Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!voder!pyramid!ctnews!unix386!dtynan
From: dtynan@unix386.Convergent.COM (Dermot Tynan)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Sun's Competitive Strategy (Was: Re: P1754
Message-ID: <1635@unix386.Convergent.COM>
Date: 30 Nov 90 21:36:57 GMT
References: <1990Nov16.225515.494@zoo.toronto.edu> <1990Nov25.194404.3376@dircon.uucp>
Organization: Unisys/Convergent, San Jose, CA
Lines: 30

In article <1990Nov25.194404.3376@dircon.uucp>, uad1077@dircon.uucp writes:
> 
> It's hard to imagine
> that the market for Macs could be many times bigger if they were
> clonable.

With all due respect, I think this has more to do with your imagination,
than the size of the market.  The Marketplace has accepted the Mac very
readily, due to its software advances.  Let's face it, you can only go
so far with the MS-DOS prompt, C>, which is of course, based on the CP/M
prompt, A>, which is in turn based on the RT-11 prompt, \n. .  I'm not saying
I prefer the Mac interface, just that the majority of the computer-buying
public do.  That majority would be a lot larger, if the machine sold, say,
for $600.00!  It would be a prerequisite in every new home in America (3
bedrooms, washer, dryer, Mac II).  AT&T were very embarrassed, when the
Federal Government demanded they lower their charges, and they started
making *more* money.  A lesson lost on the "Pepsi" generation at Apple.

> In a sense the Mac follows the Japanese consumer electronics 
> thing of making sure that everyone who sees one WANTS one.

How about an analogy (I know, I know, everyone hates analogies).  Ferrari
have done a good job of "making sure that everyone who sees one WANTS one".
Honda, however, sell more cars and make more money.
						- Der
-- 
Dermot Tynan	dtynan@zorba.Tynan.COM
		{altos,apple,mips,pyramid}!zorba!dtynan

	"Five to one, baby, one in five.  No-one here gets out alive."


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