Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!decwrl!dogie.macc.wisc.edu!vms.macc.wisc.edu From: lipo@vms.macc.wisc.edu (Patrick Lipo) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Can the II be THAT bad? Message-ID: <3243@dogie.macc.wisc.edu> Date: 25 Feb 90 03:25:48 GMT Sender: news@dogie.macc.wisc.edu Organization: University of Wisconsin Academic Computing Center Lines: 86 Ever since my dad bought an Apple II+ in 1979, I was hooked. He has long since gone to Macs, but I have been faithfully attempting to keep my Apple up to date. My IIgs has kept me somewhat happy, and I live in anticipation of upgrades that will make it a COMPETITIVE machine that I won't be embarassed to admit I own. (I am a Comp Sci major, after all.) However, I just read something that really hurt: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From Computer Gaming World, March 1990: "Inside the Industry," p. 18 The publishing venture which brought new meaning to multi-player computer gaming with 'Star Saga One: Beyond the Boundary' and 'Star Saga Two: The Clathran Menace' is up for sale. According to Andrew Greenberg, President and CEO of Masterplay, "faced with holding our breath and taking a chance a little while longer (and maybe, facing bankruptcy), the board of directors made the decision to sell. The deepest cut of all and perhaps, most unwise decision we made was the decision to support the Apple II." Greenberg stated that the inability of the Apple II to handle both the huge storyline and support the kind of "visual heat" the current market demands turned out to be a more devastating that anyone could have expected. "We followed the 'Apple II Forever' hype into oblivion," eulogized the personable game designer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'm not just talking about games. I'm sick of hearing my friends, proud owners of IBM's and Amigas, brag about this and that and what their machine can do. But deep down I know they're right. One immense advantage that IBM's have over us (other than a better clock speed) is SUPPORT FROM HELL! I mean, for every Apple product that exists there are probably ten IBM products. If you read a magazine about, say, programming, they ASSUME you are working on an IBM. That's the power they have...they're EVERYWHERE! THERY'RE BLOCKING OUT THE SUN! Amigas, however, aren't nearly as well supported (although they're on a rise.) They, however, have the technology that many computers lack: Multitasking, good sound, good graphics, Blitter, etc. That's what attracts the new buyers, and the increasing number of buyers is what attracts more support. It seems like a year ago, the Amiga program lists in mail-order houses were about a quarter of the size of the corresponding Apple list. Now they are approaching the same size. I dread that in the future, the Apple section will disappear (it already has in some.) The II has neither the support (Apple flubbed that when they let the II slide in lieu of the Mac) nor the technology (I know, there's some nice bits in there, but there's nothing that has been noted outside of regular II users). The support for the II is the only thing that will save it, and its not going to just come back. It is necessary to create a machine that will be noticed by the rest of the computing world, not just in a sidebar. That is not going to be easy. If they even want to think about saving the II, Apple needs to create a machine that deserves note. So far, they have been just doing the bare minimum in development to keep up with the rest of the community. I just wish they would come up with a II (hopefully upgrade) that does something that most other comparable machines don't. I don't care what it is--speed, capability, cost--but it should be something to cause others to take notice. Sorry, I heard rumors about ROM 4 and thought "great!" It sounds great to me, and the new developments may keep me around a little longer, but there's really nothing there to attract a larger percentage of NEW users: NOTHING'S NEW, GUYS! This "Apple IIf" proposal may be something to put the zing back in the II, but remember that COST will probably be the crucial factor in the future of the computer. If it has good capabilities at an affordable price, it may be worth a look. But if the Apple tries to increase its power only (without keeping the price the same), Apple WILL LOSE. There are too many powerful machines out there who will overshadow it into infinity. Sorry. This has probably all been said before. I have owned a II for a long time, and when I mention that I own one I usually have to follow the statement with some explanation as to WHY I own it, or with some defense of it. However, I still have a secret sense of pride that I have stuck with it, and programming a II also has its perks. Unfortunately, when I read that the lack of capability in the Apple II had almost caused a company to go bankrupt...and in a general computing magazine (not an Apple-only) it just hurt. Think of all the young (or old) impressionable non-II users out there reading that information...it could very well sign the Apple II's death warrant! And I don't want to have to start trying to program an Amiga. :-( ------------------------------------------------------------------------ +-. "Don't worry, I'm used to shrapnel." ! ! --Deunan Knute, _Appleseed_ +-' ! at (Spam?) lipo@vms.macc.wisc.edu or lipo@wiscmac3.BitNet ------------------------------------------------------------------------