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From: drc@claris.com (Dennis Cohen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Why is Apple pushing CD-ROMs?
Message-ID: <10960@claris.com>
Date: 27 Mar 90 20:50:06 GMT
References: <22775@topo.UUCP> <-286499949@hpcupt1.HP.COM> <858@ashton.UUCP> <1134@vector.Dallas.TX.US> <7409@goofy.Apple.COM> <33521@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> <15210@muvms3.bitnet>
Organization: Claris Corporation, Santa Clara CA
Lines: 22



I think that Apple is pushing CD-ROM as a distribution technology.  The cost
of production is under $2/CD (including materials) for CD-ROM vs a wholesale
cost in excess of $50/disk for EO, before duplication.  Since Apple, like
most American companies, lists everything for about 5x cost since that means
that things like MPW and A/UX only include a $10 cost component for that
piece rather than $250.  This seems to be borne out in the latest APDALog,
where the MPW C + Object Pascal Update Bundle is $50 on CD and $100 on floppies.
This would imply a cost of about $225 on EO.

I agree with the assessment that EO is a better storage technology
than CD; however, I think that CD is a better (read, more affordable)
distribution technology.  Now, what I would really like is to get an EO drive
that could READ CD-ROMs (treating them like locked volumes).  That would be
the best of both worlds.

-- 
Dennis Cohen
Claris Corp.
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Disclaimer:  Any opinions expressed above are _MINE_!