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From: sb@pro-generic.cts.com (Stephen Brown)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: F U T U R E   O F   A P P L E   I I
Message-ID: <10789.infoapple.net@pro-generic>
Date: 9 Mar 90 09:52:56 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 63

It's not easy posting this message, as I hate to be cast as a 'gossip' or
rumour spreader, yet I think this information is important enough to be
flamed over.
 
I have strong reason to believe (sorry, can't specify sources) that the
Apple II's days are extremely numbered. Support (if you can call it that)
will continue with occasional software upgrades and occasional new
peripherals... very much like its been over the last few years -- WITH ONE 
important exception: The machines will be out of production.
 
Why? Sales have dropped a lot.  Why? Because the current Apple II
computers are too expensive for the 'horsepower' they offer, they are not
advertised, and finally, they are pushed towards one market:
Primary/Junior school.  And to add insult to injury, Apple is now eroding
even this market with Macintosh.  In a nutshell, they have created a
situation in which Apple II's have no market, so they have justification
to discontinue the machine. It isn't happening... it's happened.
 
What does this mean to you, a user of an Apple II? It means that the new
software, hardware, and interest in your machine will dwindle and vanish
over the next few years. You think there's no new software? You think
there are too few magazines? You ain't seen nothin' yet...
 
What can you do? I'm afraid to say the nails may already be in the coffin. 
However, I DO suggest that you write to Apple USA (not Canada, of course)
and tell them what you think. Do you resent being "used" to finance
Apple's future, if you are not intended to have a part? Do you like being
told "Apple II Forever" is Apple's commitment, when it's barely lip
service?  Do you like being part of the enormous 'cash cow' project? I
don't.
 
May I suggest that you write to Apple NOW. Not tomorrow. Not next week.
Now. If you wait, you will have missed your opportunity. I'll tell you
what I'm going to tell them:  I don't appreciate the lack of support, and
I don't like their disdainful attitude towards the Apple II. And if this
is their attitude, then hell will freeze over before I buy another product 
from this company.      
 
 
Once you have written your letter(s) to Apple, write to ALL the software and
hardware suppliers that supply stuff for the Apple II, and tell them to get on
Apple's back. Better: tell them to use their databases of registered users to
start a letter writing campaign.

Once you have done this, tell (not ask) everyone you know who uses an Apple II
to do the same. And when you (and they) write, don't bother mincing words. Lay
it on the line... or flowery tactfulness will prevent penetration through some
awefully thick skulls.

Stephen Brown

P.S. My letters are already written, and by the time you read this, they'll be
sent. 
P.P.S. Go ahead and flame me (or acid me). It will all be academic once
Apple's statement about the Apple II line is public. The gist: Think
Macintosh. And if you have an Apple II, support will be occasional software
upgrades, and the odd new peripheral. No new CPU's, and existing CPU's out of
production.
I'm so sorry to say Murph's ROM 04 rumour was just someone's wishful thinking.

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