[Blindapple] introduction

[Tony Baechler]

Hi.  Yes, this is what we're talking about.  Read on as I respond to your 
other comments below.

At 06:16 PM 7/27/2005 -0700, you wrote:
>We're talking about what I [and probably several others] refer to as the 
>'Talking Disk', right?  The one from 1984, by Mark Cross, containing:
>
>Talking Writer
>Typing Game
>Dragon Maze
>Space Invaders
>Music Game
>... and at least one other thing that I cannot remember at the moment

1. Talking Writer
2. Typing Game
3. Dragon Maze
4. Space Invaders
5. Music Game
6. Exit

My favorite was always music game, typing game and dragon maze.  I don't 
know why I liked them but I did.  I didn't like Space Invaders and never 
understood it.

>There was also a 'Talking Riddles' disk with riddles and similes and maybe 
>one or two other things...  These were like the two most quintessential 
>"talking" disks in the mid 1980's.

Yep, I have that disk and I think it is still in good shape.  When I played 
with it in 2000 or 2001 it still worked fine.  I don't think Talking Writer 
did but I think I found one good, but very old copy.

>I was just going through all my Apple II disks a few weeks ago and came 
>across both of these.  I only recognized them by the labels; after nearly 
>10 years dormancy I have no idea how good a shape the disks are in, and 
>neither of my Apple IIgs's are set up right now.  :(

Hey, send them to Jayson for imaging.  Obviously there is demand for 
them.  I would like them myself, especially because I wonder what version 
you have.  Note that there is a remote chance that they are still for sale 
since I found a contact address for Cross Educational Software.  I'm sure 
they are long gone but maybe not.  I think they also published other 
software but I don't know what.

>As long as we're hashing through all this stuff.  How many on the list 
>learned to type using 'Echo Type' by Sensory Aids Foundation.

I did.  I used it in the 2nd grade.  I also used Type Talk or whatever it 
was from Lorin Software but never owned it.  I used them only once or 
twice.  I have no clear memory of them.

>Anyone else reading care to share their own memories of growing up with 
>the Echo?

Probably the biggest thing I remember were the Eamon adventures.  They are 
still around and there are still a few new releases now and then.  I 
actually found one long lost game on ftp.apple.asimov.net.  I had only 20 
or so in all because that was all the particular dealer had that talked, 
but I played them many times.  Often I would wake up and spend a day 
playing one.  After I finished it, I would disect it and make changes.  Ah, 
those were the days.  I was far from an advanced programmer, but I got the 
Apple to do some neat tricks sometimes.

Here is a funny story I'll share with you.  Just for the fun of it, I wrote 
a program to make the Echo call me.  Specifically, I set it up to start 
calling me after a few minutes.  So my family and I are all eating dinner 
when my computer, full blast (it was in the bedroom) starts calling 
me.  What was funny about it was that I didn't know myself if it would work 
or not and I told no one.  They were surprised when suddenly my computer 
started calling my name with no one there.  I had a good laugh.  Actually, 
I set it to a high pitch so it would carry further.  I had it repeat, "Tony 
where are you" over and over with a loop.  They caught on of course but I 
did that a few times completely at random just to annoy and surprise people.