Language⇒Japanese

My appleII Notes-12

My appleII Notes-12

An old Apple computer is still fun ~ my point of perception (３)

5. The Joy of Software Software can be fun in lots of ways. And for me, it is early software that is the most interesting. From AppleWriter I to II, from DOS to ProDOS, from LisaWrite to MacWrite: there is just something so gratifying about the way software flows and evolves over time. (Tapes And Software ) When I read the 1978 manual Contributed Programs Volume 1 & 2, I certainly found out how things really have evolved. Apple had a software registration system called Apple Software Bank at the beginning of the 70s when the Apple II was released. The registered software was created by employees such as Woz and Mike Markkula and sent to shops in the form of tapes and disks. The software was freely copyable and provided to users in this way, with only software manuals actually being sold. ( Manuals-3 ) While I was looking into old software, I managed to get hold of  5.25-inch file type disk holder from Apple Computer Inc. I found it on a US auction site. On the cover of the file in large letters was born the legend “Apple Software Bank”. I believe that the Disk II was released around June 1978, but I am inclined to suspect that computers with disk drives probably didn’t become popular until around June 1979 of the following year when the Apple II Plus was released and the auto start ROM was adopted. Taking the above into consideration, I would speculate that this disc holder was distributed by Apple to shops in the U.S. between the second half of 1979 and the first half of 1980 for the purpose of storing “Apple Software Bank” program disks. It is fun to think about the 20-year history of this one file.

6. How to enjoy Memorabilia Items of memorabilia are rich in variety and limitless in quantity. There are, for example, posters, videotapes of commercials, sales promotion materials, education materials, and countless items bearing the Apple logo. ( Items ) Early Apple II Vintage Posters are an example of something currently difficult to obtain, but Think Different Series posters, etc. are relatively inexpensive and easy to get hold of except for certain special collectibles. But just because you can get it now it does not mean it will be easy to get hold of one in the future, so it's fun to get stuff that you like little by little at the moment. At Japanese auctions, Apple memorabilia is ridiculously expensive and I do not feel like participating, and even auctions in the United States, for example, have pins for more than US $ 30, which is more than my sense of value allows me to pay. ( Apple IIc-6 ) Recently on Yahoo auctions, one can participate in auctions all around the world. Maybe if you check frequently, you may come across that valuable Apple collectible item on an Australian auction, for example.

Woz signatured cristal Apple

　1998: From the Year of Thinking Different, Bob Dylan

7. Recent Thoughts

 (1) Know Apple II well

There seems to be a lot counterfeit machines out there being sold as  standard Apple II machines. I know that demand far outstrips supply, but maybe it is better not to buy until you are satisfied that what are buying is what it is supposed to be. There are machines that you can tell are not original just by looking at the pictures but they are still being sold at very high prices. This is common in the US market, where the seller often does not know the specifications of the machine. It is up to you whether you waste your money or not, but I wonder if the only person out there who really knows the Apple II well and understands how much the machines are really worth is me.

(2) About Auctions

Although it is often said that the prices at auctions in the US have soared of late  and their appeal has been lost,  I still think you can expect to find something fresh and exciting. It is fun over time to be able to relatively easily get hold of things from outside Japan that I have wanted since I saw them in the book "Two Steves and Apple" more than 10 years ago.

(3) Importance of Networking with People

I cherish my network. I have built a large collection of Apple related items from things I bought and by exchanging information and swapping things. And I will continue to cherish this personal network that I came into through Apple II. I am thankful to my friends.

←An old Apple computer is still fun ~ my point of perception (２)