Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!pro-angmar.UUCP!awillis
From: awillis@pro-angmar.UUCP (Albert Willis)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: The enhanced IIgs...
Message-ID: <8908230425.AA00358@obsolete.UUCP>
Date: 22 Aug 89 22:07:40 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 47

I just wanted to get on my soapbox for a minute about the "new" IIgs:

First, this isn't a new machine, just an enhancement of the tried-and-true
Apple IIgs. While it would be nice to get the functionality of version 3.0 of
the ROM, there's really nothing to upgrade to. This machine and the
older machine running System 5.0 are virtually the same.

It seems to me that alot of people are reacting to the notion that they are
missing out on something. People seem to be looking for yet another reason to
complain about Apple and its supposed lack of support of Apple II owners.
>From what I've seen on AppleLink-Personal Edition and uucp, most of the claims
have no basis in reality.

I feel that Apple has done an excellent job of creating system software for
the IIgs. System 5.0 is such an improvement over ProDOS 16 (remember a year
ago? We were using ProDOS 16!) that it catapults the IIgs into a new level of
usability. I feel at this point that it's much more important that Apple
continue developing the IIgs's system software (and ROM) than worry about
hardware, although that should be happening also.

No, this isn't the machine that Sculley mentioned at last September's
AppleFest. Sculley said "new Apple II cpu in 12-18 months." This isn't a new
cpu, so it obviously not the machine he mentioned. That machine has yet to be
announced.

However, if I were a betting man, I would bet that you'll definitely see
HyperCard GS at AppleFest in September, which is desperately needed if the
Apple II is going to protect it's share of the educational market against IBM
and the Macintosh.

A new IIgs? Maybe, but if not September, definitely May, in Boston. (Which
would be nice, since I live there.)

Apple did a smart thing: it created a IIgs that will run all of the currently
released software packages and run the new system software. For people buying
a IIgs this Christmas, this is very important. Sure, it has 256K of enhanced
ROM, but when there is something to really upgrade to, Apple will be sure to
have this happen.

Apple: can you make sure that the new IIgs has ROMs on SIMMS, so that ROM
upgrades (by authorized Apple dealers, of course) will be quick and painless.
Thanks.

So, lets stop complaining about something we should be congratulating Apple
for. And lets get back to the business of getting the most from our machines.
I, for one, am quite happy with 5.0 and I wondering what else Apple has up its
system software sleeve.