Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!tahoe!jimi!arrakis!alfter
From: alfter@nevada.edu (SCOTT ALFTER)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Mac Lc vs IIgs A+
Message-ID: <1991Feb6.055524.24883@nevada.edu>
Date: 6 Feb 91 05:55:24 GMT
References: <460@generic.UUCP>
Sender: news@nevada.edu (News Administrator)
Organization: University of Nevada, System Computing Services
Lines: 25

In article <460@generic.UUCP> taob@pnet91.cts.com (Brian Tao) writes:
>    You need to buy hardware to obtain MS-DOS compatibility however.  You can
>use SoftPC on a Mac to emulate an IBM without additional hardware.  I think
>you get EGA graphics to boot.

Yeah, but how good is it?  I know there are XT and AT versions of it,
but remember--this is a software emulation.  Since we're doing the Mac
LC, can a 16 MHz 68020 pretending to be an 80286 hope to outperform a
real '286 at, say, 12 MHz (the standard AT clock rate these days)?
How about even a 10 MHz 8086--can the emulation match that, since
that's about the performance you get from a PC Transporter?  If the
UNIX-based Apple IIe emulator is any indication, I'd have to question
SoftPC's real-world performance.

You might also consider price.  Mac software is usually obscenely
expensive.  You can slap a PC Transporter into an Apple II and, if you
already have a 3.5" drive, that's all you would need.  You're only
looking at about $300-$350 for _hardware_ that ought to run MeSsy-DOS
stuff better than any _software_ package could ever hope to achieve.
(Unless they make SoftPC run on a RISC box. :-) )

Scott Alfter-----------------------------_/_-----------------------(>o<)
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS IN THE GULF!         / v \ Apple II:
Internet: alfter@uns-helios.nevada.edu (    ( the power to be your best!
   GEnie: S.ALFTER                      \_^_/ Have you killed an Iraqi lately?