12/1/91 7:57:45 PM Opening "CHAT120191" for recording. Guest: Phil Shapiro, Balloon Software Balloon Software: 5201 Chevy Chase Pkwy. NW Washington, D.C. 20015-1747. AFA Bard : Welcome to the Apple // Education Forum Weekly Chat! We'll get started in just a few moments! AFC Tooter : =====\=========+===SILENCE PLEASE===+==========/===== AFC Tooter : ======\========+==ABSOLUTE SILENCE==+=========/====== AFC Tooter : =======\=======+==ABSOLUTE SILENCE==+========/======= AFC Tooter : ========\======+=======PLEASE=======+=======/======== AFA Bard : My goodness, Toot. You know how to build a Macro! Take it away, Gayle! :) AFL Gayle : OK. Let's get started. Our guest tonight is Phil Shapiro from Balloons Software AFL Gayle : Balloons Software is located in our Direct Connect. With that, I'll let you GS ERIC : HI!!! AFC Tooter : Hi Eric, Teacher, we're just getting started. AFL Gayle : give your introduction, Phil. Remember, we have one free hour to give away AFL Gayle : again tonight to open up the Holiday Season. :) PShapiro : Hi folks. I started Balloons Software a year ago to distribute some PShapiro : of the educational games I've made. The other software companies weren't PShapiro : interested in my software, but kids got a big kick out of the games. So PShapiro : it made a lot of sense to start my own company. AFL Gayle : (Eric, listen. Phil is telling us about his company. :) GS ERIC : Thanks :) PShapiro : Right now the company distributes Number Squares, a disk of fun logic PShapiro : puzzles. The disk has been recommended for the educational guidebook PShapiro : Only the Best, and has been licensed to three school Districts. PShapiro : Our second disk is expected out soon. :)_ AFA Bard : Wow! Can you tell us more about Number Squares? PShapiro : Bard, Number Squares is similar to the hand-held "Fifteen" logic puzzle. PShapiro : You slide the numbers back into order, after the computer mixing them up a bit. Panda4 : How do you see about getting a license for your school district? GS ERIC : How do districts go about getting a hold of a demo (if there is one) or a... GS ERIC : a license....(Panda4 :) PShapiro : I send out free demos to any school district who wants to take a look. Panda4 : That, too! PShapiro : Licensing is negotiable, depending on the size of the school district. GS ERIC : yes....I'm sure ours would...GS or IIe ? PShapiro : It runs on any 64K Apple II, including the II+ and Mac LC. PShapiro : (Eric, send me e-mail address.) GS ERIC : Great, I will get a hold of you for a demo :) MaryEz : Networkable? PShapiro : Mary, yup. Not copy-protected. GS ERIC : any off disk copy protection? MaryEz : Price? Panda4 : What grade level are the logic puzzles for? AFA Bard : Yea!!! Congrats for trusting your users! Let's hope people do the RIGHT thing! GS ERIC : What are your expansion plans in the future Phil? PShapiro : No off disk protection. Price: $25/single. $65/lab pack. Grades: K-8 GS ERIC : That's a great price MaryEz : What is price for legal networking? PShapiro : (But can be used by high schools. The puzzles get quite difficult at times. GS ERIC : What type of documentation does it come with? Panda4 : :) <-- not good at puzzles. PShapiro : Mary, networking prices are negotiable. PShapiro : Eric, comes with 25 page dockyards, with suggested classroom activities. PShapiro : (I've used this software with my own classes for about two years.) AFA Bard : How are your products sold? Through magazines? Toll free number? GS ERIC : High School Special. Ed or normal PShapiro : Product sold by mail order, directly from me. Accept checks, purchase GS ERIC : Phil, what are your future plans...do they depend on sales of this one? Panda4 : Hi Marty! PShapiro : orders, and large anonymous cash gifts. AFL Marty : Hi! AFL Marty : (afk, uploading) GS ERIC : WELCOME MARTY! AFA Bard : Welcome Marty/Jn! We're talking with Phil Shapiro from Balloons Software PShapiro : Eric, glad you asked about future plans. Our second disk is quite exciting. PShapiro : It's a creativity product named Big Text Machine. In some ways it's a little PShapiro : like Adobe Type Manager for the Apple II. Panda4 : :) PShapiro : Big Text Machine displays any ProDOS text file in a large attractive font. AFC Tooter : Hi Marty, Joel. PShapiro : You can control the rate of display and a whole bunch of other things. GS ERIC : Phil, would you ever consider writing software GS specific? (SOUNDS COOL!!) GS ERIC : when is the expected release? MaryEz : Would it be appropriate for sight impaired kids? PShapiro : Eric, I like HyperStudio, and may very get into stack Production . Panda4 : That's neat. Does it use large fonts or scalable ones? GS ERIC : Great! GS ERIC : When will this be out? PShapiro : Target release date: Feb. 1992. Yes, very helpful for visually impaired. PShapiro : The font size is about 36 points. Jaggies are almost Imperceptible. AFL Gayle : Very helpful for motivating ALL students! GS ERIC : great, will you ever consider ad's or mail order MaryEz : Can you show type on screen as you are working as in Beagle Write? MaryEz : or is it for display only? PShapiro : Ads have not proved very helpful in the past. Also very expensive. GS ERIC : true, but yo might try GS+ they aren't that bad there PShapiro : Mary, you can't display text as you type. This is for presentation only. AFL Marty : ! PShapiro : Thanks, Eric. I'll keep GS+ in mind for publicity. MaryEz : Thanks, that won't help me unfortunately. AFL Marty : You might want to talk to the folks at Big Red Computer Club too. GS ERIC : mail order.... GS ERIC : That's right (I'm impressed) Marty PShapiro : Mail order is handle directly from me. (To minimize mark-up costs.) AFA Bard : How 'bout an address? AFL Marty : (Doesn't take much to impress you. :) MaryEz : What is your mailing address? PShapiro : There's a free demo you can get. Send e-mail if Interested. PShapiro : My mailing address is listed over in the Direct Connect, I'm pretty sure. GS ERIC : Great, I will e-mail yo before I sign off :) PShapiro : Anyone else out there doing software development. PShapiro : ? GS ERIC : hehe AFL Gayle : Phil, how about uploading the demo in the New Files Library here in AED? PShapiro : Sure, Gayle. I can do that. The demo is called Large-Text JoyReader. GS ERIC : Thats a good idea Gayle, aren't uploads free on AOL? AFL Gayle : Yes, Eric. :) MaryEz : When you say presentation, Phil, do you mean both print and screen? PShapiro : Oh, I forgot to mention that Number Squares has been compared with the PShapiro : Sunburst software. GS ERIC : what about MECC"s? AFL Gayle : Whose review compared them, Phil? PShapiro : Mary, Big Text Machine can send output to any Images printer. MaryEz : Thanks, Phil. PShapiro : The Iowa City School District compared Number Squares to Sunburst software. GS ERIC : I haven't seen anything in the InCider/A+ new products about this... GS ERIC : you might want to mention it to them :) AFA Bard : Phil... in your DC area you mention "Balloon Software's Goals" -- and they look GREAT! Can you share TEACHER ms : Hello All !!! AFA Bard : a few of them with these folks? GS ERIC : yes please.... GS ERIC : hi TEACH AFL Gayle : Uh, that's a sore subject with Phil, Eric. Seems they won't review Number PShapiro : Eric, Number Squares was reviewed in the June, 1991, inCider. GS ERIC : hmmmmm maybe I did see, sorry AFC Tooter : Hi Murray. GS ERIC : I'll have to look back and read it AFL Gayle : Hmmm.... I was mistaken. Thought there was a problem with the release date, AFL Gayle : Phil. TEACHER ms : Hi Toot :) PShapiro : My goals are to distribute affordable educational programs to as wide a GS ERIC : Phil, I have to mention.... PShapiro : student population as possible. AFA Bard : hang on Eric... GS ERIC : that it sure is GREAT to have another dedicated Apple II publisher out there!!! PShapiro : Balloons is concentrating on II+/IIe/IIc educational Programs. Teacher jn : Why stop there what about us IIGS educators!??? GS ERIC : IIe is more popular and abundant! MaryEz : Yea, JN. PShapiro : Actually, the GS is kinda tough to program, to be Honest. AFL Gayle : The programs work fine on the GS, too, Prize. GS ERIC : Though I wouldn't mind seeing GS products (GS Eric) GS ERIC : (I hope it's NO for the near future) Would you ever consider Mac? AFA Bard : And the other goals? I liked the one about "making the world a better place... " :)) PShapiro : Thanks, Bard. I sort of forgot about that goal. :) PShapiro : Eric, I've been studying HyperCard (Mac), but don't plan any products soon. GS ERIC : Good, HyperCard/Studio GS is SO much better :) GS ERIC : and the overall GS computer of course :) AFA Bard : Phil, where do you hope your company will be in 2 years? PShapiro : With Pointless scalable fonts, HyperStudio really shines. AFA Bard : (Regarding products, market saturation, etc. :) GS ERIC : !!!!!!!! PShapiro : Bard, I'd like to do more collaborative work with other developers. At some PShapiro : point I'd like to get into publishing too. The current educational computing Panda4 : Phil, you might check with Mike Nuzzi at Triad. PShapiro : publications don't cover the field adequately, to my mind. GS ERIC : Any specific developers? PShapiro : Thanks, Andy, for the suggestion. AFA Bard : Don't cover the field? What do you mean? PShapiro : Eric, I'm planning some projects with the Teachers' Idea and Info Exchange PShapiro : at the moment. MaryEz : Phil, I would like to see a good keyboarding disk appropriate for elementary school kids which does GS ERIC : Thats good, it sounds like your really on the go, which is great MaryEz : not stress words per minute. AFL Gayle : Another one of our Direct Connects (That one shared with APR) run by TIIE Jim. PShapiro : Mary, it's tough coming up with a keyboarding drill that is not stressful in PShapiro : some way. The QWERTY keyboard is just difficult to learn. GS ERIC : Welcome back Marty Teacher jn : Let's NOT forget those of us who are in IC!! :)))) GS ERIC : IC??? AFA Bard : Hmmm... are you a Dvorak devotee, Phil? AFL Gayle : Industry Connection = IC. PShapiro : I love Dvorak, composer, but stick with QWERTY, keyboard. Teacher jn : Shame on you Eric, ...Industry Connection AFA Bard : LOL!!! GS ERIC : Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa GS ERIC : I'm sort of 1/2 a sleep :) AFA Bard : ** Balloon Software: 5201 Chevy Chase Pkwy. NW Washington, D.C. 20015-1747.** (Just in case!) PShapiro : BTW, AFL Gayle is beta-testing Big Text Machine. PShapiro : Thanks, Bard. AFA Bard : What! (::: jealous!!! :::) Teacher jn : It's OK, being you're a GS person!! Panda4 : Bard :) MaryEz : Me too! AFL Gayle : You have to have a media center to qualify, Bard! :) AFL Gayle : (And subscribe to ALUG to know about it. :) MaryEz : How about a lab? AFA Bard : sigh. GS ERIC : you guys....shhhhhh AFA Bard : Phil, you mentioned earlier that you might be interested in publishing? Can you elaborate? AFL Gayle : Seriously, the premise that the beta testing of Big Text Machine is set up AFL Gayle : around is that media centers are where people go to read other people's AFL Gayle : writings, so it's only natural their computers should display the best of the AFL Gayle : student writers in the school. AFA Bard : sigh^2 ;) GS ERIC : Boy Bard, your getting burned :) PShapiro : Big Text Machine will sell for $35, postage included. So it's quite affordable. MaryEz : Sounds like something we could use to print out our scraps for ScrapBookUSA displays. AFA Bard : Great idea, Mary!!! GS ERIC : I really like this low price bit Phil (EXCELLENT idea) AFC Tooter : Yea Mary! PShapiro : You can also record the big text output to videotape. GS ERIC : especially for schools on a budget crunch IC Gerry : Right, Mary..I was just thinking that! :) PShapiro : Everyone is in a big budget crunch, these days. :( AFC Tooter : Re-hi Andy. Panda4 : Oopps, my node nodded off :/ AFL Gayle : Great idea, Mary! :) AFA Bard : Welcome Back, Andy! TEACHER ms : Hello Andy :) MaryEz : Can you assign color to the printer output for color printing? AFL Gayle : After Big Text Machine, what programs are in Balloons Software's future, Phil? GS ERIC : re hi.Panda! PShapiro : Mary, you can't do color output with Big Text Machine (other than using a PShapiro : single color ribbon.) GS ERIC : Phil, is there any sort of import/export things with programs like AppleWorks? PShapiro : Gayle, I've written a couple dozen interesting programs. I haven't decided PShapiro : yet how to package them. Maybe an Echo product might be produced. PShapiro : Eric, Big Text Machine displays text files only. But it will convert AppleWorks Teacher jn : Echo ?? What's that mean ?? AFL Gayle : For those who wondered, ALUG=Apple Library Users' Group. Publication supported PShapiro : files to text files, when needed. AFL Gayle : by Apple, Inc. for all types of libraries. PShapiro : The Echo II speech synthesize, JN. AFA Bard : Ordering info. for ALUG publications? Teacher jn : Thanks! ;)) GS ERIC : import and/or export? PShapiro : Eric, no export. But import, yes. AFL Gayle : Uh, you just have to write to be added to their mailing list, Bard, if you're AFL Gayle : a librarian. GS ERIC : thanks GS ERIC : I definitely want to be on the list, I'm getting all excited tonight! MaryEz : Write to whom, Gayle? PShapiro : I'd suggest that anyone interested in Big Text Machine stay in touch with AFL Marty : Bard's the librarian of AED, isn't he? :) PShapiro : the Teachers' Idea and Information Exchange. They're planning on a coordinating Panda4 : LOL!!! GS ERIC : (and number crunchers) right? Teacher jn : You may have explained this already, (arrivin' late) how much can one see on AFA Bard : For those who missed it earlier: For more information about Big Text Machine and/or Number Squares you AFA Bard : can reach Phil at Balloon Software: 5201 Chevy Chase Pkwy. NW Washington, D.C. 20015-1747. Panda4 : Good try Marty!! Teacher jn : their screen using the BTM ??? AFA Bard : RIGHT, Marty. LOL!!! GS ERIC : Sqyares (slap) PShapiro : a students' writing exchange. AFC Tooter : It's all ours now, Bard!!! PShapiro : Anyone made any interesting stacks (of any kind) out there? GS ERIC : Phil, do just operate out of your home besides your teaching job? PShapiro : I've been playing around with StoryWorks. Panda4 : Some. AFL Marty : I'm working on a font catalog stack for HyperCard IIGS. GS ERIC : is that the thing by Scholastic? AFA Bard : We've got TONS in our libraries, Phil. Check the NEW FILES and STUDIOWARE libraries. PShapiro : Yes, world headquarters is right in my own home. GS ERIC : Are they runtime Bard? AFA Bard : Really, Marty? EXCELLENT! Keep us posted on THAT one! GS ERIC : hehe AFA Bard : :) Phil. Teacher jn : I'm waiting for Tooter to create stacks for his Scrappers BookUSA! PShapiro : Eric, StoryWorks is published by TI&IE. MaryEz : I'm finding it harder and harder to get the time for learning new software. StoryWorks is one MaryEz : that I would like to use and also, HyperStudio but no time. GS ERIC : I'll have to look into that, has anyone had any experience with the pkg. from AFA Bard : I know what you mean, Mary. So many programs, so little time! GS ERIC : scholastic? AFA Bard : You mean HyperScreen, Eric? Just a bit. AFA Bard : REHI GAYLE! GS ERIC : yes AFC Tooter : She's back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AFL Marty : Which one Eric? HyperScreen? PShapiro : Eric, TI&IE = Teachers' Idea and Information Exchange. GS ERIC : yes GS ERIC : yep, thanks IC Gerry : GMTA, Mary & Bard..You should try doing that with three computer types..:) AFL Marty : I've seen it advertised. That's about all. AFL Gayle : Re-Hi. GS ERIC : Which are IC Gerry : Gayle, we missed you! :) MaryEz : Can't imagine three, two is enough. AFL Marty : I can't see any advantage it has over what's already available. GS ERIC : boooo hooooo AFL Gayle : Apple Library Users' Group, 10381 Bandley Drive M/S 8C, Cupertino, CA 95014 AFA Bard : One is plenty, Mary. :) PShapiro : Oh, does anyone do telecom with kids. I wrote an article in this month's GS ERIC : I'll almost get a response from Apple :( MaryEz : Thanks, Gayle. AFL Gayle : Our chat guest next week is Joe Davis who will tell us about the Bering Bridge AFA Bard : THANKS for the address, Gayle! (They don't call her AFL for nothing! :)) PShapiro : Enhance newsletter about doing direct chats with kids. TEACHER ms : We have three !!:) GS ERIC : that was you!!!! AFL Gayle : from Nome, Alaska to the USSR. TEACHER ms : No, four ;) GS ERIC : I liked that one a lot PShapiro : Thanks, Eric. :) AFA Bard : And... ONE MORE TIME... visit the BALLOON SOFTWARE Direct Connect area online for more information AFL Gayle : Now for our free hour before I have to scoot away to our meeting. Our winner MaryEz : He's doing TIN too on the 11th, Gayle. Teacher jn : I've ask for a free enhanced, have yet to receive it! AFA Bard : on Balloon's products... or contact AFA Bard : him at: Balloon Software: 5201 Chevy Chase Pkwy. NW Washington, D.C. 20015-1747. GS ERIC : It will come, Enhance is comparable w/InCider! AFL Gayle : tonight is Panda4, for using the word, logic, tonight! AFL Gayle : *Applause* Teacher jn : PShapiro, maybe you can U/L the article to AOL ??? AFC Tooter : And *Drum Roll Start* Hooooray for a winner!!! AFA Bard : Hooray for PANDA4! *************** ()()()()()()()()()() ********** AFC Tooter : *Firing 2* veggies of congratulations GS ERIC : yippi Panda4 : Thanks Gayle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MaryEz : We all do telecommunications quite extensively, Phil. AFC Tooter : Soap bubble chimeras, glistening sweetly. TEACHER ms : Congrats, Andy !!! AFL Gayle : You're welcome, Andy! :) AFA Bard : TOOT!!! LOL! PShapiro : Mary, tell me more. IC Gerry : Congrats, Andy!!!!! :) AFL Gayle : Thanks to Phil for coming! :))) MaryEz : I can't get a word in edgewise!!! PShapiro : Thanks for inviting me. IC Gerry : What is Enhance? :) GS ERIC : Well It was enjoyable as always, if I don't get a free hr. I might go broke :)) AFL Marty : Tooter has obviously never served cafeteria duty. Panda4 : Thanks, Phil. A really great chat!! PShapiro : Enhance is the free newsletter from Quality Computers. AFL Gayle : Free newsletter from Quality Computers, Gerry. GS ERIC : Gerry...By Quality Computers! Panda4 : LOL!!!!! Marty!! GS ERIC : I'm shocked AFL Gayle : VERY true, Marty! :) Teacher jn : A newspaper that one of the Teacher mail order comp. sends out!! GS ERIC : bye Andy AFC Tooter : *Pizza/tasty* Panda4 : Bye Eric MaryEz : Phil, go to Electronic School house and School to School and Student to student folders. ScrapBookUSA GS ERIC : congrats TEACHER ms : Quality Computers AFL Marty : Otherwise, he would know that PEAS make the best projectiles. AFA Bard : ENHANCE: Quality Computers: P.O. Box 665, St. Clair Shores, MI 48080. Worth a look!!!!! or 800-443-6697 AFL Gayle : Good night, all! Thanks for coming! :) Panda4 : And that's why he's the AFA!!! IC Gerry : Murray!!! I was just in your town...:) AFC Tooter : So long all. Got to go help my daughter on the IIe. Goodnight. GS ERIC : bye AFL Marty : sigh... staff meeting Panda4 : Bye Toot!! Teacher jn : My mistake .... :((( AFA Bard : G'night folks! Look for the edited log tomorrow! :)) GS ERIC : MICHIGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I get overnight deliv. for no ext. cost TEACHER ms : Why didn't you call, Gerry ? AFA Bard : Thanks for coming! GS ERIC : night all! PShapiro : Thanks much, Bard. AFA Bard : Thank YOU Phil!!! AFA Bard : Great Job! GS ERIC : That's it Hoke MaryEz : Nitey, nite/ AFA Bard : **************** END OF LOG *************** 12/1/91 9:00:34 PM Closing Log file.