Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!nyser!rodan!djhill
From: djhill@rodan.acs.syr.edu ( Number_6 **)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Apple's committment to the // line
Message-ID: <1051@rodan.acs.syr.edu>
Date: 17 Oct 89 01:16:08 GMT
References: <8910142319.AA12106@trout.nosc.mil>
Reply-To: djhill@rodan.acs.syr.edu ( Number_6 **)
Organization: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Lines: 33

> Apple could use a healthy dose of good old stodgy corporate management.
      
Joe,  you've got to be kidding!  That's just what Apple is suffering from.
Look at IBM.  They have plenty (!) of corporate management and look at where
it gets them.  OS/2 PM is horribly late, now spectaular breakthroughs w/
PC's (compared to Compaq (new portable), Zenith, etc), mainframes are
at a standstill (Tandem's new one blows a 3090 away).  Why?  Partly because
management is still nurturing old products along.  I see nothing wrong w/
milking development expenditures for as much as possible, but you have to
keep researching (those Whizkids, remember) else all your left w/ is ancient
hardware and nothing to match the next guys new box.
   I think Apple has definitely _not_ failed w/ the 65xx series.  Considering
how old the II is I thinks it's done (is doing, sorry) extremely well.  For
all the bitching and moaning that goes on about how Apple screwed us over
again, Apple has done a lot more than any other computer vendor I can think
of in terms of support (new machines, new operating systems, developer
 assistance).  I don't see Commodre w/ (at least) three people on
developer support full time.  Where's IBM's answers to programmer's questions?
Ok, I aggree that perhaps the prices are high (compared to the competitions)
but look at what you get - new operating systems (semi) regularly (ProDOS 16,
GS/OS...), oppurtunities to upgrade your machine to a newer and better
model, and backward compatibility of software if you do upgrade.
  I think we've all taken for granted Apple's approach to upgrades, new
enhancements, etc.  How many other machines is even one upgrade offered?
If I've got a PC/AT, I can't upgrade to a PS/2 (ok, I can, buy a new machine
:-), or can I swap motherboards from a Atari xxx to Atari yyy?  At least
you have that OPTION w/ an Apple (both // and Mac).

Well, I've rambled for quite long enough and after re-reading it it isn't
even coherent(! but what the hey, I'll post it anyway.

- Doug Hill
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djhill @ rodan.acs.syr.edu