Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!decwrl!sun!pitstop!sundc!seismo!uunet!microsoft!brianw From: brianw@microsoft.UUCP (Brian Willoughby) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Apple II Future (was: GS Sales) Summary: Apple vs. IBM, The Final Chapter. Message-ID: <768@microsoft.UUCP> Date: 28 Feb 89 04:46:08 GMT References: <8902260256.AA18177@crash.cts.com> Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA Lines: 87 First a response to a previous posting, and then the usual metaphysical ramblings on the Apple II future... In article <8902260256.AA18177@crash.cts.com>, orcus@pro-lep.cts.com (Brian Greenstone) writes: > Can anyone here give me some figures as to just how many GS's have been sold, > ... > Im really interested in the "reality" of it all. I mean we've been ragging on > the GS for a few months now, and Id like to see the real figures. > > -Brian Greenstone Well, I don't have any numeric figures, but this EMail has made the rounds locally: ####################################################### 41 | Subject: Some surprising statistics on fruit growth | Date: Sun Feb 26 04:40:31 1989 | | | >From Computer Reseller (Monday Feb 13, 1989) | | ...audits show Apple microcomputer unit sales of all models | were up 28 percent over october of last year, but IBM's sales | slipped... | | ...and for the first time ever, IBM's market share overall | fell below Apple's.... | | ...numbers show Apple leading IBM by a full 5 percent in | unit market... | | ...The Macintosh SE now outsells the PS/2 model 50 in both | dollar and unit terms... | | ...Macintosh IIx sold a third as many units as IBM's PS/2 | Model 80 in October, despite the IIx's midmonth introduction. | | And on another page, a chart shows that the Apple IIgs holds | the same market share as the Compaq Deskpro 386! Truth is indeed | stranger than fiction. | { /* begin rambling */ Lately I've been riding the roller-coaster of extreme praise followed by heated grumbling complaints concerning Apple and it's treatment of the II line. As a recent purchaser of the Applied Engineering TransWarp (II+), I certainly would like to see speedier CPU's right out of the Apple box. But let's be fair to Apple, folks. They are but _one_ company trying each year to provide products that will keep _all_ their customers happy. We can't expect them to base a CPU on the absolutely fastest processor available. There would be too many bugs for the average user to have too put up with. You should to consider that there are over ten popular IBM PC clones makers who each have products ranging from 'slow but reliable' to fast and on the edge of technology. If clone manufacturer 'A' makes a 25 MHz AT type machine, you still have the choice of not buying it if it doesn't have all the bugs worked out. It usually takes a few revisions before the higher speed machines reach a reliable state. Meanwhile, clone manufacturer 'B' has yet another variation available with it's peculiar bugs. A single company simply doesn't have the time to produce multiple variations on their machine for simultaneous release. Apple instead provides a well-tested product which hopfully meets most of their customers' needs. I, for one, think that the Apple II line is better because each CPU is well tested. The IIGS wouldn't be neck-to-neck with the Compaq DeskPro 386 if it weren't a well built machine. Apple doesn't just throw raw speed at their products (although they do charge a little too much, and they seem to be behind in adding features like speed to their current line of products). I think third-party speed-up options are an acceptable quick upgrade for those users willing to take the risk on the edge of technology. It takes AE far less time to design a single board than Apple spends on an entire CPU. Then, when Apple has put their proven expertise into the next generation of CPU's, these features (which were once options) will be available to everyone (providing that Apple does a good job of keeping up with technological advances). I don't think Apple is unaware of the Apple II's potential. Take a glance at page 104 of the March 1989 A+ magazine. Apple has paid for an entire page of advertising geared toward recruiting new Apple II-specific employees. Apple is a growing company, and if you are a talented designer with a passion for the II series, then apply to join the team responsible for designing the *new* Apple II! Brian Willoughby microsoft!brianw@uunet.UU.NET #include /* MicroSoft has forgotten the Apple II, therefore any of my opinions here have no relation to my work for MicroSoft */