Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!ucrmath!alchemy!hzink
From: hzink@alchemy.UUCP (Harry K. Zink)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: A low blow from Apple
Message-ID: <157@alchemy.UUCP>
Date: 14 Sep 90 07:10:14 GMT
Reply-To: hzink@alchemy.UUCP (Harry K. Zink)
Organization: Alchemy Software Designs
Lines: 92

Matt,

I would like to respond to your response.  It seems to me that you are reading 
more into my original message, and that I apparently have not clarified myself 
too well.

I am not asking apple to either launch a multi-million dollar ad campaign to 
push the GS;  I am fully aware that the two machines are quite different and 
destined for different individuals;  I am not asking that apple treat the GS as
it does the Mac;  I understand that you (and many other people at apple) build 
toopls to empower people.

Nevertheless, as I have stated, the visible facts displayed by apple marketing 
and administration do not indicate any *relevant* support for the Apple IIgs 
platform.

Sure, you are right that you build machines to empower people, but I am sure 
that you of all people know the importance of SUPPORT to the end user, as well 
as the need to provide the end user with what they need and what the technology
can give them.  Similarly, I am sure you will agree with the need of any sane 
computer company to support third party soft and hardware manufacturers and to 
convince them that the platform they are working for is a viable one.

Your whole effort to empower people falls flat on its face if all you do is 
provide the machine to the end user and then let him figure it out on his own, 
in fact, making sure he realizes that he is now on his own, without a net.  
That is precisely what it seems like apple has done the past few years.

Once again, let me expose a few facets of this problem:

- Apple has not, since the introduction of the GS, released any significant 
upgrade to the machine.  I do not consider the addition of 1 megabyte on the 
motherboard, and fixes to the sound and video circuitry any significant 
upgrades.  Those were 'maintenance' releases at best.  While every other 
computer maker has models (Amiga, Atari,...) that can run circles around the GS
in many areas (except, I admit, sound...), apple seems to believe that a 2.8Mhz
machine, with 640x200 resolution and 16 (forced colors) for apple prices is a 
great deal.  Unfortunately, it isn't.  

- Apple has never, since the introduction of the GS, specified and pursued any 
specific markets for the GS (except education).  The introduction of the 
overlay card, though introducing neat new technology, was too late as desktop 
video has been dominated by the Amiga by then.  Plus, considering the price of 
an apple IIgs desktop video system, the Amiga is still more price competitive 
(ignoring the lack of any desktop video software..)

- Apple still does not continue to inform the public (or even its dealers in 
some cases) that the Apple II exists.  

You see, Matt, empowering people is nice and jolly, but people need to be 
informed about what can empower them.  Apple falls flat on its face on that 
one, except in the Soviet Union (and the only reason Apple advertises in the 
Soviet Union is because the 65xxx series CPU can be imported to the USSR, while
the higher level 68xxxx can not.  Also, the apple II is more familiar in the 
USSR than the Mac [at this moment]).  

I am not asking for miracles from apple, but I would like to see some actions 
and signs from those ivory towers that they do continue to support the Apple II
platform.  Furthermore, your statement that your sole job is to built tools for
people so they can be empowered sounds very grabdiose, but I refuse to believe 
that you are ignorant as to the importance of marketing and market positioning.
If you build a better mousetrap, the world will NOT beat a path to your door, 
unless you tell it about it.

The impression I am getting right now (and judging by other people's comments I
am not alone in that view), is that apple is so caught up in Macintosh that 
they simply do not place any emphasis on the Apple II line.  A computer can 
only empower people if they are told how it can do so, and right now no one at 
apple seems to be the least bit interested in telling people how the apple II 
can empower them.

In fact, I am sure you do not believe yourself that people have sudden visions 
of the right computer when they are looking to solve a problem.  PLease, Matt, 
tell me how can your tool empower people, if they do not know about it.  In 
fact, please tell me how can the Apple II in its current state empower people. 
Taking it on step further, in what ways can the Apple II empower people better 
that Macintosh can if they were both on the same price platform?

I'm really curious about this.  You see, I know what can be done on the 
platform, but all I see is that apple has successfully irritate a good portion 
of its user base, managed to turn third parties away from the GS (while 
continuing well to push them to the Mac - in fact, a wonderful Macintosh 
version of Rescue Raiders is available now...) - in other words, apple is 
giving a good indication that the platform is dead and that it does not care 
about it.  Now, what kind of a person wouold invest in a platform that is 
sending such 'vibes'?  Not many I am sure, and many buyers for which an adequet
GS system would have been enough, are now buying either Macs or PCs.

Building tools to empower people is a good thing to do, Matt, but it is equally
important that these tools remain alive in order to be useful.

Harry