Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!ria!braille!bill
From: bill@braille.uwo.ca (Bill Carss)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: New Apple II generation
Message-ID: <114@braille.uwo.ca>
Date: 20 Nov 90 20:05:55 GMT
References: <9011182054.AA29954@apple.com> <1990Nov20.013635.16221@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: bill@braille.uwo.ca (Bill Carss)
Organization: The Computer Braille Facility University of Western Ontario.
Lines: 48

I believe that the //e compatibility is still worth re-iterating.  I 
have a //e and have resisted getting a IIgs because I don't believe
the improvements that were made outweigh the drasbacks - or things
that I perceive to be drawback:

1.    I prefer the //e style keyboard - the feel of the keys etc.
2.    I also prefer the whole appearance of the computer.  The IIgs
      feels too plastic or artificial.
3.    If you examine the inerds (sorry about the technical terms), the
      interior of a IIgs is (or seems) flimsier than that of a//e.  I
      think it is pretty obvious that good old Apple minimized the 
      construction to save as much as possible.
4.    From my limited experiece with the IIgs I would say that the
      OS is far slower and clumsier than it need be and un-necessarily
      finicky.

All of these things (and certainly many others) would have to be addressed
before I would even consider purchasing a new Apple or a new "whatever".
From talking to other //e users, I am not alone.  Any new system that is
created has to satisfy "the old Apple users" as well as potential customers.
Neither the IIgs nor the Macesques seem to do that.

As far as the "market" is concerned, I believe that it would require 
some serious work!!  Certainly Apple hasn't nor apparently doesn't intend
to promote the II line adequately.  A new system would have to be 
demonstrably capable of performing business applications with lightning
speed and ease of use.  In addition, the price of the unit would have to
be something that doesn't scare the customers away!!  $8000 for a fancy
Mac is a lot of potatoes!!  

To be atractive, this new system would have to come in at around $2000
fully loaded i.e. hard drive, good graphics, sound, and expandability.
If it doesn't come in at this level or less there would be no point in 
even designing it.  Certainly fancy add-ons like the new Amiga 3000
Video Toaster would be great and can be expensive (1595 U.S.) but the
average user and small business need something cheap and good!!

Obviously I'm not a technician.  Neither am I a programmer.  I am a user
who likes the ease of the //e but wants the power of a 386.  I don't 
know if it can be done - but if the "Apple II' line is to survive, 
something of that order is necessary.

Bill Carss
bill@braille.uwo.ca
-- 

Bill Carss
bill@braille.uwo.ca       (Please Note the Lower case!!)