Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!tank!gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu
From: gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Is Apple Dumping Mac IIs?
Message-ID: <5789@tank.uchicago.edu>
Date: 12 Oct 89 17:18:36 GMT
Sender: news@tank.uchicago.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Lines: 40

In article <1989Oct12.163734.26748@agate.berkeley.edu>, steve@violet.berkeley.edu (Steve Goldfield) writes...

[indications that Apple will stop selling Mac II]

> 
>I suppose it makes some sense since Apple now has
>the IIcx,i and IIx. But I bought a Mac II in the first
>place on the grounds that its six slots would enable it
>to be upgraded as the technology advanced. Apple's
>strategy of obsoleting it seems to be a betrayal of
>that reasonable, to my mind, expectation.
> 
>Plainly, Apple will make more money the way they are
>going. But they will also generate still more ill will.


It seems at times that _whatever_ Apple does, it's accused of being a heartless
money-hoarding capitalist giant.  Sheesh!

The Mac II is  probably being phased out, not as part of some evil money-making
scheme, but because the technology -- particularly the 68020 -- has been
surpassed by Apple's 68030 models.  That doesn't mean that a Mac II itself is
obsolete: although you can't upgrade it to a IIci, in all likelihood Apple will
be releasing a Mac II based screamer at some point; in fact it's been rumored
that the (rumored) 33 Mhz model may be based on a II/IIx platform.  I would
doubt that Apple will ever completely abandon the 6-slot platform because: a)
there are a lot of them out there, and b) because more than 3 slots are indeed
necessary in many high-end applications.

In any case, you should be able to upgrade your II with an '030 board, 50 Mhz
versions of which are now available at huge prices, slower versions at lower
prices.  Just wait to make sure which '030 boards are compatible with System 7.

Robert

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