Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!swrinde!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!ncar!mephisto!udel!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!jm7e+ From: jm7e+@andrew.cmu.edu (Jeremy G. Mereness) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: A low blow from Apple Message-ID: <4avzN1a00Ud5I9r2Nu@andrew.cmu.edu> Date: 13 Sep 90 21:12:33 GMT References: <150@alchemy.UUCP> <44737@apple.Apple.COM>, <35793@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> Organization: Computing Systems, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 44 In-Reply-To: <35793@eerie.acsu.Buffalo.EDU> In article <44737@apple.Apple.COM> mattd@Apple.COM (Matt Deatherage) writes: >Whether that's right or not is a totally separate discussion, but you seem >obsessed with the idea that Apple should treat the Apple II exactly like it >treats the Macintosh - if one gets print ads, the other should; if one gets >new CPUs, the other should; etc. No way, Matt. That argument doesn't fly and you know it. It is reasonable to compare Apple's marketing strategies between its two product lines. Perhaps the Mac campaign is not what the //'s should be, but at present, there IS NO // CAMPAIGN!! And we see that as representative of Apple's regard for the Apple // and that customer base. Except for the grade-school base and word-of-mouth, no Apple //'s would be sold to anyone. I stick with the machine because of loyalty and what I perceive as its unanswered potential. It did not size up in 1984 to the competition, and it certainly doesn't now. Apple's neglect in delivering a powerful product has driven away all but a few software companies. University CS departments don't even know what a //gs is, and the brightest development talent is lured away from the machine in favor of something that delivers power TODAY. You seem to imply that Apple "knows what it's doing" with the Apple // and shouldn't be questioned, much less compared to Mac'vertizing. But the Mac demonstrates what resources the company has, and how it will use them when motivated. This is not appearing for the Apple //. Thus, fewer companies produce things for it, ultimately making it less useful to the consumer. If not for Claris, Stoneware, and Beagle, where would the // be? Matt, this board had been quiet about this issue for a time. But this community is too talented and informed to stay quiet for long. And despite the efforts at Kansasfest and other demonstrations of support, Apple has not delivered an improved product, nor have they relinquished any rights so that other companies may step in and take over (read: they haven't dropped the Apple //). Neglect is a sorry state to be in, especially when compared to Apple's prodigal Mac. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ |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. | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------