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From: warren.e@pro-beagle.cts.com (Warren Ernst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Whining: (Re: Apple Doesn't support their Existing User Base)
Message-ID: <33796.apple.net@pro-beagle>
Date: 2 Jun 91 23:10:00 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
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Organization: The Internet
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In-Reply-To: message from jpenne@ee.ualberta.ca

Like hell I wont complain about Apple's lack of marketing support for the
Apple //, but for a reason:

For example, I view the purchace of my computer like that of a car. If I
get an 84 Mazda RX-7, I plan on keeping it for a while and using it for a
while too. When the new '85s come out, I dont expect to be able to waltz
into the Mazda dealership and demand an upgrade to the new model. That's
not only bad business, but its unrealistic for an owner to think he
deserves the new model just because he bought the old one.

Now say that Mazda wants all their earlier customers to buy 85's and ditch
their 84's, so they stop producing parts for 84's and tell Mazda repair
people to tell 84 owners to go jump in a lake, their old machines blow.

As far as I'm concerned, this is what Apple has done to the //. But even
more effectively than a car manufacturer could do, because cars don't NEED
third party software to work.

When Apple stops mentioning the // to Apple Dealers and Software Companies,
in favor of the Macs instead, the only interpretation I have of it is that
my old machine blows. It might not be true, but it comes from the top
levels of Apple, so it cant get ignored by those people making a business
of computers. So us users get stuck in the middle.

All the great marketing success of the Mac was carried out at the expense
of the Apple //, plain and simple. I'll be bitter if I damn well want to.

-Warr
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