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From: SHBOUM@MACALSTR.EDU
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: The GS Axe is Not Falling
Message-ID: <06E95BFAE021339E@MACALSTR.EDU>
Date: 7 Apr 91 08:15:00 GMT
Article-I.D.: MACALSTR.06E95BFAE021339E
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     2hnemarrow@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu writes:
> When I'm using a Mac I feel like I'm trapped in this sluggish box of a
> graphic interface.  With my GS I can go to a text based program and flip
> through screens a heck of a lot faster and more easily than on the AT's at
> school, and on the Macs it's a moot point since you can't flip through text
> screens at all. After 10 years of computing I -finally- find a computer I
> LOVE to use, and its on the verge of extinction except in various
> kindergartens around the country.

        Its really sad that Apple has nearly killed the Apple II at the expense
of the Mac in its push to make the mac succesful. They took pride when Mac
sales finally passed Apple II sales. In this goal to kill one line, Apple is
making a grave mistake. What they are fogetting is a basic fact in human
nature: people's tastes. If everyone wanted the same thing, we'd all be driving
the same car to work, drinking the same soda, and heck even listening to the
same music. The same thing goes for computers....

        Hey, I'll admit it, macs are very nice computers. They give me a chance
to use professional programs in a clear and straigtforward method and all the
programs work in a similar manner. Basically with their total GUI system, they
are perfect for people who do not care what a computer is, but needs to use
one. For a college student who needs to type papers, its great. Its as one
Intro-Mac book described it, an appliance computer. However for the people
who'd like to learn more about what computers are or be able to control it and
mess around with it, then its not a good computer for you.

        Thats why the IIs are such a nice alternitive for those wanting to know
more about computers because of the II's awesome open-archetechure. Here is a
computer that has a CLI where we can access basic and and a mini assembler
without ANY software or mice. Thats why I think its a much better computer in
the schools because it shows more of what a computer is, then what it can do.
You can even build your own cards and write programs for it without that much
difficulty. And when you're able to go on, in comes the IIGS toolbox and
GS/OS which makes a very nice introduction for those wanting to learn the
Mac's toolbox. Not only that, its very flexible and is able to adapt to new
technologies very well. Sure it doesn't have the great HLL's, but for many
home user who wants to experiment and have some fun with his computer, the II
can't be beat.

        But Apple as a company should know better then to try and push one
computer for everyone because it doesn't work that way. Hey, the mac may be the
future of computing, but its not for everyone. They should rather tell the
customers about both computers and help them decide which would fit their
needs better. Need to use a computer but don't want to deal with the hassle
with learning it or need a powerful workstation/PC then how about a mac, but
if you need somthing that you'd like something simple to mess around with and
get a lot of features and flexibility, then the II makes a wonderful choice.
But it shouldn't be Apple telling US what computer to buy for all our needs.

							- Hal

P.S. I'm really happy that we've found another happy II fan, they are getting
so hard to find today :).

| Hal Bouma				| Send mail to: SHBoum@Macalstr.edu
| Macalester College			| and 		SHBoum@Macalstr.Bitnet
| GEnie: H.Bouma			| ".Sig Under Construction..."