Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!jm7e+ From: jm7e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jeremy G. Mereness) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: An open letter to all Apple II lovers/Apple Bashers Message-ID: Date: 4 May 90 21:33:27 GMT References: <9005020758.AA27657@apple.com>, <90122.090654SAB121@psuvm.psu.edu> Organization: Computing Systems, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 75 In-Reply-To: <90122.090654SAB121@psuvm.psu.edu> SAB121@psuvm.psu.edu writes: > In article <9005020758.AA27657@apple.com>, VS83F8@UMKCVAX3.BITNET says: > > > >>>... For example, say you owned a Chrysler > >>>Imperial. Are you necessarily upset that Chrysler stopped making > >>>that car? Were you upset when news got out that they were going to > >>>replace it? By forcing Apple to make such an old machine, with sales going > >>>down, we might all be the cause of Apple's downfall as a company, which in > >my > >>>opinion, makes the best personal computers around. It might be time to move > >>>on. You are missing a big, big point there. What if Chrysler stopped making PARTS?!?!?!? Dealers stopped SERVICING the cars, and shop manuals went out of publication??? and just for fun, have all new cars run on an alternate fuel! NOW I have a right to be Pissed!! That's what it is like when a computer company stops supporting a machine. > >Comment then Question: > > > >Comment:Give me, yourself, and Apple a break and let's talk economics. > > Now, as I understand it, Apple currently has the highest margins > > on its products in the industry, about 50%. That means that on > > each $10,000 mac fx apple sells they get $5,000 *profit*. Let us I don't really find this kosher. Apple's marketing principles have not made them more profitable then anyone else. Just more expensive. The company has demonstrated that it is more short-term than long-term interested, thus the administrative troubles and the short-lived careers of the executives. Meanwhile, the public gets disillusioned and migrates to a platform that is more sensitive to their concerns. You are a mac user. If Apple migrated to an 88000 Unix platform and dropped the Mac+ as obsolete (it is, by the way) how would you feel? Would you settle for a $3000 base-system Unix machine with a Mac emulation mode as an option? Why not? >> suppose for a second that a II product with a 386 power, multitasking > > operating system, fast peripherials, etc as well as compatiblity > > mode with 8bit and gs machines (similar to the dos compatibility > > in os/2) could be built. Let us further suppose that apple could > > market this in a world that is either dos, unix, mac, or mainframe > > oriented. okay. No way could apple maintain a 50% margin, maybe >> 10% which is typical in the clone wars. Have you priced cpu's lately? > > High end cpu's, and let us not forget that to remain compatible with > > 15 year old technology, Apple would have to custom design the chips, > > are VERY expensive. False. The reason I and most other Apple users are so frustrated at Apple is that a Super Apple // would not be a difficult task. Faster chips exist, ASIC promises more, third party companies on limited budgets continue to make miracles, and the hardware glitches are not undefeatable challenges. Apple has the resources, but they squander it on lousy marketing on the Macintosh and executive feuding. And then they pass along the excuse that the Apple // is obsolete. Meanwhile, Commodore marches steadily toward credibility with a faster, more capable machine built with an ambitious attitude. I want a // that has Apple's software and reliability and the power rivaling the Amiga. It is a crime that the Amiga is known for its music capabilities when the //gs has a much more powerful sound chip. But Apple let it slide. The bottom line is that Apple doesn't give the // its due. They don't even give it a fair share. Then they (and you) bitch that it is not a worthwhile machine. They dig their own grave and we sink with them. That's worth comlaining about. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |Jeremy Mereness | Support | Ye Olde Disclaimer: | |jm7e+@andrew.cmu.edu (internet) | Free | The above represent my| |a700jm7e@cmccvb (Vax... bitnet) | Software | opinions, alone. | |staff/student@Carnegie Mellon U. | | Ya Gotta Love It. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------