Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!seismo!rutgers!im4u!oakhill!russ From: russ@oakhill.UUCP (Russell Schwausch) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Mac <-> Lisa Tradeoffs Message-ID: <903@oakhill.UUCP> Date: Tue, 9-Jun-87 11:23:49 EDT Article-I.D.: oakhill.903 Posted: Tue Jun 9 11:23:49 1987 Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jun-87 03:32:36 EDT References: <3077@eagle.ukc.ac.uk> <947@apple.UUCP> Reply-To: russ@oakhill.UUCP (Russell Schwausch) Distribution: world Organization: Motorola Inc. Austin, Tx Lines: 49 Keywords: Mac, Lisa, Tradeoffs Summary: Go with a Mac In article <947@apple.UUCP> han@apple.UUCP (Byron Han) writes: >In article <3077@eagle.ukc.ac.uk>, jg@eagle.ukc.ac.uk (J.Grant) writes: >> >> I have been offered a Lisa (Mac XL) 2/5 at what seems a reasonable >> price, before I take the plunge is there anything that I should know? >> >> I was told that most software was compatible (all but those that >> directly address the sound & the screen), but that could mean anything !... >> ... Mention was also made that various cards >> have been/are produced that fit the Lisa (esp. processor upgrades >> that would put the machine on a similar footing to the MAC II, although >> I have taken this with a copious amont of salt, is it actually true ?). > >Most of the new software coming out will only support the 128K ROM's and >above. > >I personally would not recommend buying a used Mac XL (Lisa) because it is far >slower than even a vanilla Macintosh. Large screens can be had for the >Macintosh family either real screens or screen extenders like Stepping Out(tm) >which creates a virtual screen with the Mac screen being a window onto it. >There is also a shareware? BigScreen Init which does something similar >albeit without as many features. > >Buying a Mac XL would probably lead to disappointment and disillusionment. >You would be far better off (in this humble poster's opinion) to save your >moullah and buy a Mac Plus, SE, or Mac II. > >Byron Han | UUCP: {sun,voder,nsc,mtxinu,dual}!apple!han >Apple Computer, Inc. | CSNET: han@apple.csnet I concur completely with Byron's recommendation. Speaking from experience (I have been trying to use a Mac XL for several months; my boss's boss is to cheap to buy me a Mac SE [|-) ) the Mac XL with an internal hard disk is almost as slow as a Mac with floppies. It is also a big pain in the posterior to use 400K floppies; some of the newer applications can barely be squeezed on one of these tiny floppies; and backups are a hassle. And furthermore, several applications I have used on the Mac XL (specifically Word 3.0, MacDraft 1.2a, & Cricket Graph 1.1) bomb frequently on a Mac XL but hardly ever on a Mac+. The MFS file system on the Mac XL is also a hassle. I have been looking for a way to upgrade my XL to an 800K floppy and HFS but I am sure it would be cheaper to start with a Mac+. I didn't have a choice but you do. -- Russell Schwausch, Motorola Inc., OakHill, Tx. (A suburb of Austin) UUCP: {harvard,ihnp4,seismo,gatech,nbires}..!ut-sally!oakhill!russ Ma Bell: (512)440-2426 It's a ticket agent, it's a fare collector, no ... it's SUPERCONDUCTOR!!!