Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!nrl-cmf!ames!claris!krazy
From: krazy@claris.com (Jeff Erickson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Disappointed in the IIgs (was: GS/OS and programming standards)
Message-ID: <9034@claris.com>
Date: 8 Mar 89 10:02:42 GMT
References: <8903072109.AA01818@batman.moravian.edu>
Organization: Claris Corporation, Mountain View CA
Lines: 71

> From an article by Andy Nicholas:
>> me
>>> From an article by Collin Broadrick Douglas:
>>> It sure is nice to know that someone from Claris has such support
>>> for the II line.
>> As I said before, my opinions are not Claris's opinions.  Claris is VERY
>> SOLIDLY behind the future of the Apple IIgs and AppleWorks GS.  Once we
>> shipped, I got off that project, but there are still plenty of very
>> capable people -- INCREDIBLY capable people -- working on it.
> Even though it's refreshing to know that your opinions are not [Claris's], 
> just the fact that people with opinions like yours _work_ for companies which
> profess to support the Apple II line disappoints me.  I'm steamed, and I
> do not like it.

[later] 

> ...The speed of the IIgs *SHOULD* be 
> increased markedly if apple expects it to remain the cash cow it has always
> been...

[later]

> My point is this -- Apple has let the IIgs languish in the 2 1/2 years since
> its introduction.  Does anyone remember that at the time of the GS's
> announcement, there was *NO* Mac SE at all?  And here, today, 1989, we 
> consider the Mac SE to be obsolete!  Think about the GS!
> 
> The software for the IIgs is really 'neato' stuff.  The hardware is not.

[later]

> And that's because Apple hasn't done _squat_ towards making the IIgs a more
> _POWERFUL_ system since it's introduction.  No floating point coprocessors,
> no doubling of processor speed, no doubling the ROM space, no support for
> virtual screen space, no hypercard, nada, zilch, zip.  Apple introduced the
> IIgs and then gleefully ignored it (except for system software, and amen for
> that!) until today... and *STILL* ignores it. 
> 
> You want to blame someone?  You want to holler at someone?  You have the
> unique opportunity to make a difference because you work for one of the
> 2 giant entities which comprise Apple.  You want to make a diffference?  Then
> go tell people _inside_ Apple that you're disappointed with the machine.
> Tell them to make it better.  We *ALREADY* know the IIgs hardware needs work, 
> but do apple's engineers?

You and I agree on EVERY point.  Apple isn't doing diddly-squat about the
IIgs.  In response to your request that I talk to people inside Apple now
that I'm (almost) inside Apple myself, I have.  I have screamed by bloody
little head off.  Other people I work with continue to scream their bloody
little heads off.  I have heard Claris's president screaming at Apple
about the GS.  Yes, Apple engineers have heard the complaints, as have
Apple Developer Tech Support, Apple management, Apple sales reps, Apple
executives, and Apple marketing types.

After two and a half years, I'm tired of yelling.  I'm tired of actively
supporting what I consider to be essentially a lost cause.  Lots of people
around here haven't given up, and they are still yelling, and screaming,
and kicking, and bashing heads.

It doesn't appear to be doing much good.

>>>   				A very MAD Collin Douglas

> A very interested Andy Nicholas

				    -- A very fed up Jeff Erickson 
-- 
Jeff Erickson     \  Internet: krazy@claris.com          AppleLink: Erickson4
Claris Corporation \      UUCP: {ames,apple,portal,sun,voder}!claris!krazy
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