Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!munnari.oz.au!ditmela!latcs1!stephens
From: stephens@latcs1.oz.au (Philip J Stephens)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: "I want my Apple II"
Keywords: Apple ][, Apple ][+, Apple //e, Apple //c, Apple //c+, Apple //GS
Message-ID: <7758@latcs1.oz.au>
Date: 2 May 90 15:08:44 GMT
Organization: Comp Sci, La Trobe Uni, Australia
Lines: 45


  I have been following the multitude of complaints about Apple's handing of
the Apple // line with considerable interest. What surprises me is the number of
people who proclaim the Apple // line as being worth supporting, and then go
on to complain about the lack of emergence of the ROM 04 Apple //GS!  Aren't
these people contradicting themselves?
  The Apple // series are great machines, regardless of their outdated
technology, regardless of their seemingly lack of power compared to the
"workhorses" of today.  I doubt that very many Apple owners are actually
putting their machine to best possible use.  Very little software seems to have
been written that actually pushes the Apple // to it's limit.
  What we need is _not_ a new Apple //GS every year with bigger and better
features, but more software written that utilises the existing Apple // line
as never before.
  For instance, if I was to ask you if it was possible to write an arcade
quality game on a 1 MHz Apple ][+ with a fully animated background that
scrolled smoothly up or down at 10 frames per second, how many of you would
raise your hand and say it could be done?  Well, for those of you who didn't,
you will be amazed to learn that it _can_ be done.  I've got the code to
prove it.
  This being the case, imagine what I could do on an Apple //GS; the prospects
are awesome.  Of course, we are not limited to CPU-intensive games here, but
I chose this example as most people tend to be more impressed with a computers
graphics and sound capabilities than anything else.
  We have had numerous reports of non-apple users being wowed by the
Apple //GS's "modest" speed, "modest" graphics, "modest" sound.  So why aren't
Apple users happy?  Isn't their current machine good enough?  I would suggest
that it is!
  Maybe Apple is being a little slow in demonstrating their continuing support
for the Apple //.  Certainly, it's nice to be able to grab a faster, more
impressive machine if it's available, if that's what you want.  But I believe
that it's more important to recieve the software support for existing //'s
than it is to see new hardware on the horizon.
  All I have is an Apple ][+, and it can do amazing tricks.  One day I'll buy
an Apple //GS, but I don't really care if it's ROM 03 or ROM n.  It will do
everything I need a computer to do, and more.  Who needs an IBM?  Who needs
an Amiga?  The Apple // is much more user-friendly than those machines, and
thankfully not over-user-friendly like a Mac!  Isn't that what counts the
most?

</\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\></\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\>
<  Philip J. Stephens                ><   "Many views yield the truth."        >
<  Hons. student, Computer Science   ><   "Therefore, be not alone."           >
<  La Trobe University, Melbourne    ><          - Prime Song of the viggies   >
<\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/><\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/>