Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Path: utzoo!utstat!philip
From: philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough)
Subject: Re: A low blow from Apple
Message-ID: <1990Sep28.235301.1441@utstat.uucp>
Date: Fri, 28 Sep 90 23:53:01 GMT
References: <9009230630.AA24367@apple.com> <1990Sep24.032342.12923@utstat.uucp> <7117@darkstar.ucsc.edu>
Organization: Statistics, U. of Toronto

In article <7117@darkstar.ucsc.edu> unknown@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (The Unknown User) writes:
>
>In article <1990Sep24.032342.12923@utstat.uucp> philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough) writes:
>>The Amiga500, which is the computer most bring up, does not have better
>>graphics. It does have graphics' coprocessors and, unless you are into
>>interlaced graphics' modes, it basically has similar graphics to those
>>of the GS. But it doesn't have Quickdraw, is hard to expand, has a small
>>educational software base, and is not for educational users a heck of
>>a lot less than the GS. It is based on the 68000 cpu which makes life
>>a lot easier.As for the sound not being as good, that is an understatement.
>	I was wondering if you think that education is the main
>(or seemingly close to ONLY) use for the GS... It seems that in your whole
>long post (that I'm responding to right now) you follow along completely 
>with Apple's "the GS is for education" belief.. [For the time being, I'll
>ignore the fact that they're now pushing MACS into education]

Well let me simply state that the main target area for the GS should be
education. With that as a foundation, and with better connectivity to
Mac's via both hardware and software( eg improving AWGS on the GS, adding
a better "productivity' graphics' mode to the GS such as 512x384 or whatever
is possible, and putting AW onto the Mac) you then have reasons for families
to buy a computer for home. In this case it would be basically a             
home/educational computer with a minor role assigned to doing work, such as
connecting to your work computer system via a communications' package or
doing some work using AWGS which could then be transferred to the Mac's at
work.
 
I think the problem you are having with my post is that I do not believe in
a home computer market. I can see a home/business computer such as the
PS/1 or a low cost Mac and I can also see a home/educational computer which
can do a bit a work. This latter role is where I see the GS fitting in. It
needs some improvements and a lower price, but it should remain primarily
an education based computer. Forget about the GS for business. It isn't the
place for it. That area is dominated by Intel based computers and the Mac.
There may very well be a place for Unix workstations now in business. The
new NeXT computers have raised some interesting possibilities.

Most computers need a base. This is why I have been sceptical about the
Amiga, as it does not really have a well-defined target base( apart from
the very small video market). The Amiga500 is not really aimed at this
video market, and I have to wonder about the higher end Amigas in the face
of competition coming from workstations( such as the NeXT) which are
dropping in price every day. Look, it's around $3000 for a complete grey
scale 040 NeXT for educational users. That price is just very appealing
and prices will only drop. True a colour system costs more, but not that
much more. That leaves the Amiga without a target base. Why bother spending
x amount of $'s on a system to play games. It doesn't make sense. There are
dedicated game players available, and these will presumably improve and
become less expensive. Of course, people have to either rent or buy the
games for a Nintendo system. I am assuming that families are basically not
buying computers because they can "pirate" thousands of games.

As for the Mac's going into schools, that's great. They are nice computers.
So is the GS. There's room for both. It is to everyone's benefit if our
children have enthusiastic teachers, interesting computers,etc... I don't
see a plot here to get rid of the GS. The GS needs a healthy Apple. Apple
is in an industry which is fast changing and in which the competition is
very heavy.

Between IBM and the workstations, I'd say they have their hands full. It
must be rather exciting working for them now.

I suggest you have a closer look at the prices for the new NeXT computers
and the bundled software( note that SoftPC will be available for the NeXT).
I would see if this announcement affects pricing on the new upcoming
Apple products.

These are interesting times, very,...

Philip McDunnough
University of Toronto
philip@utstat.toronto.edu
[my opinions]