Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncrcce!pasek
From: pasek@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Michael A. Pasek)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Low-Cost Macintosh
Summary: "Low-Cost" and "68030" are opposites
Keywords: cheap, affordable
Message-ID: <1871@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM>
Date: 2 Feb 90 16:57:17 GMT
Expires: 9 Feb 90 05:00:00 GMT
References: <126900165@p.cs.uiuc.edu>
Reply-To: pasek@c10sd3.StPaul.NCR.COM (M. A. Pasek)
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac
Distribution: na
Organization: NCR Comten, Inc.
Lines: 28

In article <126900165@p.cs.uiuc.edu> gillies@p.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
>MacWorld last week said that the low-cost macintosh will have the same
>8Mhz 68000 as the original Mac 128k.  It will have enhanced ROMs.
>The time has come to bury the 8Mhz 68000.  Apple should use an 8Mhz
>68030. [remainder deleted]

I disagree.  The 8Mhz (being "ten-years old"), is what one would call
"mature", and therefore can be produced in quantity for very little money.
If you were to compare 10,000-piece prices for an 8Mhz 68000 and an
8Mhz 68030, I think you'd find a difference in the hundreds of dollars range
(this is pure speculation on my part).  For a low-cost machine (somewhere
between $1000-$1500 street price), a difference in cost-to-build of $200
could mean a difference in street price of $500 or more.

Now, I just hope the "low-cost Mac" will have SIMMs, and the ability to ADD
an SCSI port (if not included), and the ability to ADD a NuBus expansion
module, the ability to use different monitor types.  Note that although many
of us WANT SCSI, NuBus, and a 32-bit 2-page color monitor, there aren't many
of us that have that kind of money -- especially all at once.  What better
way to ensure future sales than to "get 'em hooked" on a cheap, EXPANDABLE
model ?   That was the problem with the Macs from 128K -> Plus -- You paid
blood for the first one, and then had to pay blood again just to keep up.

That's my 2 Option-4.

M. A. Pasek          Switching Software Development         NCR Comten, Inc.
(612) 638-7668        CNG-er-PU4-er-MNI Development       2700 N. Snelling Ave.
pasek@c10sd3.StPaul.NCR.COM                               Roseville, MN  55113