Apple ][+ OS - test-drb@ccmp.vtda.org

30 Jan 1998

Well, a 15 character limit's not bad to me at all.  Actually, I've gotten
used to 8 with MS-DOS, which I still use when I want something DONE.
Actually, I was wondering what the heck Microsloth was thinking when they
made it 8 characters.  And, the fact that in the next 5 FULL RELEASES
(Counting only the .0's, 2.0 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0) nothing was done about
it.
    Thanks,

Tim D. Hotze
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Shoppa &lt;shoppa(a)alph02.triumf.ca&gt;
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
Date: Saturday, January 31, 1998 1:05 AM
Subject: Re: Apple ][+ OS

...
 > On Fri, 30 Jan 1998 SUPRDAVE(a)aol.com wrote:
>
> > look inside your ][+ and see if you have a language card. if so, you have
the
...
 > > 64k needed to run prodos. the latest and
greatest version of prodos 8 won't
...
 > > run on a ][+ i think, only an enjanced //e. 
if you dont, you can only run dos
...
 > > 3.3  i myself prefer both. i remember when
prodos first came out and everyone
...
 > > had an issue with the restrictive 15
character limit for filenames. that was
...
 > > back before i worked with mess-dos and that
8.3 filename limit...
>
> The silliest thing they did was restrict spaces in filenames.  You had to
> use a period instead.  Blech.  Its funny when you think about it.
> Intuitively and I'm sure without really think about it, Apple developed a
> very human interface with DOS by allowing one to save files with very
> readable names.  Ie: "BIORHYTHM PROGRAM" or "PROGRAM TO BALANCE
CHECKBOOK"
...
   (30 character
limit).  Then with ProDOS, they regressed into the
 function-forces-form syndrome by limiting filenames to 15 characters and
 requiring periods in place of spaces. 
Under Apple DOS 3.3, you can have anything in a filename you want.
Control characters, inverse/flashing, the works.  Makes for some
pretty neat CATALOG listings, and is actually semi-workable as
a "security through obscurity" step (though every Junior High kid
knew how to bypass it...)

DOS 3.3 made it easy and convenient to access filenames with embedded
spaces.  Too bad Unix shell command lines are traditionally brain-damaged
such that spaces in filenames must be quoted.

Tim. (shoppa(a)triumf.ca) 