Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!agate!helios.ee.lbl.gov!nosc!cod!rupp
From: rupp@cod.NOSC.MIL (William L. Rupp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Apple VS IBM
Message-ID: <1389@cod.NOSC.MIL>
Date: 7 Feb 89 18:33:27 GMT
References: <8901270656.AA01616@crash.cts.com> <6258@boulder.Colorado.EDU> <25073@apple.Apple.COM> <2312@uokmax.UUCP> <2804@m2-net.UUCP> <9592@smoke.BRL.MIL>
Reply-To: rupp@cod.nosc.mil.UUCP (William L. Rupp)
Organization: Computer Sciences Corp.,  San Diego
Lines: 47

In article <9592@smoke.BRL.MIL> gwyn@brl.arpa (Doug Gwyn (VLD/VMB) <gwyn>) writes:
  >   .........  The //c was apparently targeted at the sort of yoyos
  >for whom Apple user manuals are now written, who would only blow up
  >their computer if they could get the cover off.  ..................

One of the central realities that many sincere but shortsighted people
on this group STILL fail to realize is that they represent a VERY, VERY
select and sophisticated bunch of users.  The "yoyos" you refer to
represent the vast majority of computer users.  Most of whom have at
least average intelligence; many have a great deal more than average.

Look at it this way:
to a geologist, most people are "yoyos" when it comes to identifying rocks.
To an Eskimo, most people are "yoyos" when it comes to distinguishing
one of the many types and states of snow from the others.  To a physicist,
most people are "yoyos" when it comes to understanding sub-atomic
particles.

Face it, folks.  In 1975-1980, the complaints of some of you would have been
appropriate.  In those days, only very knowledgeable people were buying
microcompluters.  Those days are gone.  Today, micros are bought mostly
by "yoyos".  Just as the buyers of automobiles are mostly "yoyos" when
it comes to understanding that a master cylinder is not part of the
engine.  Just as the buyers of television sets are "yoyos" when it comes
to understanding how TV transmissions are turned into images and sounds.

Only if you think it is reasonable to expect people to understand how
television sets and automobiles function before they buy one can
you expect Apple, or any other large manufacturer, to cater to the
wishes of a sophisticated, but economically insignificant, segment of its
market.

That does not mean you shouldn't make suggestions for improvements in
the most persuasive terms. It does mean that there is no free lunch in
Silicon Valley any more than there is in any other segment of the
economy.  When you consider that many people, some in supposedly
advanced, or at least semi-advanced (CCCP), nations still use the
abacus to calcuate sales bills in stores, I think we should be darned
happy to have such powerful computing equipment available as we have in
this country.

Bill


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At least that's my opinion.... and just my opinion, for the record.
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