II Alive Volume 1 Number 0
January/February 1983
WELCOME to the premiere issue of II Alive, the new publication that celebrates the Apple II. Unlike the articles in certain other supposedly Apple II publications, each and every article in II Alive is about getting more from your computer. The Apple II will always have the spotlight. No cynicism-no compromise- no excuses.
And no Macintosh. The Apple 11 and the Macintosh, though they’re both manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., are more different than they’re alike. We won’t promise that we’ll never mention the Macintosh or other computers. We probably will-but it’s silly for us to dilute our Apple II material with unrelated Macintosh coverage. If you own a Macintosh in addition to your Apple II, MacWorld and MacUser are probably the best way to keep up-to-date.
The Apple II is a fifteen-year veteran of a computer industry that bas seen computers as diverse as the PCjr, the Osborne, the Lisa, the TI 99/4, and the Exidy Sorcerer come . . . and go. Even Apple’s 1984 introduction of that other computer didn’t stop people from buying Apple lis by the millions. Over six million, to be exact.
It’s hard to talk about the Apple IT without using the word “first” a lot. The Apple II was the first personal computer to appeal to the hobbyist and the borne user alike. It was also the first business PC-it was running VisiCalc (which was, not coincidentally, the first spreadsheet program for any computer) long before IBM appropriated the initials “PC” for its machines. And the Apple II was the first successful school computer. It’s still the leading machine in the classroom.
The Apple II still has everything going for it that it did fifteen years ago. In fact, it has even more. Now, of course, we have the Apple lias, which continues the Apple II tradition while adding the best of the Macintosh user interface and a completely new set of capabilities. And while the lias itself isn’t exactly a new development, we’re still discovering new things it can do. Like print spooling (Seven Hills’ Express), True-Type font scaling (Westcode’s Pointless), and transparent data compression (Econ’s AutoArk), to name just a few. Apple once promoted the Apple II with the slogan “Apple II Forever.” While corporate Apple has long since abandoned that refrain, we still believe in the Apple II, and we’re proud to keep the torch lit. Our pledge to you is to provide the best Apple II support for as long as you want it.
In this issue of II Alive, and in issues to come, you’ll see the past and the future of the Apple II through the eyes of the visionaries who shaped it-and who are still shaping it. You’ll find accurate advice on using your Apple ll to its fullest-from desktop publishing, to multimedia, to AppleWorks, to education, to “weekend programming.” You’ll get the scoop on the hottest new products-including objective performance evaluations-as soon as they’re released. We’ll resurrect the best features of Apple IT publications of the past and innovate new features to give you the 100% pure Apple II information you crave. It’ll be exciting, fun, and informative reading.
Talk, as they say, is cheap, so we’re sending you this complimentary sample issue. If you’ve already subscribed to II Alive, this one’s on the house-it doesn’t count toward the issues you paid for. (And, by the way, thanks for your advance support!) If you haven’t already subscribed, starting your subscription is as easy as returning the Sign Up Form in this issue.
We’re looking forward to a long and bright Apple II future. And we hope that you’ll choose to be a part of our continuing adventure. So tell all your friends- Apple II support is back, and its name is II Alive.
Jerry Kindall
Editor
PS-If you’d like extra copies of this sample issue to spread around, just call 1-800-777- 3642 and our friendly staff will send them right out.
