Path: utzoo!dptcdc!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!bloom-beacon!apple!farrier
From: farrier@Apple.COM (Cary Farrier)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: FSTs
Message-ID: <1417@internal.Apple.COM>
Date: 17 Apr 89 16:32:26 GMT
References: <farrier@APPLE.COM> <8904160156.aa25830@SMOKE.BRL.MIL>
Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 46

In article <8904160156.aa25830@SMOKE.BRL.MIL> SEWALL@UCONNVM.BITNET (Murph Sewall) writes:
>>        Whether you knew about GS/OS before it's release does not
>>        matter.  If we went around pre-announcing our products,
>>        it wouldn't be very wise, strategically or economically.
>
>Like most sweeping generalizations, the above isn't true.  In
>fact, senior Apple executives are frequently quoted on the subject of
>Apple's plans 

	When the executives disclose publicly any plans or products,
	that is called announcing a product.  When the engineers disclose
	the same, it is called an information leak.  
 
>It's imprudent to discuss future products if the effect is customers
>deferring purchase of current products, or products with release dates
>so far in the future that their failure to appear after awhile might be
>viewed as a sign of trouble (the LapMac perhaps?).  But it's not so smart
>when the opposite is likely to be the case.

	Not so.  You have left out two facts: A) We have competitors,
	and B) If you pre-announce a product (read leak information) then
	don't deliver on it, you can stir up many bad feelings from the
	consumer.

>Since when has Apple ceased "pre-announcing" products (the LapMac, isn't
>pre-announced)? 
	
	Since when has Apple started?  The "LapMac" as you call it, was not
	announced.  If you recall, the report on it in the unnamed news
	journal was based on information they received from a technical
	document stolen from Apple.

>Murph Sewall                       Vaporware? ---> [Gary Larson returns 1/1/90]
>Prof. of Marketing     Sewall@UConnVM.BITNET
>Business School        sewall%uconnvm.bitnet@mitvma.mit.edu          [INTERNET]
>U of Connecticut       {psuvax1 or mcvax }!UCONNVM.BITNET!SEWALL     [UUCP]
>           (203) 486-5246 [FAX] (203) 486-2489 [PHONE] 41 49N 72 15W [ICBM]

Cary Farrier

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