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: MOS 7 - are we having fun yet?
Message-ID: <53350@apple.Apple.COM>
Date: 26 May 91 07:04:13 GMT
References: <11949.283C9CB3@stjhmc.fidonet.org>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA
Lines: 53

Although I must admit I was impressed by Leo Bores' oratory, I do
think his argument doesn't bear up under scrutiny.

Presumably you bought the 10 or 15 things that need updating to be
System 7 compatible. I somehow cannot imagine that you would suddenly
be unable to afford the update fees. In many cases, updates are free,
and in most others, the updates are pretty darn low-cost. No one makes
money on updates. It costs a lot to make those floppies, hire people
to mail them, write documentation, and -- hell -- develop the software
and test it.

If you bought Hypercard 2.0, you'll get 2.1v2 FREE. You don't even
have to do anything. (And, to be honest, this Claris upgrade is better
than most others: the bugs that it fixes are tiny, and the new
features it adds -- Apple Events in your stacks, for example -- are
huge.)

I know that Apple worked very hard to be compatible with as many
existing apps as possible, and that they even worked with developers
to help them fix their code. Almost all of my favorite apps work just
fine -- including some that I wrote. 

That's pretty darn compatible.

I also know that Apple worked extra hard to make System 7 compatible
across the entire line of Macintoshes -- including MacPlusses that
were upgraded from Mac128K's. These machines are still 100% viable,
and indeed work better than ever with this new software. 

That's also pretty darn compatible.

I agree, it sucks big rocks when upgrading the system software causes
problems with your programs. But that problem has been happening ever
since the beginning of computers, and will always be a problem. I do
understand that this upgrade is much harder than previous ones.
Unfortunately, there simply was no other choice.

Luckily, the payoff for making the switch is huge: vastly improved
"workgroup" potential with the network features and publish/subscribe;
a better type model that gives high-quality type on all devices;
virtual memory that performs better than most people thought possible;
and a greatly enhanced user interface. With Apple Events, applications
can finally cooperate, not just co-operate. And future additions to
System 7 promise even more.

But most important, System 7 provides a solid foundation for future
advances, and a coherent architecture for the future of Macintosh.

That's really the best payoff of all.

bill coderre
who works for, but does not legally speak for "one of the flakiest
companies in christendom"