Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!emory!att!ucbvax!MACALSTR.EDU!SHBOUM From: SHBOUM@MACALSTR.EDU Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: Apple II Forever! Message-ID: Date: 4 Apr 91 07:03:00 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Organization: The Internet Lines: 62 In a previous article, Ryan 'Gozar' Collins writes: > Or someone who has payed a fortune for a computer that isn't as powerful as > your neighbor's computer that they paid half of what you paid. > When I read these Apple II forever msgs, I feel that it is coming from > someone who spent $3000 for a computer system, only to have it be outdated > in a few years. > Now before I get tons of flame-mail, I would like to say that Apple doesn't > have a grudge against the Apple II line or their users, its just that 8/16 > bit computers aren't profitably anymore. Well I'm going to make a couple of comments about a few things that have been bothering me for a while. Firstly, I'm really becoming disturbed by a market where the opinion is where the users should "junk" their system ever three years for another $3,000 computer system because there current one is obsolete. Stop and think how expensive that is. Hell, most people can't afford this constant expendature. I think thats one thing the IBM market has going for them right now, a cheap upgrade path. One things that I personally have praised the II line for has been its STABILITY. Sure it doesn't have all the new bells and whistles, but the hardware we bought 4 years ago is the same that we're using now. And while its nothing to brag about {hey, I am dying for new hardware too} look at what we have learned to do with our machine. 3200 colors, boarder effects, Synthlab, etc. With the Mac-of-the-Month Club, software deveolpers are having a hell of a time trying to keep up with the new machines, and half of the old ones need to be upgraded to run the new software. Its not Apple's fault, they have to remain competitive in the business market, but I think for this stability, its one of the best reasons why it makes such a good home computer. People know that when they buy a II, its going to give them 4-5 years at least of good, dependable service. Look at the number of II+'s, IIe, and IIc questions we still get. How many Mac 128 users are still trying to get something out of their machine? Secondly, my major resent with Apple Co. is that they have been selling these machines and then giving us the attitude that we bought an obsolte computer and should have purchased a mac. Everyone who HASN'T seen it, says "Ewww. Apple II, thats obsolete, you should upgrade to a REAL computer" You DO NOT treat your customers that way. These people went out and rather then going Big Blue or Commadore, they bought an overpriced and underdeveloped Apple II instead, and Apple didn't care. Instead we get an 30 page Incider add stating that "when your II computer becomes obsolete, retire it to the classroom..." Well the only thing that is making the II obsolte is Apple Co. itself. Anyone who hears and sees my IIgs running are all like "Cool!" {Athough many take it for a Mac} What wonderful product support. Thirdly, there IS money in the 8/16 bit machines. Although its been stated, Nientiendo sold 7.2 million more NES systems and 4 million gameboys last year in the USA alone which surpasses the TOTAL number of Macs AND II's sold over the last 10 years. These sales also brought in 3.7 billion dollars for nientendo, which is half of Apple's total revenues. In Japan, all 400,000 Super NES units in stock sold out on its opening day. Two weeks later when the next shipments came in, another 400,000 units sold out in one day. Plus those super NES run on a 65C816 at 3.86Mhz with 512x488x256 graphics with a palette of 32,000 colors {the graphics potental are amazing on that machine 128 moving sprites on a line without flickering!} and incorporates a Sony Digital Signal Processor that gives it 8 voice stero sound. Seems like someones doing a better job with our "out of date" processor then Apple is, and making a killing with it... | Hal Bouma | Send mail to: SHBoum@Macalstr.edu | Macalester College | and SHBoum@Macalstr.Bitnet | GEnie: H.Bouma | ".Sig Under Construction..."