Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!dlyons From: dlyons@Apple.COM (David A. Lyons) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: So? Did the announcement happen? Message-ID: <51815@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 22 Apr 91 12:18:24 GMT References: <8934A47D6BDF205A45@MACALSTR.EDU> <414@alchemy.UUCP> Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA Lines: 115 In article <414@alchemy.UUCP> hzink@alchemy.UUCP (Harry K. Zink) writes: (In response to Andy Nicholas noting that April 16th arrived, the Apple II is still alive, that people continue to predict its death and continue to be wrong.) I will regret getting involved in this, but there are a couple things you imply about -me- and my coworkers that I feel strongly about. >>[Andy: See what listening to rumors gets you? Nothing.] >On the other hand, see what listening to the holy words from Cupertino gets >you -- absolutely nothing as well. [Points out there has been less >secrecy around Macintosh system 7.0, and that CPU releases are frequent >enough that nobody's worried about their line being discontinued.] My words are not holy. I don't think of them that way and never asked you to. I realize you meant "holy words from Cupertino" sarcastically, but you are expecting too much from Andy and me. We don't make decisions about when to announce things. I don't even -want- that responsibility. What we *can* do is reassure you that, in general, we are working on the toolbox, the Finder, etc. You can conclude whatever you want from that. An exercise for the reader: dig up some information on 7.0 from two years ago. Compare it to what 7.0 is today and decide if you would have announced it then. >Maybe if apple were to develop a more honest approach to the apple II, we >wouldn't need any rumors. I object to the implication that we are doing something dishonest. The approach of late has been less "open" than it could be, or maybe even than it should be, but it is not dishonest. The degree of openness is not my decision, and it isn't yours either. >Furthermore, it's really uplifting to see sarcastic remarks like those of Mr. >Nicholas (Hi Andy!), with no substance at all. It might bne nice for them to >know that they are working on awesome stuff, thinking what stupid fools we are >for doubting all-mighty apple [...] I read Andy's message as "The Apple II consistently outlives predictions of its death, so why doesn't everybody *quit worrying* about it and get on with something (anything!) productive?" You complained about total secrecy in Apple II plans above. Now you *also* complain when we tell you we are working on things? Yeah, I'd rather give you details now, but I can't. If you truly prefer my silence, that could be arranged. >It seems to me that apple is employing a clever strategy of hiring top nothc >people like Andy, and thus effectively silencing them. It is interesting that >time after time people that have contributed greatly to software and support >for the apple II have been hired by apple (seen as a sparc of hope), only to >see all creative endeavors of these people locked into apple's ivory towers. > >Also, interesting to see that those same people are now critical of the same >people that they used to be part of. I guess a big salary and living in Ivory >towers has that effect on some people (Hi Matt!). This is unrealistic, unfair, and silly, and I will explain why. Andy has been here since November. He has continued to release versions of ShrinkIt and work on other of his personal Apple II projects. He has *also* been working on the next version of the Finder. Some day this will ship. For now, it is not "locked up," it is "NOT DONE." You imply that I have loads of money. (0) This is none of your business. (1) I work 80+ hours a week with no overtime pay. (Andy says I work more like 100. I don't keep track.) I am -not- in this for the money. (2) I pay taxes and Cupertino rent. (3) I do not own any yachts or ride a limo to work, and my savings account would not get Donald Trump out of a jam. With the "ivory tower" reference you imply that I set myself apart from "you guys" as some kind of higher-class citizen. (By the way, I work in the *top floor* of a one-story building.) If this perception is because I can't give you details of the company's future plans, I guess there's nothing I can do to make you think of me as a real person. (If my .signature said "I know a lot, but I can keep a secret," I wouldn't blame you. I have actually seen buttons that say that, but *I* would never wear one.) I dedicate almost all my time to my job, because I enjoy it a lot. This benefits you, the Apple IIgs user. In return I ask only that you be realistic in what you expect of me. Ask technical questions about today's products, and I'll try to answer. Ask if the Apple II is dead and I will say "No!" But don't try to make me into a god and then complain that I'm not one. My advice to Apple II folks: GET ON WITH IT! Being paranoid won't help. (BTW, I don't think Matt Deatherage has read this newsgroup in many months, mostly because it was consistently filled with material like this, rather than anything relating to using Apple IIs productively.) > uucp : ucrmath!alchemy!hzink | Financial Independence *CAN* be Yours! > INET : hzink@alchemy.uucp | 24hr Taped Information Hotline (714) 276-2020 -- David A. Lyons, Apple Computer, Inc. | DAL Systems Apple II System Software Engineer | P.O. Box 875 America Online: Dave Lyons | Cupertino, CA 95015-0875 GEnie: D.LYONS2 or DAVE.LYONS CompuServe: 72177,3233 Internet/BITNET: dlyons@apple.com UUCP: ...!ames!apple!dlyons My opinions are my own, not Apple's.