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: How to write to Apple Message-ID: <54285@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 24 Jun 91 21:06:55 GMT References: <54119@apple.Apple.COM> Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA Lines: 45 gad@eclipse.its.rpi.edu (Garance A. Drosehn) writes: The question is: For those people who *DO* need (or at least think they need) 32-bit addressing, what options is Apple giving them? Apple has not offered any options yet. They are soliciting input, however, and your input is welcome. What I'd like to see is a well-reasoned article explaining how buying a ROM upgrade (should one exist) is different than the same person going out and buying a new Mac in order to get the clean 32-bit addressing. I'm assuming a person will not get a ROM upgrade (should one exist) unless they feel they need 32-bit addressing. This is not entirely true. It would be damn hard to make sure that a IIcx with ROM "B" is no different than that machine with ROM "A". Indeed, the definitions get fuzzy, because 32-bit mode is inherently more buggy with application software that doesn't support it. And many users would like NOT to have another "option" of difference in the machine configuration. That much more complexity to debug. Therefore, at major installed sites, there would be violent opposition to upgrading, since it's a logistical problem, and if there were an upgrade, it would have to be to all of the machines at once, so that all the machines are "the same." Another assumption I'm making (which may be flawed) is that any ROM upgrade would just provide the same ROM's that are in a Mac IIci (or any of the 32-bit machines). I don't expect Apple to come out with a brand new ROM which would be different than all the ROM's that currently exist. This is a big flaw. Each machine has custom ROMs that make it "the same" to the Toolbox. Thus, a IIcx absolutely cannot use IIci ROMs. Currently, assuming that MODE-32 works well (I have NO info), it is a great solution, since it's: 1) Cheaper than a ROM upgrade would be 2) User installable, without hardware downtime 3) Easily de-installed in case of compatibility problems If you want to write Apple, go right ahead. They'll listen. bill coderre survived the layoffs, thank goodness