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Net-Works II
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<h2 id="development-and-history">Development and history</h2> <p>Nick Naimo (born c. 1945 in <a href="/facts/New_York_City/YlyvFmVC">New York City</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a>) developed Net-Works II independently in the early 1980s as a member of Computer Station, a <a href="/facts/Bulletin_board_system/22d9c9s2">BBS provider</a> based in Missouri.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a>: 61 <a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4"><sup>4</sup></a>: 87 He split amicably from Computer Station to work full-time for Advanced Data Systems,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a>: 61 a start-up software developer in <a href="/facts/St._Louis/22beLecX">St. Louis</a>, Missouri, who developed exclusively for the <a href="/facts/Apple_II/se82CNvK">Apple II</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>: 6 Version 2.2 of Net-Works was released by the company in June 1982.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a>: 56 While working at Advanced Data Systems, Naimo also served as city councilman for the suburb of <a href="/facts/Maplewood%2c_Missouri/p6Dd7uHQ">Maplewood, Missouri</a>. Naimo quit Advanced Data Systems sometime in 1982 to work for the IT department of a printing press in St. Louis before relocating in <a href="/facts/Newburgh%2c_Indiana/WtVXqURA">Newburgh, Indiana</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> to work for Better Business Computers & Systems, a computer store and software publisher based in nearby <a href="/facts/Vincennes%2c_Indiana/ex8aLBwJ">Vincennes</a>. Net-Works II was one of several applications Naimo wrote for Advanced Data Systems;<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> others included a accounting program for small businesses and an inventory program for retailers.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> </p><p>A year after its introduction, Advanced Data Systems transferred the publishing rights for Net-Works II to High Technology Software Products of <a href="/facts/Oklahoma_City/o7P8l8Cd">Oklahoma City</a>, Oklahoma.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> High Technology Software continued selling Net-Works II into the late 1980s.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="features">Features</h2> <p>Features of Net-Works II include:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a> </p> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Text-based_user_interface/bngNtqIY">Text-based user interface</a></li> <li>Individual usernames and passwords</li> <li>Message boards, called <i>forums</i></li> <li>Support for the <a href="/facts/Thunderware_ThunderClock/jadvLfgg">Thunderware ThunderClock</a> and compatible cards</li> <li>Chat mode between the <a href="/facts/Network_administrator/UIwK6HTt">sysop</a> and user</li> <li>Administrative tools</li> <li><a href="/facts/Applesoft_BASIC/H2YH0YS6">Applesoft BASIC</a>, <a href="/facts/Integer_BASIC/Bu2EdGjz">Integer BASIC</a>, and binary program downloading</li></ul> <h2 id="reception-and-popularity">Reception and popularity</h2> <p>Net-Works II received a rave review in <i><a href="/facts/InfoWorld/EJ0zA8FV">InfoWorld</a></i>, with John Prather writing that the "combination of the personal computer and software such as Net-Works II may well be responsible for a phenomenon that will be the 80s equivalent of the <a href="/facts/Citizens_band_radio/tCSXXuTb">CB radio</a> of the 70s".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a>: 55 He gave top marks to the software's performance, error handling, and ease of use, calling it "an extremely easy-to-use program, both from the standpoint of the sysop and of system users".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:19" href="#fn:19"><sup>19</sup></a>: 56 Author Dean Gengle in his book <i>The Netweaver's Sourcebook</i> (1984) called Net-Works II "the best general-purpose bulletin board system" for the Apple II family.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:20" href="#fn:20"><sup>20</sup></a>: 274 The software package by the mid-1980s was a massive success, with the 1986 edition of <a href="/facts/Stewart_Brand/BCSscDzA">Stewart Brand</a>'s <i><a href="/facts/Whole_Earth_Software_Catalog_and_Review/EHw6Q2DL">Whole Earth Software Catalog</a></i> calling it "the most popular of nearly a dozen Apple II bulletin board programs".<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:21" href="#fn:21"><sup>21</sup></a> In July 1984, roughly sixty BBSes were running Net-Works II, according to <i><a href="/facts/Softalk/xBGGvUCG">Softalk</a></i>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:22" href="#fn:22"><sup>22</sup></a>: 97 Writer Matt Yuen wrote that the quality of the Net-Works-based BBSes varied greatly.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:23" href="#fn:23"><sup>23</sup></a>: 98 </p><p>The gambling personality <a href="/facts/Jerry_L._Patterson/IswV9fgY">Jerry L. Patterson</a> opened a BBS running Net-Works II out of <a href="/facts/South_Jersey/zlE8TbWS">South Jersey</a> in March 1984.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:24" href="#fn:24"><sup>24</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_BBS_software/1yRRzWf6">List of Apple II BBS software</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Brand, Stewart (1986). Whole Earth Software Catalog. Doubleday and Company. ISBN 0385233019 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="0385233019" target="_blank">0385233019</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Staff writer (October 14, 1982). "Maplewood Councilman Resigning". St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 2S – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665990/maplewood-councilman-resigning/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665990/maplewood-councilman-resigning/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>Hildon, Karl J. H. (1985). The Complete Commodore Inner Space Anthology. Transactor Publishing. ISBN 0-9692086-0-X – via the Internet Archive. <a href="0-9692086-0-X" target="_blank">0-9692086-0-X</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>Michels, James (March 26, 1983). "Tri-Staters find wide range of tasks for their computers". Evansville Press: 3 – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665830/tri-staters-find-wide-range-of-tasks-for/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665830/tri-staters-find-wide-range-of-tasks-for/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>Needle, Dave (June 7, 1982). "Applefest draws 20,000". InfoWorld. 4 (22). CW Communications: 1, 6 – via Google Books. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=XDAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=XDAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA6</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Staff writer (October 14, 1982). "Maplewood Councilman Resigning". St. Louis Post-Dispatch: 2S – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665990/maplewood-councilman-resigning/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665990/maplewood-councilman-resigning/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Staff writer (December 26, 1982). "Business computer store open". Evansville Courier and Press: 2-E – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665871/business-computer-store-open/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665871/business-computer-store-open/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Michels, James (March 26, 1983). "Tri-Staters find wide range of tasks for their computers". Evansville Press: 3 – via Newspapers.com. <a href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665830/tri-staters-find-wide-range-of-tasks-for/" target="_blank">https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117665830/tri-staters-find-wide-range-of-tasks-for/</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>Staff writer (October 10, 1983). "Micro notes". Computerworld. 17 (41). CW Communications: 63 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/sim_computerworld_1983-10-10_17_41/page/63/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/sim_computerworld_1983-10-10_17_41/page/63/</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Staff writer (November 1983). "Product News: Net-Works II". A+. 1 (1). Ziff-Davis: 198 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/aplus-v1-no1/page/n199/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/aplus-v1-no1/page/n199/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>Musgrave, Bill (January 16, 1987). "Bulletin Boards and Business". Datamation. 33 (2). Reed Business Information: 61–63 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_Datamation70115_56941607/page/61/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/bitsavers_Datamation70115_56941607/page/61/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>Dewey, Patrick R. (1987). Essential Guide to Bulletin Board Systems. Meckler. p. 1987. ISBN 9780887360664 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="9780887360664" target="_blank">9780887360664</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>Yuen, Matt (July 1984). "Keys to the World". Softalk. 4 (11): 97–102 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:19"><p>Prather, John (November 22, 1982). "Net-Works: bulletin-board system for Apple II". InfoWorld. 4 (46). CW Communication: 55–56, 61. <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55" target="_blank">https://books.google.com/books?id=DzAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55</a> <a href="#fnref:19" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:20"><p>Gengle, Dean (1984). The Netweaver's Sourcebook : A Guide to Micro Networking and Communications. Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0201052083 – via Google Books. <a href="0201052083" target="_blank">0201052083</a> <a href="#fnref:20" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:21"><p>Brand, Stewart (1986). Whole Earth Software Catalog. Doubleday and Company. ISBN 0385233019 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="0385233019" target="_blank">0385233019</a> <a href="#fnref:21" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:22"><p>Yuen, Matt (July 1984). "Keys to the World". Softalk. 4 (11): 97–102 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/</a> <a href="#fnref:22" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:23"><p>Yuen, Matt (July 1984). "Keys to the World". Softalk. 4 (11): 97–102 – via the Internet Archive. <a href="https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/softalkv4n11jul1984/page/n98/</a> <a href="#fnref:23" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:24"><p>Petzold, Charles (March 20, 1984). "Count on It". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia Media Network: 36 – via ProQuest. <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/1817418818/" target="_blank">https://www.proquest.com/docview/1817418818/</a> <a href="#fnref:24" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>