Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!rutgers!ucla-cs!zen!ucbvax!YALEVM.BITNET!EWING
From: EWING@YALEVM.BITNET (Rick Ewing)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: RE:  Apple ][ Forever?
Message-ID: <8707291034.aa25905@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA>
Date: Wed, 29-Jul-87 10:56:27 EDT
Article-I.D.: SMOKE.8707291034.aa25905
Posted: Wed Jul 29 10:56:27 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 1-Aug-87 10:04:14 EDT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Distribution: world
Organization: The ARPA Internet
Lines: 45

Regarding the presumed "demise" of the Apple ][ series and lack of interest
from Apple Co.:  (part rebuttle, part *flame*)

     I don't know just *where* that you may be getting your information from,
but I can say that the death of the Apple ][ is completely and absolutely
**false**.  The Apple ][ series has had a wonderful new commitment in interest
and product research in the last two years, and any rumors to the contrary
would be absolutely ridiculous.  We have, unfortunetely been suffering from
the neglect that was incurred from the Jobs administration a few years back.
Since that is no longer an issue, and we now have a new machine to develop
software for, more interesting and wonderful software is due to come down the
pipeline.  Remember the first year of the Mac?  There were only about 10 or so
programs even out there worth having, few desk accessories, *no* meaningful
utilities, and the same doubts on its future that we seem to be having on the
Apple ][ world now.  GIVE IT TIME!!!  You will be justly rewarded for your
patience.  The IIgs right nowis going through the same growing pains of timprop
(proper, sorry) tools to fully exploit its features.  One of the biggest assets
in the Macintosh programming world was the invention of the MPW programming
system, but the development of this system has (and still isis) taking time to
flower into what it can be.  The same is true for APW.  We still have a long
way to go with this system, but we'll get there.
     **Flame ON**  About the neglect of Apple to supply representatives here
on this forum:  Well, this is one Apple rep has been here since September of
last year.  I agree that more should be here, but its completely untrue that
Apple isn't listening.  I include all major problems that I find in my reports
and try to track down answers for them if a can, especially in recent issues
such as ProDOS 00 trashing, the VGC bug, Finder development and the like.  I
wish I could tell you more about what I know coming down the pipeline, but
you'll find out soon enough.  Probably Apple's biggest sign of renewed Apple
][ commitment is the upcoming Appleworld conference in San Francisco in
September, ouir first such conference in years for the Apple ][ series.  If
the Apple ][ is dead, then I haven't seen it from the people I've talked to.
And a final point. For all of you interested in the bottom line, Apple
couldn't have achieved thos great financial statements in the past year
without the Apple.  If Apple abandonned the Apple ][ tomorrow, then they
would be a seriously crippled company.  Remember that Sculley is a financial
man.  He knowsas well as I that he couldn't survive without the Apple ][.  I
still remember the night on Compuserve when the IIgs was rolled out in
conference.  The special surprise guest was indeed that same CEO who was just
as excited as we were.
**Flame OFF**

Richard Ewing
Trinity College Apple Computer Consultant
EWING@YALEVM.bitnet