Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!remus.rutgers.edu!declan From: declan@remus.rutgers.edu (Declan McCullagh/LZ) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: 60 Minutes Message-ID: Date: 1 Apr 91 02:32:19 GMT References: <8306@crash.cts.com> <22185@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 48 In article <22185@yunexus.YorkU.CA>, philip@yunexus.yorku.ca (Phil McDunnough) writes: > In article declan@remus.rutgers.edu (Declan McCullagh/LZ) writes: > > > [description of today's marketing ways] > > >In the end, that's what drives companies to > >make decisions - the romance is over, enter the MBA. > > >-Declan > > Well, we shall see about that. I should like to think that the era of the > MBA type is coming to an end, and fast. It's only a matter of time before > people see through much of the marketing hype surrounding cars, computers, > etc...Software that costs $300 or so, which should be selling for $50, will > eventually be seen for what it is. Ah, we disagree. Especially in the automobile industry, people like the glamour surrounding cars. If you're going by specs alone, a $100,000 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo isn't much faster than a $33,000 300ZX Twin Turbo or Dodge Stealth. But some people still buy the Lotus - and relish the marketing hype which will define them as "a person of substance." Note that I don't necessarily disagree with you as to what the market _should_ be like: I, too, should like to think that the era of the MBA is at a close. However, I don't see that happening. To bring this thread back to comp.sys.apple2... Remember that Apple, too, now has to bean count with the rest of them. They sell stock, they have large shareholders, and they have to show a profit, or their stock drops dramatically, and the company is in trouble - it's a viscous cycle. That's one reason I say that the MBA is still in charge. > I find it rather humorous that there are plenty of C() compilers out there > making people fortunes when few if any can compete with GNU C(). Yup. While gcc is a bit large to use with a 640K MS-DOS or 1-2 MB IIgs system, Sun still sells their $10,000 compilers, which aren't as good as gcc. NeXT is an exception; they use GNU software extensively. > And, for the record, Apple has a great computer in the GS. It's quite > unique, and they'd be foolish not to use it wisely. The IIgs is rather unique, but I don't see Apple using it wisely. -Declan