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From: sobiloff@agnes.acc.stolaf.edu (Chrome Cboy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Rumor -> Loss of Mac's 20% advantage over Windows 3.0
Message-ID: <1990Jul3.143206.940@acc.stolaf.edu>
Date: 3 Jul 90 14:32:06 GMT
References: <40218215MES@MSU> <42382@apple.Apple.COM> <42383@apple.Apple.COM> <1990Jun27.180718.3155@portia.Stanford.EDU>
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In article <1990Jun27.180718.3155@portia.Stanford.EDU> aaron@jessica.stanford.edu (Aaron Wallace) writes:
>It's also funny that the only thing that most Windows-bashers have to say
>about Windows is that it isn't Mac-like.  I mean, what a revelation...

The MacFans out in net.land use the word Macintosh to describe the proper way
of maintaining consistency and ease-of-use in an interface. So, when they (and
I) say that Windows isn't Mac-like, what they are saying is that the
level of consistency and ease-of-use is not up to the Macintosh's levels.

>If people want a
>Mac (and are independently wealthy) they'll buy one.

This is a common mistake--compare the prices of Macintosh with "True Blue"
boxes and the Macintosh has a price advantage. Now of course there are clones,
which significantly upset this advantage, but then that brings into the
picture the argument concerning research costs, etc.

>I'm more used to Windows
>(although I'm typing this between crashes on a IIfx) and find many aspects
>of the Mac interface different, confusing, and at times limited.

How so (esp. limited)?

>Why would Microsoft want to "beat" Apple to any finish line?  Microsoft makes
>software, Apple, computers.

False. :-) Apple "makes" software, and bundles boxes to run it on. The soft-
ware is what differentiates Macs from all other computers, not the other way
around. Anyone can put together a '020/'030 box, but not just anyone can write
the Mac OS (legally, at least... :-)

I don't know if there is such a thing as a "finish line" in the computer world-
what is it? More platforms than the other side? Better hard/software? Regard-
less, by producing Windows, Microsoft has put themselves in competition with
Macintosh because they are trying to sell the same virtues that cause the Mac
to sell-an easy to use, powerfull interface. Now of course there is quite a
lot that can be said about the level of hardware integration that Apple
accomplishes, but Microsoft isn't competing on the hardware level.

>I've never 
>understood why so many Mac users are anti-Windows.  I would think that, if
>Windows provides a much larger user base than the Mac ever could, then Mac
>software developers would benefit from being able to sell stuff to Windows
>users as well.

What Mac users are worried about (if they worry about these things) is that
Mac developers might migrate completely to the Windows-world because it is
so much larger, leaving Macintosh out in the cold, or at least a box that is
supported as an afterthought. Not that I think that this will happen, but...

>Aaron Wallace


--
Global warming--what a crock! Remember 10 years ago when the cause of the year
	was global cooling? Let's get some real evidence first, folks...
Now, more than ever, we need SDI. Why? The threat isn't a massive strike by the
	Soviets anymore, it's a couple of missles launched by a lesser power.