Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!wuarchive!udel!oscar.ccm.udel.edu!johnston
From: johnston@oscar.ccm.udel.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: 'Dirty' ROMs - A Partial Answer <-- NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Message-ID: <54426@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 01:53:24 GMT
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In article <674959843.4@blkcat.FidoNet>, Charlie.Mingo@p4218.f421.n109.z1.FidoNet.Org (Charlie Mingo) writes...
>johnston@minnie.me.udel.edu writes:
> 
>--> MODE32 will not be a software-only fix.  Connectix plans to bundle it 
>--> with PMMUs for Mac II owners, and probably bundle it with overpriced 
>--> memory upgrades for the impatient and/or gullible.  

>    Do you *know* that they're not selling it unbundled, or is this just 
>    speculation on your part?  Perhaps you should find out before you start
>    flaming again?

The article was not a "flame", nor was it critical of Connectix.
The article WAS critical of Apple.

Facts first:

Connectix has announced that it will bundle MODE32 with the PMMU
for Mac II owners (at an additional price that is probably a good
deal for the PMMU).  They also have announced an "unbundled" price
for people who don't need the PMMU.  Both the prices were reasonable,
in my opinion; the actual $$$ were cited in an article posted to 
comp.sys.mac.announce with the permission of Connectix.

(I apologize if my wording impugned the motives of Connectix,
who should be applauded for coming up with the right product
at the right time.  That was unintentional.)

My point was that people will be investing more just the price of the
init when they invest in MODE32.  Many users will buy MODE32 in order
to enable the use of > 14 MB physical RAM in Macs that lack 32-bit-
clean ROMs.  The user who upgrades from 5 or 8 to 17 or 20 MB with
a new set of 4 MB SIMMs suddenly becomes dependent on MODE32 to
take advantage of the investment.

I argued that Apple should do more than point to the existence of 
MODE32 as the "solution" to the dirty-ROMs problem.  I think that
Apple would do well to officially endorse MODE32, work with Connectix,
perhaps even obtain the rights to the software as a way of standardizing
this very fundamental aspect of the operating system.

If Apple fails to endorse a particular solution, the likely outcome
is that several competing fixes will emerge.  Not all of these are
likely to be as good as the Connectix MODE32 init.

If Apple has the chutzpah to tell developers how to design a user
interface (a good idea that has given us good, consistent software)
surely they ought to have an opinion on the right way to access 
more than 14 MB in a < IIx, IIcx, SE/30, etc. >.

The alternative is not unlike the memory hassles that plague the
PC-clone world.  We don't need this any more than we need class-
action lawsuits.  A definitive answer from Apple, please!

Bill (johnston@minnie.me.udel.edu)