Apple IIgs - Manual (Page 2)

Page 2 of 84 II gs
Printed: Thursday, July 25, 2002 12:14:50 PM
you don't need to write programs unless you want to; but many people prefer writing programs to
using those available. If you think you might be one of those people, read A Touch of Applesoft
BASIC. If you're content to leave programming to programmers, skip the introduction to BASIC
and read the manual that came with one of the programs you got to use with your Apple IIgs.
The system disk documentation explains how to use the programs on the Apple IIgs System Disk.
You'll use the System Disk to prepare blank disks for storing documents, to make copies of
important disks, to delete documents you don't need any more, and to switch quickly from one
program to another. A program that lets you copy, delete, and otherwise manipulate documents is
called a utility program. Read the system disk documentation when you're ready to start using a
program to create documents.
These manuals are designed for people who plan to use the Apple IIgs for writing, budgeting,
record keeping, and things like that.
Chapter 1 - Meet Your Apple IIgs
This chapter defines some essential computer jargon words like hardware, software, application
program, and peripheral device. Then it shows you how to start up the Apple IIgs training disk.
After that, you'll get a chance to use the Apple IIgs's built-in Control Panel Program a
program that lets you customize your computer system much the way you adjust the seat position
and mirrors to customize a new car.
All of these topics are covered in more detail later in this guide.
Application Programs
What you do with your computer depends on the software you're using with it.
Software refers to the sets of instructions, called programs, that tell the computer what to
do. A program designed for a particular purpose, or application, is called an application
program, or just an application.
You can write programs yourself, or you can choose from a library of over 10,000 applications
that are available for the Apple II family of computers.
Applications are stored on disks. You start up an application by putting an applica-tion
program disk in a disk drive and turning on the computer's power.
Disk drives play back information stored on disks much the way tape players play back the
information on tape cassettes.
Disks
You can use two kinds of disks to start up application programs on the Apple IIgs: 3.5-inch
disks and 5.25-inch disks. The main difference between the two types of disks is storage
capacity: 3.5-inch disks can hold 800K (about 400 pages of text); 5.25-inch disks can hold 143K
(about 70 pages of text).
Hard disk: You can also start up Apple IIgs applications from a hard disk.
The standard information storage medium for the Apple IIgs is the 3.5-inch disk because it is
compact and sturdy, and has almost six times the storage capacity of a 5.25-inch disk. But the
Apple IIgs works just fine with 5.25-inch disks, so if you have a library of them, there's no
reason not to use them with the Apple IIgs. The impor-tant thing is that you have the right
kind of disk drive to match your disks.