Re: What if...

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Phoenyx <quazar@dcnet2000.com> wrote:

>Somehow, I doubt we will see a simple home oriented computer. The
>powers that be have already decided that our home computers should
>handle all our communication.
>
>Sometimes, I think the computer companies miss the point. It is
>possible to create a simple system with enough power to satisfy
>the needs of the home user. It could still have easy to use web
>access and enough power to run the basic desktop apps.
>
>But that's too easy. And how would the R&D for the big computers
>get funded if the masses started using a simpler device?

But where do you draw the line between a computer and a
typewriter?  Some home users do not want to spend $500
for an eMachine, the cheapest of PC (that's even a good
price compared to building from components).  Instead,
they spend $99 for a modern typewriter.  But modern
typewriters, if you have noticed, are different than the old
ones.  They have word processing programs built in.

THIS is the market the 20Mhz, 4MB, AWGS installed
IIGS should aim for.  There is a PC-based version of this
concept in stores called the GeoBook which runs
GeoWorks, but I believe a IIGS version would be quite
competitive if sold at $99.  It would be cheaper and
based on technology that is cheaper to build and it
will be more fun.  You can't run Wolfenstein 3D on a
GeoBook after all and GeoWrite on a GeoBook is
much slower than AWGS even on my 12.5Mhz GS
not to mention the 20Mhz processor a new model would
have.