Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!claris!krazy From: krazy@claris.com (Jeff Erickson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Why, why, why? Message-ID: <9098@claris.com> Date: 18 Mar 89 09:49:06 GMT References: Organization: Claris Corporation, Mountain View CA Lines: 75 From jm7e+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU ("Jeremy G. Mereness"): > > I would hate to go to all that work and read something in MacWeek that > Apple has canned the Apple //. I think that such a concern is reasonable, > and I have seen such articles; luckily, they have been denied. > When next week's MacWeek comes out, read it. If the rumors I've heard recently around here are correct, it's going to generate a lot of heat on comp.sys.apple. I hate to say this, Jeremy, but I think your nightmare may be coming true. > I was very worried when someone wrote that many software companies like > Electronic Arts were abondoning the GS. > > Why would they consider this? Here's some more rain for your parade. Not only have I heard (RUMORS, READ "UNCONFIRMED") that Activision, Epyx, Electronic Arts, and a few other Apple II developers are not going to be at AppleFest this spring; but I have also heard that AppleFest isn't even going to HAPPEN next fall. Like I said, this is just a rumor. I have no confirmation, and I have no idea how to look for it. But it's still rather scary. > My example of Softswitch was to demonstrate what could be done with the > Apple //GS's hardware. [...] > Why didn't Apple write something like this or pursue this idea? Especially > since the idea was inspired by an Apple product "Switcher" that for a time > was shipped standard with Mac Pluses? There are no Andy Herzfelds for the GS, that's why. If Herzfeld hadn't been around, the Mac might be in the same dump the GS is in now. [Oh Lord. Look at the flames coming. Where'd I leave that asbestos suit?] > I am under enormous pressure here at CMU to give the machine up, that it is > a dead machine, that there is no point in developing anything for it. This > comes from students and salespeople at the computer store that operates out > of the Apple University Consortium. Many of them do not even know what a > GS is.... Why? Because Apple doesn't push AppleII's at universities. The idea (and I've heard this from several sources) is that as far as education is concerned, Apple II's are for the K-12 market. College students need Macs, because (I presume) Apples just aren't powerful enough to fill the needs of the average college student. Gee. Quite a self-fulfilling prophecy. Does the consortium give discounts on Apple II's at all? I don't seem to recall any mention of the Apple IIgs on Rice's consortium price list. > The Ensoniq chip is for > the most part unexplored as a MIDI instrument. Why? They don't want to get sued by the Beatles? (Oops! Too late!) > I just want to know why, and then I will shut up. I cannot ignore these > issues being where I am, and each day without anything new only makes me > more confused about Apple's faith and intentions. I don't see how these > concerns are unreasonable. If they are, tell me. Answer: $$$$ Apple IIs don't make enough money. $$$$ I don't really care why. Internal politics, economics, Jean-louis Gassee's horoscope, the failure of Woz's US festival, ANYTHING could be the reason. >I'll< shut up when I see >results< from >Apple<. On the other hand, it may be too late. c)^K -- Jeff Erickson \ Internet: krazy@claris.com AppleLink: Erickson4 Claris Corporation \ UUCP: {ames,apple,portal,sun,voder}!claris!krazy 415/960-2693 \________________________________________________________ ____________________/ "I'm so heppy I'm mizzabil!" -- Krazy Kat