Exploring Business BASIC: for the Apple III

Exploring Business BASIC contains all 23 articles on Apple III Business BASIC as written by Taylor Pohlman for Softalk magazine, including every program developed for use with those articles. They were written at the behest of Margot Comstock and exist because of her encouragement. Demonstrating a number of features and capabilities of the Apple III computer, this book will benefit programmers and users. The contents of the 300 page book are summarized in a Table of Contents PDF.

Availability

Exploring Business BASIC is available in Paperback and Hardback – through the A.P.P.L.E. bookstore with production and fulfillment by Lulu.com. Disk images are available.

Author

Taylor Pohlman — has worked at Apple Computer at least twice. He managed a group of systems engineers, product managers and technical development staff within the Business Development department. He began his career with computers as a high school teacher of math and computer science in Texas, after graduating from the University of Texas. In 1977, Pohlman joined Hewlett-Packard in education marketing and held subsequent positions in product marketing and product support, leaving in 1979 to join Apple Computer as the Education Major Accounts Manager. Soon after, he became the Apple II Product Marketing Manager, where he was responsible for the Apple IIe enhancement program. He then created Apple’s product support group, which had the charter for product training and third party development support. During this time, he developed Apple’s third-party software licensing and technical support program. Pohlman then became the Apple III Product Marketing Manager in 1981, to manage the reintroduction of the Apple III computer. At this time that he began the series “The Third Basic,” a column of programming tips on Apple III Business BASIC, which ran for two years in Softalk magazine.

Pohlman left Apple in late 1982 to found Forethought, Inc. and served as its first president, subsequently becoming Chairman of the Board. The company was started to focus on the “next generation” of graphic user interfaces for application software, and published four products for Macintosh, including FileMaker. After leaving Forethought in 1985, Pohlman was co-founder and president of Regent Systems. With his partner, he designed and developed MAP, the Macintosh-based system currently used world-wide by Bank of America for internal auditing. He also managed the development of GS-BASIC, the new BASIC language interpreter for the Apple IIGS (based on the Apple III’s Business BASIC). Additionally, he developed a Macintosh program for automation of medical laboratory test instruments. In 1986, Pohlman sold his interest in Regent Systems and rejoined Apple. As a former member of the Apple III team, Taylor continues to be a guest speaker at Apple III events and others. He currently is the Principal Consultant at Rohner & Associates and resides in Camden, Maine.

Producers

Brian Wiser — A producer of books, films, games, and events, as well as an Apple consultant, historian and archivist. Designer, editor, and co-producer of dozens of books including: Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From The Computing Revolution, Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Graphically Speaking: Enhanced Edition, What’s Where in the Apple: Enhanced Edition, Understanding the Apple IIe: Enhanced Edition, and The WOZPAK Special Edition: Steve Wozniak’s Apple-1 & Apple II Computers. Brian is also the author of The Etch-a-Sketch and Other Fun Programs. Producer/Director of the documentary film “Done The Impossible: The Fans’ Tale of Firefly & Serenity“, his Browncoat Cruise convention with Firefly cast, and an extra in the movie “Serenity.” Co-producer of Beagle Bros and Applied Engineering websites, the retro iOS game Structris, and co-producer/writer for CallAPPLE.org and Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine.

Bill Martens — Apple historian and enthusiast, programmer, President of Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) and co-producer of Call-A.P.P.L.E. magazine, and books like: Cyber Jack, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Nibble Viewpoints, The WOZPAK Special Edition, and What’s Where in the Apple: Enhanced Edition. Bill also co-produced and co-programmed the retro iOS game Structris. Bill is the author of ApPilot/W1, Beyond Quest, The Anatomy of an EAMON, and multiple EAMon adventure games. He is a systems engineer specializing in office infrastructures and has been programming since 1976. And he is the production editor for the A.P.P.L.E. website CallAPPLE.org, writes science fiction novels in his spare time, and is a retired semi-pro football player.

Publisher

Apple Pugetsound Program Library Exchange (A.P.P.L.E.) has been a global Apple user group since 1978, with membership peaking near 50,000 in 1985. Offering many services, A.P.P.L.E. is also a book publisher and game developer, and has produced dozens of new book titles since 2013 and over 100 Apple software titles. A.P.P.L.E. published the The WOZPAK Special Edition – a detailed book containing Steve Wozniak’s restored handwritten notes and printouts about his Apple II computer, as well as forewords from Steve Wozniak and other Apple legends. They also publish books such as: Graphically Speaking: Enhanced Edition by Mark Pelczarski, Tome of Copy Protection, Cyber Jack: The Adventures of Robert Clardy and Synergistic Software, Synergistic Software: The Early Games, Nibble Viewpoints: Business Insights From the Computing Revolution by Mike Harvey, What’s Where in The Apple: Enhanced Edition, The Colossal Computer Cartoon Book: Enhanced Edition by David H. Ahl, A.P.P.L.E. 1978 and 1979 magazine Compendiums, and the retro iOS game Structris.