Re: _Infinite Loop_ by Michael S. Malone

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
> Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
> 
> >> I can plug in a card on the IIGS without worrying about
> >> IRQs or DMA channels.  I can plug in a drive without worrying about PIO
> >> modes or master/slave conflicts.  The IIGS is remarkably simple from the
> >> users' point of view.
> >
> >     Yes; the GS has lots of nice features. On the other hand, it will not be
> >much good as an internet machine or for advanced graphics applications until
> >there is a major hardware upgrade.
> 
> Of course, but I thought we were talking about 1986.  The IIGS was
> elegantly simple from the users' point of view compared to an IBM XT
> or IBM AT in 1986.  It was also more elegant than the Mac Plus, also
> from that era.  The XT, the AT, and the Plus are also not much good
> as internet or graphics application units.  Yes, if the IIGS was upgraded
> as the XT and AT were upgraded to the Pentium (or compatible) units
> and the Plus was upgraded to the PowerMac, then things would be
> much better for IIGS users TODAY.

     Okay; but, my focus has been on the hardware we have to work with. The
non-upgradability of max RAM, video, sound RAM, and base speed featured in the
1986/1989 design stems from bad choices. The GS has an elegantly simple look to
the user; but, it's hardware is a morass of compromises and exceptions.

     When it comes to designing the next GS expansion, we need to avoid
repeating past mistakes.



> But we all know who is to blame
> for the IIGS not being upgraded in such a way: Apple Computers Inc.,
> with Steve Jobs planting the anti-Apple II seeds long ago.
> 
> Remember, this was the guy who at the release of the Apple III and the
> Lisa proclaimed the Apple II as "the boring side of Apple" and even
> though the IIe was easily at match for the III, purposefully forced the
> design of the IIe to boot into 40 column mode so as to make the III
> look better.

     In which case he may have screwed up. IIe's were/are often connected to
composite color monitors which generally look better in 40-col mode.

     The problem with the II series and making headway in the business market
has always been promotion and (until the GS) the lack of a separate keyboard.
It did not matter whether the GS was better than the Mac's of 1986 because
Apple promoted the Mac as a Serious computer and the GS (when it got any
mention at all) as, at best, a computer for school children.



Rubywand