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From: jcav@ellis.uchicago.edu (john  cavallino)
Newsgroups: comp.os.os2.misc
Subject: Re: More Flames on OS/2, Windows & Microsoft
Keywords: Apple II color graphics
Message-ID: <1991Feb15.202637.9994@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 15 Feb 91 20:26:37 GMT
References: <1991Feb14.010238.1048@sj.nec.com>
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In article <1991Feb14.010238.1048@sj.nec.com> brahms@NECAM.tdd.sj.nec.com (George Skillman) writes:
>In response to Tom Haapanen:
>----------------------------
>
>> You call the 6502-equipped Apple II an "innovative machine using a decent
>> microporcessor"?  No?  Then you must be getting confused by the 1981 launch
>> of the PC, and the 1984 launch of the Mac.
>
>In its day, I'm sure the 6502 Apple II was an innovative machine.  When IBM
>came out with the PC, the 8088/8086 chips weren't compared with the already
>available MC68000 (which didn't have that damned segmentation).  Remember,
>as I said earlier, the Lisa/Mac were available shortly after the IBM
>PC came out but it's taken Microsoft years to catch up via Windows 3.0.
>Some people argue that with its better use of icons, the Mac is still more
>sophisticated than Windows.  I think the Mac as a complete environment
>is better integrated than Windows patching over DOS.

Do not forget that the Apple II was the first microcomputer with color
graphics (in 1977!). It was also the ONLY one until the Atari 400 and 800
appeared in 1979. (was the VIC-20 around yet?)  The story I heard regarding
the choice of the 6502 was that Steve Wozniak (who designed the Apple II by
himself, sans committee) was going to use the Z-80 (MUCH better choice, IMHO)
but changed his mind because 6502s were cheaper.

Another story I heard is that IBM had three design teams in an internal
competition to design their first PC.  Two teams based their designs on
the MC68000, the third on the 8088.  One design was picked. :-(
Can/will some better-informed person or persons elaborate?


--
John Cavallino                      |     EMail: jcav@midway.uchicago.edu
University of Chicago Hospitals     |    USMail: 5841 S. Maryland Ave, Box 145
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"Opinions, my boy. Just opinions"   | Telephone: 312-702-6901