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From: harrow@exodus.dec.com (Jeff Harrow, NCSE BXB1-2/E02 DTN=293-5128)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Color compatibility across full Mac line
Message-ID: <10574@decwrl.DEC.COM>
Date: Sat, 27-Jun-87 18:19:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: decwrl.10574
Posted: Sat Jun 27 18:19:59 1987
Date-Received: Sun, 28-Jun-87 04:51:44 EDT
Sender: daemon@decwrl.DEC.COM
Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation
Lines: 39

In response  to  a  recent comment from Larry Rosenstein, I would 
like to suggest  that  20K  or so of patches to continue to allow 
*ALL* programs written for  *ANY*  Macintosh  (specifically  full 
color programs written for the  Mac  II  to  be  runable   on any 
Classic  Mac  with  appropriate translation to  B&W)  is  a  VERY 
reasonable tradeoff.

One of the cornerstones of the Mac  line  has been this fantastic 
compatibility,  and  it should indeed be carried forward.    Will 
every program written to make use of full color  look  decent (or 
even work well) in B&W?  No, of course not, but that also applies 
to  a  Mac II running with a B&W  monitor  -  it  is  up  to  the 
developer to make  sure  that  the result is reasonable (the gray 
scales could be automatically  translated to standard replacement 
patterns by the patches).

As a developer AND a user, I don't want to see the Macintosh line 
in the position  of  so  many  of  its  competitors,  where  some 
programs require THIS configuration,  and  some  require THAT.  I 
want to be reasonably assured  that  ANY  program that I write or 
buy will work on ANY of my Macs.  This represents a   significant 
"added value"  over  the  competition  and will certainly help to 
sell more Macs!

Jeff Harrow

Work address:
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Easynet:	EXODUS::HARROW
Telephone:	(617)264-5128
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		Mail stop: BXB1-2/E02
		85 Swanson Road
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Disclaimer:  These are, of course only  MY opinions, and not that 
of my employer.