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From: rhyde@ucrmath.ucr.edu (randy hyde)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Computer capabilities
Message-ID: <10810@ucrmath.ucr.edu>
Date: 29 Dec 90 20:19:21 GMT
References: <60103@microsoft.UUCP> <10807@ucrmath.ucr.edu> <10461@darkstar.ucsc.edu>
Organization: University of California, Riverside
Lines: 32

>> Two main improvments:
> Faster CPU--

This is handled by a couple of third party products right now.  So *YOU* don't
have any problems.  Of course, it doesn't help Apple II gs sales any, but that
won't particularly affect you either.

What I'd like to see is a *better* CPU.  I don't think the 65c832 is gonna
cut it either (I haven't seen the specs yet, but the last time I talked to
Bill Mensch he was talking about pin compatibility with the '816-- Great for
GS owners, but lousy for future systems).  I'd like to see a 65020 or a 65032
chip with a real 32-bit bus so Apple could build a NUBUS Apple II and let me
swap boards between my Mac II and my Apple II (not to mention 40 Mb/sec transfer
rate).

One of the big problems with the GS, which is why a stock PC (8088) is better
is that the 8088's architecture is *much* better for High Level languages.
While assembly language programs on the '816 probably just edge out asm pgms
on an 8088 (2.8 vs. 4.77 Mhz), *most* programs today are *not* written in
assembly (a sad, but true, fact).  One of the main reasons the GS is getting
so little third party software support is due to the fact that there are lousy
HLL software development tools available (ORCA, APW, and TML pale in comparison
to what's available for the PC).  A better architecture (see one of my
previous articles) would help this situation tremendously.

>> Better graphics

I don't think anyone can argue with this.  At one time AI had an adapter card
that let you plug HMGA and VGA graphic adapters into the GS.  They never
marketed the product however.  Nubus slots on a  new Apple would certainly
eliminate this problem.
*** Randy Hyde