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From: time@tbomb.ice.com (Tim Endres)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Time for Apple to move on from Mac (Not B&W)
Message-ID: <1CE00001.ei4b8l@tbomb.ice.com>
Date: 6 Feb 91 12:58:20 GMT
Reply-To: time@ice.com
Organization: ICE Engineering, Inc.
Lines: 72
X-Mailer: uAccess - Mac Release: 1.0.5+


In article <0B010004.tr5b1m@outpost.UUCP>, peirce@outpost.UUCP (Michael Peirce) writes:
> > 
> > I have to agree here.  It's time for Apple to stop fixing things up to run on
> > 68000 Pluses and Classics, and start building a new set of machines, including
> > a brand new OS, from scratch.
> 
> Right.  Just dump on all those people who have 68000 class Macintoshes.
> 
> Remember, their are lots more 68000 based machines out there than
> Mac II class machines.  The Classic is selling very well and so this
> situation isn't going to change any time soon.

This is important. As long as a large pool of machines is in active
use, developers will continue to create new software and improve existing
software for that machine. Look at the Apple II, or the IBM PC (DOS
versus OS/2, text versus Windows). Clearly, as time marches on and
new technology replaces old, the older generation dies. So be it.
The market will drive this. Money talks.

> I think the Mac is much easier to program now than it was years ago
> even though there is more in the toolbox now.  Things like MacApp,
> Jasik's debugger, and the THINK environments make life much easier than 
> it was in the days of Lisa Pascal!  I remember the compiling in Magamax C 
> on a "Fat Mac" (512K!) and it would start consuming video RAM when it got 
> low.  When that screen filled up with garbage your code had grown too big.
> 
> Programming the Mac these days is do much easier.

No question about this!!!
I remember *enjoying* my MacXL (Lisa) because MegaMax didn't "eat"
my display!
With the existing programming tools and the latest ROMs, the Macintosh
is easier than ever to program.
This does not mean that it could not be VASTLY better. Just that it
is far better than before, and probably far better than most platforms.

> Please Apple don't leave all those 68000 users in the dust just to
> shut up those few souls with Unix envy (Unix? ick, hack, phuhy!)

I personally feel that Apple could move to completely new CPUs and
do a virtual rewrite of the MacOS and still maintain incredible levels
of compatability and simplicity. I am not saying they should maintain
binary compatabilty, but if a developer can port to the new platform/OS
with nothing more than a recompile and several code modifications,
then this is very acceptable.

This happens now, for all practical purposes everytime Apple releases
new systems or Macs. My IIfx was NOT binary compatable with everything.
Programs required modifications and updates. I waited a couple months
and had what I wanted. I believe the same thing would happen with a new
platform, if Apple retained the important aspects of Macintosh programs
at the Manager level.

And Apple could move into new areas, such as pre-emptive multitasking
and RISC processors and the like.

> (Sorry, but I just get so tired of hearing about how I should switch
> to Amiga/Next/whatever...)

I wish people would come to realize that we *want* some different
computers. The world would be in sorry shape if there were only one
type of car, one type of truck, one type of TV, etc. Computers are
a tool, and as such, the best tool for the job should be chosen.

tim.


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