Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!psuvax1!rutgers!elbereth.rutgers.edu!joseph From: joseph@elbereth.rutgers.edu (Seymour Joseph) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Egghead Drops Apple II Keywords: darn it! Message-ID: Date: 15 May 91 23:27:34 GMT Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 90 Hi Apple II junkies! I finally got my copy of Electronic Art's "The Immortal" today. It wasn't easy. As I reported last week, Electronic Arts stopped shipping ALL of its Apple II (includes GS) products in February or March. (Since "The Immortal" only shipped in December or January, I think it may hold some kind of record for the software with the shortest lifespan, even shorter than RASTAN... Sigh ) I called every software vendor that advertised in Incider A+ June issue. Even the ones that advertised the immortal could say nothing more than "Its discontinued, we don't have any copies and we can't get any more." I called Electronic Arts directly and was informed that they don't have any copies left either. Today I checked all my local retail stores. I walked into Egghead to check there. This store has never had a big Apple II section, but they always had a modest selection and would order stuff if I wanted it. Today the shelves are almost empty, and all the remaining software is marked down 30-60%. I asked what was up and the clerk (mis)informed me: "Apple has disconinued all the Apple II computers so Egghead isn't carrying software for them anymore." I told her that I was pretty in-touch and that Apple had made no such announcement. She asked the manager and he claimed that whether the machine had been cancelled or not, all Egghead stores nationwide have been ordered to sell off what they can and then return all their remaining Apple II software in the next week or so. They will no longer carry or order anything for the Apple II. I checked two more Egghead stores in my area, one had a copy of "The Immortal" in the clearance bin for $20 (bargain! yea) and BOTH had cleared out almost all of their Apple II software and had the same understanding as the first store. (i.e. that Apple had cancelled production and sales of all Apple II computers so Egghead won't be carrying the software anymore.) The Things I learned: 1) If you have been thinking of picking up some Apple IIGS software, do it NOW! It is getting harder and harder to find. You may find some big bargains, but they are little consolation for the lack of new software coming down the pike. 2) Sales of Apple II software must be really slow. Even if Apple had discontinued the product line (which, as far as I know, they haven't) there are still millions of installed machines. Unless Apple knows a way to blow up all the installed Apple IIs by remote control if/when they discontinue making new ones, there would still be a market for Apple II software. It must be that a great number of Apple II owners simply aren't buying software. They sit at home running AppleWorks and Print Shop and never even realize that their machines are capable of so much more. I must put some of the blame for this on the lack of advertising for most Apple II software products. In the last few years, products were just released, no ads, no promotion, nothing. It was up to the Apple II owner to go out and find out what was available. If InCider/A+ didn't review software, even people that read that magazine wouldn't know what 90% of the currently available software was. 3) Even though Apple Continues to manufacture, sell, develop system software for and provide minimal marketing lip service to the Apple II, we are all but orphans already. The "dry" years that began two or three years ago, with little support, no advertising and no significant CPU upgrades have killed off the Apple II in the hearts and minds of most of the computer world. It makes little difference that there are people at Apple hard at work on Apple IIGS System 6.0, or that the machines are still being manufactured and sold. In the minds of the vast majority of people who build and sell hardware, or write and distribute software, the machine is already dead. I am pretty darn happy with my Apple IIGS. I find new things it can do almost every week, and I love it. I intend to keep using and enjoying my Apple IIGS quite a while longer. I am eager to see System 6.0 and other suprises down the road, but I am very concerned that there will be no one left to develop, or market software that runs under it. I sometimes think (rationalize, rationalize) that the sharp downturn in support for the Apple IIGS is tied to the tough economic times we are living in. Companies HAVE to cut corners and we (Apple II owners) are the easiest corner to cut. I have hopes that when the market in general improves, and if Apple continues to support the Apple II despite the doom and gloom, there will be a renaissanse for us to enjoy. Apple II Forever Keep the faith... Seymour Joseph P.S. Sorry for rambling on so long..