Re: Awks stuff

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

tpe123@gaol.com (escobedo) wrote:

rubywand@swbell.net wrote:
>
>>      For you, perhaps. Our IIgs gets lots of use, including word
>> processing via Awks 5.1. Our PC gets lots of use, too.
>> 
>
>My A2 gets use too. But you're preaching to the choir here. Try convincing
>a newcomer to buy an "old Apple II".

Nobody is trying to do that.  However, if you do happen to get
a copy of Awks 5.1 for one reason or another, I hope you will
see why some people still prefer it over Mac or Wintel programs.
It is the pinacle of the text based program.  I love it!  Even on my
Wintel, the word processor of choice is text based DOS
WordPerfect.  For people like me, the Apple II is far from useless.

>"But can I play DOOM?

Since you have an Apple IIGS, have you seen the FREE version
of Wolfenstein 3D?  Really something, and the sound effects
are better than the Wintel and Macintosh versions.

>...Can I go on
>the Web?..."are the questions you'll hear. A $25 IIgs can't compare once
>you figure another $50+ to max out the RAM, $50+ for a hard drive, $25+
>for a decent monitor, and heaven forbid, more $$$ for an accelerator. And
>it STILL can't play DOOM or surf the Web like the $50 486 or MacII. 
>Just try to convince a newcomer that they can do without DOOM or that LYNX
>is just as good as Netscape!

Trying to convince someone to buy an old Apple IIGS for that
purpose does seem rather strange.  However, a NEW repackaged
unit sold as an all in one computer for the low end is NOT.  That's
when the Apple IIGS was the state of the art (mid 80s), there were
still millions of people buying the by then "obsolete" Commodore 64.

The Commodore 64 niche is still here.  Don't believe it?  Look at
the GeoBook...an IBM XT class laptop thingy...speed of an XT,
runs GeoWorks, sells for $300, sells like crazy, is INCOMPATIBLE
with real 8086 MS-DOS software (I tried to load one in at the store),
and its word processor lacks a search and replace or find function.
It has an Intenet Shell provider with an SIS like (Lynx like) browser.
Now the GeoBook can't run DOOM, can't run Wintel software, can't
run Netscape, but WHY does it sell?

THE LOW END MARKET IS STILL HERE.

A repackaged all in one Apple IIGS unit with 4MB and AWGS and
Spectrum Internet Suite "Internet browser" software will be MUCH
better.  Apple could make a profit at $150 per system!

>I tend to agree. My 486 is a piece of junk. But it works. And I venture to
>say the upgrade path for the 486 is more sensible and more open.
>It just seems to me foolish to develop for the Apple II with the intention
>of making a nice profit, pirates or not.

Considering they are selling REPACKAGED IBM XT level units,
the A2 can, if rereleased under new packaging and a new name,
capture the low end ala Commodore 64.

>Remember, I'm not attacking the Apple II. I just see it for what it is...
>on old computer.

There's no need to pound us over the head with it.  We all know
the A2 is old, but that does not mean it is useless.  I still use
it to do real word processing (AW5 word processor is as intuitive
to me as my favorite WP on the Wintel...DOS WordPerfect).

And how can you explain the still vibrant Commodore 64 market,
developing and selling hardware and software FOR PROFIT?