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From: ranger@ecsvax.UUCP (Rick N. Fincher)
Newsgroups: net.micro.apple
Subject: Re: //gs cost considered deciding factor
Message-ID: <2143@ecsvax.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 16-Oct-86 11:11:41 EDT
Article-I.D.: ecsvax.2143
Posted: Thu Oct 16 11:11:41 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 18-Oct-86 23:11:15 EDT
References: <8610141241.AA12605@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service
Lines: 44

> From:    <SECRIST%OAK.SAINET.MFENET@LLL-MFE.Arpa>   (Richard C. Secrist)
> Date:    Tue, 14-OCT-1986 07:41 EST
> To:      INFO-APPLE@BRL.ARPA
> Message-ID: <[OAK.SAINET.MFENET].62E582C0.008F66A1.SECRIST>
> Header-Disclaimer: I don't like my headers either !
> X-VMS-Mail-To: APPLE
> 
> I bought a //e as an upgrade for my ][ many moons ago because I wanted
> 1) the real keyboard (i.e. "{}[]~`<DEL>", etc.), 2) pseudo-standard
> 80 column support, 3) future compatability , and 4) a new lease on life
> (my ][ {upgraded to ][+} is now 9 years old !).
> 
> I WANT neato graphics and from what I hear absolutely wonderful sound,
> but my brain also wouldn't mind hacking a "real" processor chip that I
> might be able to use professionally as well (like a 68000 or 80286 --
> there's compartively not a lot of 65xxx work out there).
> 
> If the //gs or an upgrade were under $1000 (like $750 or better) there
> wouldn't be a contest... I've got 700 floppies of Apple software.  But
> $1900 is ridiculous when I can go get a 68000 machine like an Atari 1024
> or 520 (I can get the 520 for $750 locally with monochrome monitor) and
> KEEP my //e and ][+.  The graphics are roughly equivalent to an Atari
> (though probably not as fast) and the sound is probably not as spectacular,
> although at least it is a standardized interface (the MIDI port).
> 
> $1900 simply doesn't cut it, and the upgrade motherboard swaps don't sound
> so hot either when you've got to buy a Unidisk, mouse (already have this
> though), and whatever else...
> 
You don't HAVE to buy a unidisk, and you should be able to keep your
//e motherboard and put it in a cheap case and have all 3 systems.  You
also need to ask how much those 700 disks are worth (can they be ported
over to another system?).  I agree the price is way too high, but Apple
always releases new products high to give dealers room to discount.
Within a year you'll see the machine discounted to near current //e
prices.  Since there are only 49 chips on the board the thing has to
be cheaper to make than the //e.  This still doesn't help as far as
hacking 68000 or 80286 code though.  A rumor in EE Times said Apple was
working on a MACac emulator board to go in the //gs...That would be nice.

Rick
> 
> Richard
> SECRIST%OAK.SAInet.MFEnet@LLL-MFE.Arpa