Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!ukma!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!MITRE.MITRE.ORG!mcgurrin
From: mcgurrin@MITRE.MITRE.ORG
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: WHAT death of the Apple II?
Message-ID: <8902081641.AA29725@mitre.arpa>
Date: 8 Feb 89 16:41:22 GMT
References: <8902071644.aa27002@SMOKE.BRL.MIL>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The MITRE Corp., Washington, D.C.
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I second the views of Dave, although the GS IS too slow for the graphics
interface in many cases.  A Transwarp GS would help, but that adds another
$400.00 to the price tag.  More to the point, however, given the work that
appears to have gone into GS/OS, it does not appear like Apple is about to
discontinue the II line.  I agree that the II and Mac lines may eventually
merge, which is fine.  No one should expect any personal computer to 
continue for 10 years or more (a line might, but not a model).  A Mac, 
introduced in 3-5 years, which ran II software would be the death of new
II software, but who cares?  By then I will have gotten years of use out
of my GS.  This is much like my old II, now used by my father.  Very little
new software will run on it, but that's to be expected in an 8 year old
machine.  It still runs the older programs fine, and the GS let me run most
old software while opening up whole new areas.  If Apple introduces a II
compatible Mac this year, and at the same time stops the Apple II (e, c+ and
GS) lines at the same time, then I would be upset, but eventually something
will replace the GS.  How different is a Mac that will run II software than
a GS that runs older II software?  You can't run a GS specific program on an
old II.

One last ramble:  I think another reason for poor software support for the GS
is the fact that there is still a large //e, //c base out there.  A vanilla
II version will run on any II, including a GS, whereas a GS version only
runs on the GS.  A company has to ask if it's worth it.  The same applies
to Mac II software.  The product must offer something really spectacular
to make it worthwhile to come out with a Mac II only version or product 
(although it's easier to write Mac software that takes advantage of the 
Mac II features when available than to write II software that takes advantage
of the GS features when available (there is no toolbox in a plain II)).

In conclusion:  Enough of this imminent death stuff.  I don't want a new 
version of the GS every year, I couldn't afford to keep up (which is not
to say that we aren't about due for one around now, since it's been a few
years!).