Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!hplabs!hp-ses!hpcuhb!hpindda!tribby
From: tribby@hpindda.HP.COM (David Tribby)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Re: Death of the Apple II: GREATLY EXAGGERATED
Message-ID: <6230026@hpindda.HP.COM>
Date: 22 Mar 89 01:41:54 GMT
References: <8903201559.aa07576@SMOKE.BRL.MIL>
Organization: HP Information Networks Group/Cupertino CA
Lines: 58

> Look folks, I don't know where some of this BS is coming from regarding
> the fictional death of the Apple II family, but its obvious to me that
> many people in this industry, usually writing for trade rags just don't
> know what the hell they are talking about. ... 
> ... if you guys knew what was coming down the pike for the Apple II world,
> all this conversation would quickly end.
> 
> --Rick Ewing
>   Apple Atlanta tech Support
>   ...and generally pissed off by all of this...

Rick (and Keith and the rest of you Apple insiders)...

Since I also work for a company with a "no talk of futures" policy, I can
sympathize with your frustration at not being able to describe all the
nifty new products under development.

Even though you can't tell us specifically what is coming, could Apple do
any of the following...

	* Give us some general directions for product strategy.
	  (e.g., Apple will continue enhancing IIGS software and firmware,
	  particularly emphasizing performance tune-up. A new system disk
	  is expected to be released during the second half of 1989.)
	  Even if it's not very detailed, we would like to know what Apple
	  is committed to do over the next couple of years.

	* Put together a significant announcement for AppleFest. You 
	  can tell people to "just wait until May...then you'll know
	  what's going on" and things might quiet down on the net for
	  a while. Of course, if the announcement doesn't meet
	  expectations, users will not be pleased.

	* Tell us, in general, the amount of resources Apple is commiting
	  to the II line. "We've advertised in the San Jose Mercury, A+,
	  and Call-A.P.P.L.E. for support and development engineers, and
	  are interviewing like crazy to fill xxx new openings to join the
	  yyy engineers already at work in Cupertino."

	* Highlight any significant new third-party offerings that aren't
	  confidential. Applied Engineering seems to have some new board
	  every few months, so they must be "bullish" on the II. Are you
	  aware of any new software packages introduced during the first
	  quarter of '89? Even if net readers aren't interested in the
	  specific products, it's heartening to know someone else thinks
	  the II is worth an investment.

The imminent death of the II line has been predicted regularly over the
years, and I long ago learned not to believe everything I read in the
press (or on the net :-). It's unfortunate that Apple cannot immediately
respond to the latest waves of rumors and bad news, but perhaps you can
give us some additional hopeful indications. (Your presence on the net
is a strong positive factor; Apple must have some good plans for the II
if they continue to pay your salaries!).

--Dave Tribby
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