Apple IIe - Manual (Page 20)

Page 20 of 74 IIe
Printed: Tuesday, March 4, 2003 10:40:15 AM
Another advantage of integrated software is that the commands you learn for one application
(like word processing) work the same way for the other applications on the disk.
This shortens
the time it takes you to learn the programs and makes you productive a lot faster.
Industry Specific Software
Industry specific software, also called vertical market software, is software that caters to a
particular audience or profession.
It's more expensive than general-purpose software, but
much, much cheaper than hiring a programmer to write software from scratch.
For lawyers there are programs that handle billing, help with research, and keep track of court
appearances and filing dates.
For doctors there is data base software customized to deal with
patient histories, to help diagnose illnesses, and to match allergy symptoms to causes. Other
medical software handles billing and helps process insurance claims.
There are programs for manufacturing control, for scientific measurement and analysis, and for
virtually any area where there is a specialized need for calculating or data sorting.
Vertical market software isn't always listed in software catalogs, but you can find out what's
available by reading the software ads in professional journals, and by attending computer
seminars sponsored by your professional organization.
The American Bar Association, for
example, has a Committee on Computers that sponsors users groups (computer clubs) for lawyers
and promotes conferences and seminars on the use of computers in the legal profession.
Choosing Application Programs
By now you've probably thought of lots of ways you can use the Apple IIe to lighten your
workload or help with your homework.
The next step is to get some application programs and
learn how to use them. If you have a task in mind, but don't know the type of application
program that can handle it, talk to your dealer. The odds are he can help you because there's
an application for any task imaginable from tracking the space shuttle to tracking the acidity
in your barrels of wine.
Build your software collection gradually, the way you build your book and record libraries.
And choose software the way you choose books
on the recommendations of friends.
There are over 16,000 programs for the Apple II family of computers, some from Apple, many more
from independent software developers.
Ask your Apple dealer to help you choose the software
that meets your needs.
Users Groups
If you don't know many people who use computers, you should consider joining an Apple users
group.
Computer-wise friends can cut your learning time in half and help you select the best
software for your needs. Joining a users group can also save you some money most user groups
have a library of free public domain software written by members of the group.
Computer Books and Magazines
If you're too shy or too busy to attend users group meetings, you can find out a lot about the
relative merits of different software packages by reading reviews in computer magazines and by
flipping through one of several software directories available for the Apple II family of
computers.
Computer magazines are available at most newsstands. You'll find software
directories in the computer section at most bookstores.