Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!ncar!boulder!sunybcs!rutgers!mit-eddie!mit-amt!mit-caf!paul
From: paul@mit-caf.MIT.EDU (Paul Meyer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: New Macs
Message-ID: <1754@mit-caf.MIT.EDU>
Date: 24 Jan 89 03:08:17 GMT
References: <1378@trotter.usma.edu> <8400065@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: paul@mit-caf.UUCP (Paul Meyer)
Organization: Microsystems Technology Laboratories, MIT
Lines: 46

>
>I think Apple has shot itself in the foot.                         
>                                                                     
>-- How much would *YOU* pay for an SE/030 upgrade and the 1.44Mb floppy    
>in your machine?                                                       
>
>-- What if I said you *get* *to* THROW AWAY your MacSE expansion
>card(s), *NOW* how much would you pay?
>                                
>I bet that Apple won't ever announce an SE/030 upgrade, or if they do,
>then they won't sell many.  We know the MacII has Nubus, well the SE
>has NoBus!  And now the SE/030 has NoBus2!  And NoBus != NoBus2!!!
>                                                                  
>Apple has made the same mistake as IBM!  

	There are some differences.  First, I think that a larger percentage
of people owned cards in the PC world.  Sure, many SE owners have cards, but 
they aren't that prevalent.  You only need a card if you want (and can afford)
an accelerator, a big screen, and ethernet card, a PC emulator, etc.  There
are many (probably a majority) of SE owners out there with no cards at all.
	The big gain here is for us SE owners who would like to have the
speed, superfloppies, color, and future compatibility of the Mac II or IIx but 
can't afford one.  Jumping into the Mac II world will set you back $5000+, 
even with a student discount.  
	However, if Apple provides the SE/030 upgrade for $1000-$1500, then
I can have the fastest, most compatible Mac around for a price within my 
reach.  Color is also within reach for another $1500-$2000.  
	The total price of my SE/030 upgrade with external color could be
in the range of $2500-$3500, plus the $1500 I could get for my original SE, 
much less than it would cost me to get to get a Mac IIx with an external
color monitor.  Even better, the upgrade price will be in $1500 installments,
to make it easier to swallow.  
	As an SE owner who wants the advantages of a Mac IIx, doesn't need
slots or a big footprint, and is on a limited budget, I am very pleased 
with the prospect of being able to upgrade my SE to a Mac IIx rival complete
with speed and the possibility of color.
	It remains to be seen if my prices are reasonable guesses.  Here's 
hoping that Apple recognizes the advantages of getting a lot of users with
upgraded SE's to show off the power of the Macintosh and prices the upgrades
within reach.
	Anyone out there willing to venture a guess as to how much this 
SE -> SE/030 upgrade will cost Apple and how much they will charge for
it?

Paul Meyer
Microsystems Technology Laboratories
MIT