Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!pacbell.com!ucsd!ucrmath!rhyde
From: rhyde@ucrmath.ucr.edu (randy hyde)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: AE Rumors
Message-ID: <13028@ucrmath.ucr.edu>
Date: 24 Mar 91 17:30:30 GMT
References: <1991Mar23.004352.9545@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> <13008@ucrmath.ucr.edu> <1991Mar24.091116.27945@mthvax.cs.miami.edu>
Organization: University of California, Riverside
Lines: 50

>>>>>
Perhaps it is time for all of us to let AE know what we think of their
current thinking.. including the use of a 900 number at $1.50 per min
(including while you are on hold) for Apple II tech support...
<<<<<

While I must agree that AE actions are reprehensible, I don't feel that
writing nasty letters is the way to change any opinions at AE.  They are
in business to make money, not to make people happy.  If you really want to
change their attitudes, start buying stuff from them.  Get your friends to
buy stuff from them. Alas, blasting them because they are making a reasonable
business decision isn't going to increase their support for the Apple II.

Now you're probably say "Gee, I've already bought everything I want from AE,
why should I spend any more money there?"  Good question.  OTOH, if you've already
purchased everything they offer, why would you care if they support the Apple II
line anymore?

The Apple II line is dying a slow death due to economic starvation.  Nothing
else.  Apple Computer still loves the machine.  Why would they still be selling
it today if they didn't?  OTOH, economic realities are beginning to set in.
If the Apple IIgs does everything *you* need it to do, great. Don't waste
your money on another computer until this changes.  However, the future is
definitely with an architecture other than the Apple II.  1978-1991 may not
be "forever", but no other computer has come close to lasting that long (yet!).
The Mac and PC will definitely last longer (as commercial products) than the
Apple II, but nothing else has.  And only time will tell if anything ever
will.  Before you cry too loud about Apple (and others) deserting us, think
about this: TRS-80, Exidy Sorcerer, Commodore PET/VIC-20/64/128, PCjr,
Apple III, Lisa, Atari 400/800, S-100 (pick a brand, any brand), Victor 9000,
Mindset, Apple I (!), and on, and on, and on.  All in all, we've done pretty
good.

Ultimately, we cannot place the blame on Apple for the demise of the Apple II
line.  The 65xxx   processor technology simply hasn't kept up.  The 65832,
if it really exists, is too little too late.  25Mhz Zip chips may make a great
niche product, but you can't get the devices in quantity (in fact, any quantity)
today.  And it's questionable what the system performance would be like when
they get stuck in a machine with 80ns RAM.

Now that the Mac and PC have captured the lion's share of the business market,
I couldn't imagine Apple producing a great Apple II computer, even if a great
chip were available.  It would cost too much to evangalize the developers to
switch to the new platform.  Look at the problems Jobs is having with the
NeXT.  That is a great machine, but it isn't selling well at all (indeed,
the last figures I saw show the Apple //gs outselling the NeXT).

Even if you decide to switch to another machine, hang on to your Apple IIs,
in a few years they will probably be collector items.
*** randy Hyde O-)