Xref: utzoo comp.sys.next:14804 comp.sys.mac.misc:10180 Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!uupsi!pbs.org!TALOS!jhagen Newsgroups: comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Desktop publishing Message-ID: <1656@TALOS.UUCP> From: jhagen@TALOS.UUCP (Jarom Hagen) Date: 27 Mar 91 19:12:47 GMT References: <1991Mar25.024612.1264@mlb.semi.harris.com><1991Mar26.053352.13091@mendelson.c om><1991Mar26.195213.12862@noose.ecn.purdue.edu><1991Mar26.213042.8120@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> Distribution: world Organization: NPRI, Alexandria VA Lines: 59 melling@cs.psu.edu (Michael D Mellinger) writes: >In article <1991Mar26.213042.8120@gn.ecn.purdue.edu> jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle) writes: >Again, look at the number of programs, the diversity and the quality. >100 applications is more than anyone is going to buy in one's >lifetime. This is the kind of attitude that would prevent Apple from >releasing an innovative machine. Apple does have the potential to >"throw away" the Mac and start over again. Wait a minute, even if Apple decided to stop selling Macs tomor- row, I would still be able to use it as long as I have a way of getting necessary parts for it. You see, I don't need to upgrade because what I have does what I want well enough. Apple will de- cide to innovate when its current product is determined to become obsolete, not when people's attitudes permit innovation. I wonder if the fact that low-cost Macs are hot sellers might in fact slow down the Macs obsolecence. I for one, do not expect Apple, IBM, Next or any other company to make the same computer forever. I still have my Apple II+ that does just as much as it use to do nearly 10 years ago when I bought it for an outragously high price. (Well it seemed like a good price back then :-)) I can't go to my local computer store and buy an Apple II+ anymore. Do I care? No. I can get parts for it (I replaced the power supply and the keyboard). I don't use it much anymore either. I find my MacIntosh a much more pro- fitable machine to use now. I spent $3700 for a system that now I doubt I could get $370. But, that old system made over $4000 in profit for me. The MacIntoshes, printers and software I bought have made me even more money in Desktop Publishing. Although I think the Next is a neat machine and reasonably priced, I will not go buy one unless it can be shown to be worth the investment. I have invested a lot of money in what I have already. If the Next can only do the same thing as the Mac, there is no reason for me to buy the Next even if it is faster. Someone just starting has to make a decision on what computer does what they want best. In my opinion, you should consider Ma- cIntosh or Next for desktop publishing. PCs don't cut it and workstations are a little too expensive to be very profitable for that kind of work. (Disclaimer: this doesn't mean PCs aren't useful, I have one of those machines too and I find it very use- ful. But not for desktop publishing.) 100 programs in a lifetime sounds a little low to me. If you count every program I ever bought for a computer, it must be ap- proching 50 by now. That averages out to about 5 programs a year. I hope to live longer than only 10 more years. :-) Jarom -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Not paid for and/or endorsed by National Political Resources Incorporated. 602 Cameron St, Alexandria VA 22314 (UUCP: ...uunet!uupsi!pbs!npri6!jhagen)