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From: es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Mac and Amiga (Games--Macintosh vs A500)
Message-ID: <1991Mar14.231832.7342@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
Date: 14 Mar 91 23:18:32 GMT
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In article <7906@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> blissmer@expert.cc.purdue.edu (Corey) writes:
>
>My only point is that the A500 is a rip off.  Yes, you can add a drive, case,
>and powersupply.  But only at a price.  For $499 you get a machine without
>a monitor, SCSI, HD case, SIMM memory, Appletalk(even cheapo Tandys have this). For $749 you get a classic with SCSI, appletalk, _monitor_, and a killer OS. 
>There is no better buy today than the Classic.

	While admittedly it is time the A500 went in for an
overhaul, hey, I don't want the Classic's _monitor_. It is a tiny
$6 B&W screen. The A500 for $500 comes with the ability to
connect it directly to your TV if you really want to save money.
And I do agree that most real applications don't need color,
still the SIZE of the display is frustrating. It also comes with
starter software. Admittedly, there is no SCSI, which would be
nice.  Admittedly there is no AppleTalk, which can be useful for
some, although many people who need networking would do better
with Arcnet/Ethernet.
	And, we won't get into another OS debate.
>
>They are suing two companies: HP & Microsoft.  They are suing over a stolen
>look and feel.  Commodore and NeXT were not sued, because they _innovated_ when
>they wrote their OS.  Micosoft saw a good thing and xeroxed (pun intended) it.
> 
>Apple is within their right (and duty) to protect the validity of their
>copyright on look and feel.
> 
>Can you imagine a world where anyone could make a functional copy of Excel by
>analyzing the operation of it and release it as their own program without
>innovating.  Look at Windows.  Use it.  Use a mac. Tell me Microsoft innovated.

	This is the way I look at it:
1) All VCRs look alike
2) All Blenders look alike
3) All telephones look alike
etc.
etc.
etc.
	They all have the same look and feel, almost without
exception. There is no "innovation" between different brands of
blenders. Yet there are no lawsuits there. I think the same
should apply here. As long as it isn't duplicated exactly and
there is no copying of actually source or binary, so be it.
	-- Ethan


A tourist in New York City was overheard asking a New Yorker,

	"Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to the statue of
liberty, or should I go f*ck myself?"