Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!apple!bc
From: bc@Apple.COM (bill coderre)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: $99 for System 7.0?!?
Message-ID: <52401@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 3 May 91 17:20:30 GMT
References: <41947@netnews.upenn.edu>
Organization: The personal opinions of ME, not Apple
Lines: 52

eck@eniac.seas.upenn.edu (Brian Eck) writes:
|   A HUNDRED DOLLARS?  Yeah, that's going to help Apple dispel their
|overpriced image REAL fast.  Especially if they charge people who buy
|new systems after May 13 for the upgrade as well, which the article also
|claims Apple is planning on.

Here are some prices quoted from MacConnection. Although the programs
in question do not do the exact same things that System 7.0 does, they
point out what real people are paying real money to get from their
Macs every day:

This product...		at this price...is similar to this system 7 feature:
   Virtual 2.0			115	Virtual Memory
   Adobe Type Manager 2.0	 55	TrueType
   Data Club (199 per 3 users)	 67	Personal Appleshare
   OnCue			 35	new Apple Menu support
					PLUS the proverbial MUCH MORE.....
===========================================================================
		discount price	272	rumored price of System 7.0   99

The simple fact is: Based on the features you receive, System 7.0 is a
bargain at twice the price.

|
|  [much of his original specious argument deleted]
|

|   Sorry if I sound a little upset, but I AM.  Sure, Apple has a right
|to make money (or at least break even) on this new system; I've seen the
|betas, and I'll gladly pay for the software and documentation.  But a
|hundred dollars (and no educational discount)?  Forget it.

No, the point is that you don't think Apple is entitled to $12.50 per
disk for upgrades[1], even though other companies are. You are fooling
yourself if you think that Apple will make money at those kinds of
prices. Apple is doing this for one simple reason: to sell more
computers based on the fact that their system software is excellent.

bill coderre
if you have problems with what I have to say, write to me directly.

[1] $99 / 8 disks = $12.38 each, and assumes that manuals, tech
support, and shipping/handling costs are FREE.

NOTE: the opinions presented by apple employees on the usenet are
their own, presented in their own spare time. NONE of the apple
employees who posts to usenet are compensated for the service, nor is
their posting endorsed by apple. NONE of these employees are allowed
to speak officially for apple.

in other words, the tech support and questions answered here are
presented "AS IS." Take it or leave it.