Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!mcnc!ncsuvx!lll-winken!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!pt.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!eb1z+ From: eb1z+@andrew.cmu.edu (Edward Joseph Bennett) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware Subject: Re: Scoop on New Macs and Printers. Message-ID: Date: 9 Jul 90 21:54:42 GMT References: <803@lee.SEAS.UCLA.EDU>, <642800005@ENS.Prime.COM> Organization: Class of '91, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 31 In-Reply-To: <642800005@ENS.Prime.COM> >amanda@mermaid.intercon.com (Amanda Walker) writes: > >:KPURCELL@LIVERPOOL.AC.UK writes: >:: Anybody any idea why Apple are bringing out their new low budget machines >:: based on the 68020, rather than the 68030? >: >:Well, seeing as they're supposed to be as cheap as possible, my first >:guess would simply be cost. A 68020 + socket is loads cheaper than a >:68030... >Well, I don't know about this for two reasons. One, I seem to recall reading >in an article about the time the IIx came out that Apple, with its large >order-size clout, was able to convince Motorla to sell 68030s to Apple for >about the price of a 68020. The article also rumored that perhaps Motorola >wanted to get everyone to go to 68030s so they could stop making 68020s. >Second, from a cost of manufacturing point of view, it is cheaper to put a >one chip on a board (a 68030) than a chip and a socket (68020 and MMU socket). >Jim Cook >J.Cook@ENS.Prime.COM From what I heard the '020 are less than $100 in bulk while '030 are still around $300. Anyhow I what you say may be true but I'm sure prices have changed considerably since the intro of the IIx (That was ages ago in computer time). I doubt that there are long term fears about '030 production. Most people fear a temporary problem while the courts untangle this. Most are confident of a settlement. Ed