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From: ddev@wam.umd.edu (Don DeVoe)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: A rough future for the Amiga??? I think not.
Message-ID: <1990Apr10.144310.15133@wam.umd.edu>
Date: 10 Apr 90 14:43:10 GMT
References: <1451@mindlink.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@wam.umd.edu (USENET Posting)
Reply-To: ddev@wam.umd.edu (Don DeVoe)
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Lines: 34

In article <1451@mindlink.UUCP> a218@mindlink.UUCP (Charlie Gibbs) writes:
>     Agreed, the ad doesn't claim that the IIfx is the first computer
>to use coprocessors.  But you have to read the copy very carefully to
>realize this.  The phrase "with the power of two additional personal
>computers" was set within dashes; Strunk and White would no doubt call
>it a "non-restrictive clause," i.e. one which merely provides additional
>information rather than distinguishing the item under discussion from
>other similar items.

True, the wording in the ad doesn't hold well againt 'The Elemnts of
Style', but I think the meaning of the ad was reasonably clear with
careful reading (and since when did an ad NOT require that :-)

>     Although any lawyer would have no trouble defending the ad copy,
>it's definitely slanted.  Look at how many people have misinterpreted
>it.  This doesn't prove an intention to deceive, but it wouldn't be
>the first time that an advertisement hasn't been completely honest.
>In any event, I'm sure Apple isn't complaining about the result.

Somehow I doubt that claiming to be '...the first personal computer with
two additional processors...' has given the IIfx that much extra 
business...but I see your point.

>     (I'll stay completely away from the issue of whether the Amiga's
>coprocessors have the power of personal computers - they might be as
>fast as the 8080 in my first personal computer, but they're definitely
>not as flexible.  Whether that's important in a coprocessor is a

It's a fine line, and not one that I'm trying to defend. I just feel
that the ad, as it appears, is nothing to get up in arms about...

---
Don DeVoe
ddev@epsl.umd.edu