus on a specific
	machine.  Of course a huge selection of other options boards are 
	available including memory boards, solid state disks, RGB boards, I/O
	boards, speech processors (input and output), and on and on and on.
	Does your PC have all this?

     5. Disk drives and controller boards are readily available with software
	support for single density (143K), double density, and double sided
	double density 5 1/4 floppies, as well as 8 inch floppies, and hard
	disks.  Other storage systems are also available including 9 track
	tape drives!  By virtue of both Apple Dos and CP/M no other PC even
	comes in a close second in terms of Software available for all these
	disks.  How about your PC? 

I could continue to go on but what's the point?  Oh yes, do Apples really run
games?  I didn't know that!!