Before the 100+ MHz Pentium and PowerPC, before the Win95 vs. Mac debate, there was a time when the most computers ran on a 6502 processor (clocked at 1Mhz). It was a time when 128k of RAM was more than enough and the only storage was a 140k disk drive. These computers communicated with one another at 300 and 1200 baud. A color monitor was an expensive luxury. Many just used an old television as their computer monitor. These Apple Computers were in most school systems throughout the country and many parents purchased those computers for their children. I was one of those children. I started sharing an Apple //e with my father in 1983. Two and a half years later, I received my own Apple //c. My last Apple II was a IIGS. I purchased my first DOS box in 1990, ending my Apple II days.

Nowadays, users are divided between the Apple Macintosh and an IBM Compatible. Many Apple II users migrated to the Macintosh platform, while others decided to enter the DOS world. Today's systems perform hundreds of times faster than an Apple //e. Still, there was something about those old Apple II programs that gave them a timeless quality.

One day last year, as I was surfing the Net with my Macintosh Powerbook, I ran across a program called Stop the Madness . STM, written by Kevin Lund and Jim Nitchals, is an Apple ][+ emulator. The Apple ][+ it emulates has color, two drives, and 64k of RAM. Sound is included as well. The keyboard or mouse can simulate a joystick or game paddles. Nearly all of the software written for the original ][+ should work on the emulator. Unfortunately, STM does not allow printing, or saving anything in your Apple II application. A separate program, called Save the Madness, allows saving.

Nostalgic PC users can try out AppleWin . This remarkable emulator, written by Michael O'Brien, allows emulation of both a ][+ and //e with two disk drives. In addition, the user can save data within the Apple II application. Joysticks can be simulated with the keyboard, mouse, or a PC joystick. Like STM, AppleWin does not allow printing. Sound is played through a sound board or the PC speaker. The only downside to AppleWin is the quality of the sound. It tends to jump when playing music.

The main use for these emulators is pretty clear; games. Today's productivity software is far more advanced than AppleWorks. I'm sure nearly every Apple II owner has plenty of games amassed in a shoe box somewhere. Unfortunately, running the Apple II software is not as easy as putting the disk in the IBM's drive.

In order to run an Apple II program, a disk image must be created. The images are binary "snap shots" of a disk and its contents. A true (and working) Apple II must be used to create the images. there are a number of Apple II utilities located at Foghorn. If you have an Apple II, an IBM, and a serial connection between the two, get adt120.zip at foghorn. The program will automatically install itself on your Apple II and will allow for easy image creation.

If you don't have an Apple II, you can download your old software from Stop the Madness requires a Mac II or later. My sluggish Powerbook 180c (68030-33 with FPU) runs it without a hitch. Anything less than my configuration will certainly be a little slow. AppleWin requires a 486 and Windows. It is designed to run with Windows 95 and NT. It will run under 3.1, although the win32s extension is required. Windows MUST be running in 256 color mode in order for AppleWin to work. Running it in higher color configurations will produce some strange effects. I tested AppleWin on a 16 meg Pentium 90 running Windows95.

These two software packages are an excellent way to use and enjoy your old Apple II software. Some of my favorite games of all time are on the II platform. Having the limited space of a college dorm prevented me from bringing my Apple II AND my Pentium. These Apple emulators are conveinvent, and fun! Best of all, both are freely available.

© Trincoll Journal, 1995.