Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!shelby!portia.stanford.edu!declan
From: declan@portia.Stanford.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: New IBM Threat
Keywords: ibm ps/1
Message-ID: <1990Jul22.175547.26681@portia.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 22 Jul 90 17:55:47 GMT
Sender: declan@portia.Stanford.EDU (Declan McCullagh)
Organization: AIR, Stanford University
Lines: 64

Jeremy Mereness writes...

>Now, though, I hope and pray something comes out in the Fall, because
>IBM has announced the PS/1 line, based upon a fast '286 and sells for
>between 1 and 2 grand complete. It doesn't have a serial port (from
>what I read in PC magazine) but does come with a built-in modem. This
>machine was specifically designed for the "home market" and comes with
>an easy to use, mouse-based interface under VGA graphics.

From a quick glace at the latest Byte, I noticed that you can build a 
complete 12 MHz IBM AT clone system with VGA, a 1.2 MB floppy, a parallel
port, a serial port, a 2400 bps modem, and 1 MB RAM for $1,225.  Add
a few dollars for Windows 3.0.

I don't think that IBM's pricing is revolutionary; far from it.  Perhaps
IBM's name will add some value to its product, but the PS/1 line may very
well be viewed as overpriced and (even worse) a followup to the PCjr.
 
>This is the closest thing yet to a machine in direct competition with
>the Apple //GS, product-description wise and market-wise. And the GS
>can't compete with this thing at its current configuration. We've been
>loyal to our machine, both to its and our credit. But now the gavel
>falls on Apple's neglect. If something doesn't happen soon, IBM will
>swamp the market with these things, just like they did with the
>original PC.

IBM's product isn't anything new - all the PS/1 line may do is add a bit
of legitimacy to the activites of cheap clone-making.

I agree with some of your observations, but not with your conclusions.  IBM has
little chance to "swamp the market" with low cost computers because the
situtation has changed dramatically between the time of the original IBM
PC and now.  Almost a decade ago, few people had computers, and computers
were far from being the legitimate business they are today.  Now, they
the MS-DOS world is quite mainstream, and people (home or business) are
quite unlikely to throw away their existing computers to purchase what
amounts to antiquated technology - a 80286 system is not leading-edge,
no matter what IBM would have you believe.

However, the IIgs is sorely in need of a hardware upgrade incorporating
higher speed and better resolution.  I'm sure most of us agree on that.
I wonder what percentage the profits from the Apple II line go to Macintosh
hardware and software development...  Perhaps none, since the Macintosh is
quite profitable by itself - but I can't help but wonder.

>You guys at Apple, I am concerned and worried. Any comments, no matter
>how cryptic, would be appreciated.

Do you expect them to say something on USENET?  The most rumor-laden
place on earth?  But wouldn't it be nice if Apple Corporate did announce
something officially?

-Declan
 
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>|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.     |
>----------------------------------------------------------------------------

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