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From: earleh@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Is the Mac 512 still a semi-viable system?
Message-ID: <17929@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU>
Date: 15 Dec 89 19:27:07 GMT
References: <5799@internal.Apple.COM>
Sender: news@dartvax.Dartmouth.EDU
Reply-To: earleh@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Earle R. Horton)
Organization: Between jobs.
Lines: 33

In article <5799@internal.Apple.COM> chewy@apple.com (Paul Snively) writes:
...
>A large part of the answer to the question, I think, has to come from what 
>you mean by things like "viable" and "obsolete."  The Plus will always be 
>able to run System 6.x, and applications that will run in one megabyte or 
>less under System 6.x, so yeah, the Plus will be around for an 
>indeterminate amount of time equal to however long the users find that 
>combination (Plus, System 6.x, their favorite apps) useful.
>
>As for how long Apple Computer, Inc. will continue to manufacture
>the Plus and continue upgrading its System Software, that's anybody's guess.

I was under the impression that the Plus would be able to run System
7.0 with 2 Mb installed.  I own a Plus.  Don't scare me like this, Paul!

In addition, at least one manufacturer makes a 68030 add-on board for
the Plus and claims full compatibility with System 7.0 virtual memory.
These boards are cheap.  A Plus with one installed and a math chip will
cost about half the price of an SE/30, especially if you use a Plus you
already have and figure in its present value rather than the cost of a
new box.  There isn't a whole lot of difference between such a Plus and
an SE/30, either, except for those 256k ROM calls that are not (yet)
implemented on a Plus.  You can put all the hardware you presently need
into a Plus, so Apple will continue to support the Plus for quite a
long time yet, assuming that the place is run by Nice People who are
grateful to the customers who put them where they are now.

I don't see any reason for the Plus to become obsolete for a while
yet.  In my opinion, what really separates a stock Plus from better
Macintoshes is the 68000.  When the Plus goes, the 68000 SE isn't too
far behind.

Earle R. Horton