PD ROM 1/PD ROM Volume I - Macintosh Software from BMUG (1988).iso/Electronic Messages/Quick Connect/Quick Connect 1987 Jul

Text File | 1988-06-18 | 28.0 KB | 591 lines | [TEXT/ttxt]

July Quick Connect

Government-Approved Washington Apples


If you're wondering what Apple* computers are doing in government, the answer
is plenty!   From the local town hall to the Pentagon, more and more Apple
computers are being recruited for public service than ever before.  In fact,
Apple users across the country are putting their machines to work in all levels
of governmentQfrom state and local all the way up to the federal level.  And,
according to what they say, they haven't reached the tip of the iceberg.

To date, Apple's biggest involvement with government has been through public
education contractsQan area of shining success for Apple since 1978.  But
today, a new campaign is underway to broaden its support to other areas of
government.  With last year's opening of Apple's new Government Sales and
Marketing office in the Washington, D.C. area, and this year's introduction of
the new Macintosh* computers aimed primarily at large corporate and government
users, Apple is prepared to meet the government's needs head-on.  According to
John Sculley, Apple CEO, "One of our biggest commitments today is to serve the
government market."

Here's a quick snapshot of just how Apple is serving the government, and how
User Groups tie in to the picture.


Reaching out to Uncle Sam
Because the government is the nation's biggest business, it's not surprising
that its needs are in many ways similar to those of large corporationsQthe
difference often is simply a matter of size.  No one publishes more than the
federal government, for example, so obviously, desktop publishing is a major
area targeted by Apple.  Already, about 200 Macintosh computers are at work in
the Pentagon alone, producing newsletters and other internal documents, reports
Jim Fitch, cofounder of the Pentagon Macintosh Users Group.  The Los Angeles
Sheriff Reserves on the county level and the Long Beach City Council on the
municipal level are just two other examples of groups using Macintosh desktop
publishing systems to reach their constituencies.

But unlike some large corporations, the government has to accomplish more with
less.  It does not have the luxury of writing off equipment investments that no
longer meet new industry standards.  That's why communication among its
existing minis, micros, and mainframes is a key issue when it comes to
purchasing new systems.  Many federal agencies request proposals that specify
compatibility with the UNIX operating system or connectivity with their
existing MS-DOS microcomputers and mainframes.  Although Frank Sauer, manager
of Apple's Government Sales and Marketing group, commented that "people are
more interested in solutions than operating systems," the new Macintosh
computers in particular are breaking the communication barrier.

And also unlike many private corporations, the government has a more pressing
need for specialized applications.  Besides the standard word processing,
spreadsheet, graphics, and database office applications, many government
agencies are looking for specific programs in the areas of advanced
simulations, engineering, logistics modeling, thought processing, and many
others.  With the help of third-party vendors, such as system integrators like
Falcon MicroSystems, Apple is committed to providing customized solutions to
meet the special requirements of government.

One case in point is the C.A.M.E.O. program developed by the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration for use in public safety.  C.A.M.E.O. (which
stands for Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations) is currently
being used by the Seattle Fire Department.  Other programs, such as Map
Graphics that digitizes the topology of an area, are helping firefighters and
law enforcement officers with strategic planning and coordinating efforts in an
emergency.  According to Mike Agron, an Apple account executive for state and
local government, there's even a program that draws composite sketches of
suspects!  As he remarked, "In high-stress jobs like these, you need low-stress
applications to run on low-stress machines.  The Macintosh provides the perfect
solution."

And predictably, Apple also offers government a solution to the high cost of
training its personnelQa real challenge for the nation's biggest employer.  In
fact, the government has the highest expenditures for training of any other
business.  This situation suggests that the ease of use and minimal training
requirements of Apple products is a key to greater productivity.  A study
conducted at the army training and documentation group at Fort Benning,
Georgia, found that it takes approximately 20 minutes for a user to learn to
use a Macintosh.  Compare that with the 2 hours it takes to learn an IBM* PC,
or the 20 to 40 hours it takes to learn most other computers, and the savings
in training time (and tax dollars) begin to add up quickly.

But even with the right technology and the solutions to meet the government's
needs, just reaching Uncle Sam is a tall order all by itself.  To that end,
Apple has deployed a network of account executives in the field, as well as
consultants, lobbyists, and other government-experienced personnel to help
identify opportunities at all levels of government.  Apple's new Reston,
Virginia Government Sales office alone includes a staff of 50 professionals
dedicated exclusively to serving the government market.  And, in no small way,
Apple users and User Groups within government are rallying to support Apple's
efforts.


User Group Tie-in
Before Apple ever formally targeted the government market, a grass roots
movement was already taking place.  According to Don Kirkwood, Apple consultant
in Washington, D.C., some of the first Apple products that appeared in
government offices were brought there by the people who owned themQ people who
had bought Apples as personal computers and found a need for them in the
workplace.  It may be these same people who anonymously call Apple executives
with advance notice when the government is planning to buy microcomputers.  One
executive admitted, "We get about three 'secret agent' calls a week.  People
call us on the phone or write an anonymous letter saying there's some
procurement going on and they'd really like Apple to go after it."

And wherever the action is, you'll find User Groups leading the way.  Today,
Apple User Groups are springing up everywhere within government agencies Qa
dozen so far this yearQand they're helping spread the good news about Apple
technology.  "User Groups have taken a proactive stance in helping us identify
what's going on in government," Don Kirkwood said.  "They share information
about the needs of their particular department or agency and provide us with
the contacts we need."  Don, who works closely with Apple's Government Sales
and Marketing group, praises User Groups as a valuable resource in identifying
new opportunities for Apple in government.

And so does Apple's Mike Agron.  As he puts it, "Apple User Groups are a
microcosm of the overall enthusiasm that is permeating government."  He points
out that User Groups are a focused network, and there are lots of champions
within governmentQfrom people in the field to high-level executivesQwho
recognize the advantage of Apple technology.


We at Apple applaud our User Group "heroes" in government.  Those of you in
local User Groups like MacNexus in Sacramento and in agency-specific groups
like the Pentagon Macintosh User Group and Mac Star in the Los Angeles
Sheriffs' Department have helped Apple look its best.  Thanks to you, we're
getting the government seal of approval across the U.S.

So stay tuned to Quick Connect.  We'll be providing more information on our
government groups in future issues.



Apple Computers as Public Servants

Apple computers are now actively on duty on desks around the country doing all
sorts of government workQfrom scheduling municipal garbage pickups to
monitoring experiments aboard the Space Shuttle.  Here's just a sampling of
some of the creative ways Apple products are being used by personnel at all
levels of government.

The U.S. Coast Guard enlists Macintosh computers to chart investigations, map
waterways, analyze harbor traffic, and track hazardous materials, as well as
handle reports, budgets, records, and personnel assignments.

Some FBI offices and many police departments rely on Apple computers for
detective work.  The computers chart complex case information for everything
from small crimes to homicides to international smuggling operations.

The Arizona Department of Transportation employs Macintosh computers to monitor
airport operations, access airplane registration and owner information, and
help with facilities managementQall of which earned Arizona national
recognition for this innovative state aviation program.

A Florida state legislator uses his Macintosh to track bills through the
legislative process of the House of Representatives.

Public libraries use Apples to assist with book ordering, recordkeeping,
inventory processing, and interlibrary communications.

The city manager of Dayton, Ohio, updates employees with a monthly newspaper
published on his Macintosh desktop publishing system.

The Parks and Recreation Department of Little Rock, Arkansas, used Apple IIe
computers to help create 44 city parks by managing work order programs,
inventories, and the day-to-day operations over the last ten years.

Grand Canyon Airport keeps track of its daily operations with Macintosh
computers.  Plans are currently underway for a Macintosh-run airport control
system to manage every facet of the facility, including airport layout and
pavement conditions.


City police and firefighters in Modesto, California have mapped the community,
targeted hazards, charted investigations, and planned fast, effective emergency
services with the help of Macintosh computers.  The computers also aid with
fire prevention tactics, arson investigations, forensic analysis, vehicle and
equipment maintenance recordkeeping, water pollution monitoring, and the
tracking and identification of offenders.

Where do Apple computers fit in government?
Here are a few areas.
Administration
Aerospace
Agriculture
Air and water quality control
Airport and port maintenance
Conservation
Debt management
Education
Engineering
Executive office
Facilities management
Finance and budgeting
Fire protection
Flood control
Governor's office
Health care
Highways
Human resources
Income taxes
Justice and corrections
Labor and personnel
Law enforcement
Legislation
Libraries
Management
Mass transit
National defense
Natural resources
Parks and recreation
Planning
Procurement
Public assistance
Public transportation
Safety and public protection
Social security
Social services
Taxation
Traffic control
Transportation
Urban renewal
Veteran's benefits
Water supply systems
Macintosh Software Upgrades

If you use MacDraw*, MacWrite*, MacProject*, or MacTerminal*, you can now pick
up a new release at your Apple dealer.  These programs have all been enhanced
and upgraded to make them compatible with Apple's latest hardware and software,
including the Macintosh SE, Macintosh II, and the AppleShare* FileServer.  Even
if you don't own these products, these enhanced versions can help you get the
most from your system.

MacDraw 1.9.5  launches 20% to 75% faster, includes a zoom box in the title
bar, supports up to 54 fonts, and offers a cancel button in the printing
dialogue box, new command keys, and true what-you-see-is-what-you-get (WYSIWYG)
text.  The new upgrade works smoothly with desk accessories and allows you to
cut and paste across volumes and save Draw and PICT formats without any loss of
data when saving a file under the same name.

MacWrite 4.6Juses an accurately scaled LaserWriter* ruler, supports arrow keys,
and posts a new "Last Modified" date only if the document is opened and edited.
(This upgrade is not compatible with Macintosh 128K computers.)

MacProject 1.2 supports colorQgreat news for Macintosh II ownersQand can print
multiple documents from the Finder.

MacTerminal 2.2 offers new keyboard compatibility and, in 3270 mode, corrects
the operation of the ENTER key and allows the arrow keys to repeat.

To get the latest version of these software programs, take the master copy of
your program (the original disk with the Apple label) to your Apple dealer.
Your dealer will copy the new program to your disk and provide you with any
additional application-specific notes, either on disk or in printed form.



Apple's Boy Wonder:  Chris Espinosa

If an astrologer were to plot the birth charts of Chris Espinosa and Apple
Computer, he would no doubt discover a conjunction occurring in the year 1976.
While Apple's star was rising over a garage in Cupertino, a fortuitous meeting
was about to take place between a 14-year-old boy and a computer.  It was a
meeting that would link them together on an unexpected 10-year journey to
success.

While some kids were fascinated with baseball, airplanes, and chemistry sets,
Chris Espinosa was fascinated with computers.  During the summer of 1976, at
age 14, he had just been introduced to the concepts of computing and computer
programming, and was already pounding out little BASIC programs on
teletypesQ"big clunky monsters" connected to the phone lines and remote
computers.  That summer, he hung around the new Byte ShopsQearly retail
computer stores.  Luckily for Chris, they were all conveniently located on the
county bus route.

It was there that he encountered a strange kind of computer.  Instead of a bag
of parts you assembled yourself, it came preassembled on one board.  Instead of
dozens of lights and switches that you toggled in programs in binary, it had a
keyboard and a video display screen.  Instead of saving programs on paper tape,
it used cassette tape.  This amazing machine was the Apple I and it was sold by
a 21-year-old named Steve Jobs.  "I was hooked," Chris recalls.

Chris had another propitious encounter that summerQwith the Home Brew Computer
Club.  This was a very early User Group of 250 people who got together to talk
about the computers they were building.  Chris and his high school friend Randy
Wigginton started going to the club, but being 14 had its disadvantages:
neither of them was old enough to drive.  So fate arranged for Chris to live
two blocks away from Steve Wozniak, the other half of Apple Computer.  "I
started catching rides with Woz in his Fiat for the 20-mile trip Palo Alto,"
said Chris.  "And of course, we all sat together in the back row of the
auditorium at Home BrewQme and Woz, Jobs, Randy, and a couple of other guys who
were hanging around.  That's how I sort of fell in to the Apple crowd."

What happened next reads like a chronicle of Apple folklore.  As Chris tells
it, "I spent Christmas vacation of my sophomore year in high school in Steve
Jobs's garage.  They had just built the first prototype of the Apple II and Woz
had put the basic language in ROM so you didn't have to load it from cassette
tape any more.  But building something into ROM is a big commitmentQonce it's
there, you can't change it.  So I spent the whole week of Christmas vacation in
this unheated garage testing it, trying every command and every statement to
make sure it worked."  The allure of Apple computers was already proving
irresistible to this young wizard.

A short time later, Apple leased its first offices.  "There were two big empty
rooms," Chris remembers, "with half a dozen telephones with comm lines
scattered around.  We hooked up our computers to the phones and played comm
line wars by trying to make the other guy's phone ring.  This was great.  We
now had an office we could have fun in."  And that's where Chris spent his
afternoons and summers during the rest of his high school years, writing the
first color and high-res graphics programs for the Apple II.  In fact, he even
spent a few nights there.  "I stayed up all night with Woz once working on a
demo program," Chris explained.  "I wandered home around six in the morning and
was promptly grounded."

When it came time for him to go to college, Chris knew more about the Apple II
than just about anybody.  So Apple sent him off with an extracurricular
assignment: writing the first comprehensive reference manual for the Apple II.
Nine months later, Chris had not only written all 200 pages of the original
Apple II Reference Manual, he had edited it, laid it out, pasted it up, had it
typeset, and managed to stay in school.  From then on, he became Apple's
writer, producing manuals for the Apple /// and software programs, such as
ApplePlot and the Apple Graphics Tablet.

During the next three years while Chris was sitting in his room at U.C.
Berkeley writing books, Apple Computer was undergoing big changes.  The company
was reorganized several times, people were hired, laid off, and fired.  There
was a million-dollar year, then a million-dollar month, then a million-dollar
week.  The company began issuing stock, then went public, and became the most
successful computer company in the history of American business.

It was about that time, in the summer of 1981, that Steve Jobs made Chris an
offer he couldn't refuse.  Jobs asked him to be his publications manager, to
hire people and create a group.  At the time, Chris was planning to go back to
Berkeley to finish his senior year.  As Chris put it, "I didn't want to work
for a living.  I was a college student!"  But two things changed his mind: the
salary Jobs quoted, and the company's offer to send him back to school in a
year and pay for it.  Chris has been with Apple ever since.


At age 20, Chris hired 10 people, engineering a group that did the docu
mentation (both user and technical) and training materials for the Macintosh.
In no time, he found himself manager of a 30-person group putting out 20 books
a year.  But, as Chris observed, "The higher up you get in management, the
further you get from the products."  And after six years of doing
documentation, Chris wanted to get back to the products.  That's when he moved
to Guy Kawasaki's software group as manager of developer support, and later to
product management where he started the systems software product management
group.  Today, Chris is the product manager of UNIX on the Macintosh II and of
"an extremely hot piece of new software" that he can't talk about, and is
involved in every phase of the products' development.  You might say he's come
a long way from the Cupertino garage.

In reflecting over his years at Apple, Chris has this to say, "I was there when
we first shipped the Apple II.  I was there when we shipped the Macintosh,
which was the biggest high of my life.  And this new thing I'm working on is as
exciting as either of those.  That's what keeps you going for 10 years, working
on exciting new products, and coming out with some extremely neat stuff."

Whether or not Chris Espinosa was born under a lucky star, his destiny seems
inextricably entwined with the company he saw grow from 2 people to 5000, from
one product to many, from revolutionary yet primitive computer boards to
technologically advanced state-of-the-art powerhouse computers.  In a sense, he
and Apple grew up together.  And after only 10 years, perhaps their symbiotic
relationship is only just beginning.



Get Ready for AppleFest!

Members of Apple User Groups, stand up and be heard!  Your chance to recognize
the best public domain (PD) software for the Apple II family is coming.  We'll
be heralding PD programmers and paying tribute to five top PD programs at
AppleFest* in San Francisco, September 18-20.

Within the next weeks, Apple will be asking User Groups to nominate the best
public domain applications.  Software will be judged in the following
categories:

ProductivityQfor timesaving applications, accessories, and all-around helpers
EntertainmentQfor the greatest PD game in the Apple II family
CreativityQfor the best thinking, designing, or creating tool in the public
domain
AppleWorks* EnhancementQfor the best template or other "add on" to AppleWorks
Apple IIgs*Qfor the PD program that takes the best advantage of the advanced
graphics and sound capabilities of the IIgs

Winning programmers will receive great Apple prizes.  Look for more details
from your User Group leader and in future issues of Quick Connect.



Special Help for Special People

Finding the perfect product to meet a specific need is a challenge we all face.
But that task just got a lot easier for the many local community groups who
support disabled computer users.  Apple has announced the formation of the
National Special Education Alliance (NSEA)Qa coalition that gives these groups
access to the information and resources they need.

Until now, these groups and organizations have been working independently to
help disabled individuals use microcomputers in schools, at home, and on the
jobQfrom finding the best hardware and software tools to providing the
necessary training and equipment.  As members of the NSEA, these groups can now
share their information, ideas, and expertise on a daily basis using
AppleLink*QApple's on-line database, electronic mail, and bulletin board
system.  They will also have access to a comprehensive special education
database, maintained and updated by Apple's Office of Special Education, as
well as to SpecialNet, an independent network from National Systems Management,
Inc.

In addition, charter members will receive computer equipment, training, and
technical assistance from Apple, and will work closely with about 50 developers
who have designed special software and adaptive peripheral devices to aid the
handicapped.  The NSEA will also put members in touch with professional
associations across the country.

As the director of one resource center described it, "The excitement generated
in local community groups as they teach, learn, and support one another can now
be shared at a national level."

User Groups wanting more access to groups supporting the disabled should
contact Robin Coles or Jacquelyn Brand at:
   Apple Computer, Inc.
      Office of Special Education/NSEA
   20525 Mariani Ave., MS 36-M
   Cupertino, CA 95014
      [phone]




Announcing  AppleShare 1.1

AppleShare, the file server that lets Macintosh users share information on an
AppleTalk* Personal Network, has just been enhanced.  AppleShare 1.1 is now
required if you use a Macintosh II or LaserShare* 1.0 Print Spooler software,
or need to run concurrent applications.

If you are using a Macintosh II with over 1MB of RAM as your server, AppleShare
1.1 supports up to 50 users logged on simultaneously.  Although you won't need
a monitor or card on a Macintosh II server, both are required for initial
startup.

Additional enhancements include passwords that appear in readable form when
first entered or changed (once accepted, passwords are displayed in dots), and
a RAM cache that is automatically set by the server at startup.  The new
software includes System 4.1 and Finder 5.5 which improve performance when
using disk drives over 32MB.




Nationwide Computer Learning Month Set for October

An exhibition of computer-inspired activities, a time capsule to be opened in
2001, national contests, and "back-to-school" nights for parents are among the
activities planned to celebrate Computer Learning Month, October, 1987.

Co-sponsored by Apple and organized by leaders in the computer and education
fields, the national nonprofit campaign will encourage students, educators,
parents, and community leaders to explore the potential of computers as
learning tools.

Celebration activities planned for Computer Learning Month include national
student and teacher contests.  Students are invited to submit
computer-generated art, noncomputer art on computer themes, essays, and
open-ended creative group projects.  Teachers are invited to submit innovative
lesson plans that use computers to enhance learning.  Prizes for winning
entries include computer systems donated by Apple and software packages donated
by leading software publishers.  Deadline for entry is October 22, 1987.

Look for the User Group role in Computer Learning Month in the next issue of
Quick Connect.  And, for more information on contests, prizes, and activities,
contact:
   Computer Learning Month
   P.O. Box 19763
   Washington, D.C.  20036-0763



Trivia Questions


   What is the CAPS LOCK key called on an Apple ///?

   What color was the case of the Apple I?

   The president of what corporation sent a letter to Apple when the Macintosh
was introduced:  Atari, Pepsi, McDonald's, or IBM?

   Who invented the mouse, or "rodentiometer" as it is known technically: Steve
Jobs, Alan Kay, Doug Engelbart, or Jef Raskin?

   What was the price of Apple stock at the first public offering in December,
1980?

   Where was the Apple II introduced?



Trivia Answers
ALPHA LOCK

Any color you wantedQit didn't come in a case

McDonald's  (He wanted to make sure that we didn't shorten the Macintosh name
so people would confuse it with the two all-beef patties that came with special
sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun.)

Doug EngelbartQ20 years ago at Stanford Research Institute  (It was Larry
Tesler of Apple's Advanced Technology group who discovered a software trick
that allowed a one-button mouse to achieve the accuracy of a two-button mouse,
while eliminating the errors that occur when people get the buttons mixed up.)

$22 per share

At the first West Coast Computer Faire in San Francisco in 1977



This Month in Apple's History

JUNE
1976Q  Jobs meets the executives of Regis McKenna Advertising.
1977Q  The Apple II becomes available to the public.  Fully assembled and
pretested and priced at $1298, it includes just 4K of standard memory and comes
equipped with two game paddles and a demo cassette.  Customers use their own TV
set as a monitor and store programs on audio cassette recorders.

       Apple's monthly orders reach the $1 million annual sales rate

   The first Apples are shipped to Europe through an independent distributorshi
called Eurapple.

1978Q  Annual sales of $10 million is achieved and Apple's Disk II is introduce
1979Q  The Apple II+ is introduced.
1980Q  Regional support centers open in Boston; Charlotte, North Carolina;
Irvine, California; Carrollton, Texas; and Toronto, Canada.
1982Q  Apple enters the Fortune Double 500 at number 598.
1983Q  The millionth Apple II rolls off the assembly line.  It is the first to
awarded in the "Kids Can't Wait" grant.


JULY
1976Q  The Apple I is introduced.
1979Q  The Apple Education Foundation is created.
1980Q  The Carrolton, Texas manufacturing facility opens.
1981Q  Singapore manufacturing facilities are announced and the Caribbean
manufacturing facilities are opened in Sunnyvale, California.

   Mike Scott announces he will leave AppleQboth as an employee and board membe

   Apple begins to air commercials featuring Dick Cavett as spokesman.

1982Q  The Apple Dot Matrix printer is introduced.
1985Q  The Office of Special Education is formed.



Paging Dr. Macintosh
M.D.s planning to attend Boston MacWorld in August may be interested in a
special panel on Macintosh in medicine.  Headed by Medi-Mac Users Group leader
Dr. Scott Finley, the panel will address the microcomputing needs of the health
professional, emphasizing medical education and information management.
Apple's Joe Hutsko, Technical Assistant to John Sculley, will also participate.
Check the MacWorld agenda for full details.

For more information on the Medi-Mac Users Group, write to:
   Medi-Mac, c/o Steven Locke, M.D.
   Dept. of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Hospital
   330 Brookline Avenue
      Boston, MA   02215




Staff
Directors:  Ellen Leanse and Phyllis Farnam
Contributors:  Chris Espinosa, Scott Schnell, Mike Agron, and Don Kirkwood
Editor:  Janet Joers
Design and Production:  Aplin & Uno

1987 Apple Computer, Inc.  Apple, the Apple logo, AppleLink,  AppleTalk,
AppleWorks, Disk II, LaserWriter, MacDraw, MacProject, MacTerminal, and
MacWrite, are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.  Apple IIgs,
AppleShare, LaserShare, and Macintosh are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.
AppleFest is a registered service mark of Apple Computer, Inc.  UNIX is a
registered trademark of AT&T Information Systems.  MS-DOS is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation.  IBM is a registered trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation.