Re: Dead Amiga? --- Live Apple

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

JamesDP35 writes ...
> 
> Rubywand wrote:
> 
> >To break the PC strangle hold, Amiga (or Apple IIgsx, etc.) must
> >deliver an integrated, high-performance package at something like the
> >typical PC' price-- around $1500
> 
> Apple may have just the machine you're thinking about, for the educational
> market, at least.  Last week, at the local Mac User's group, I saw a demo of an
> all-in-one G3 machine that is coming out soon. The price?  $1499.00; available
> to schools, teachers, adminstrators and students(!).
> 
> It has a 15" multi-res monitor, built-in ethernet, 4 PCI slots, and ships in
> both 233 and 266 versions, the 266 model ($1799.00) with the video card, just
> like the 266 tower model.  They expect to release it soon, and then make it
> available to consumers sometime in the fall.
>

     For Apple, the pricing is not too bad. But 233MHz or 266MHz is not
high-performance.

     How about this: Apple arranges with WDC to produce an 80MHz version
of the 65C816. They stick the new microprocessor, 64MB of RAM, a 6.5GB
hard disk, 32x CDROM drive, 1.4MB disk drive, a good fast 3D-capable
video chipset plus XVGA output, wavetable sound chipset, high-speed
serial I/O, game controller port, and 8-bit interface into a compact
tower case. Call it the "Apple II Power Box" and sell it to ...

   Apple II, II+, IIe, IIc, IIgs users
   Commodore 64/128 users
   Amiga users
   Old PC users
   Old Mac users
   New Power Box users.

     Arrange with Netscape to have an A2PB version of their 4.x browser
ready. Arrange with Activision, SSI, Interplay, ID, Origin, ... to have
A2PB versions of some of their games ready. Arrange with Mike
Westerfield to have a good interpreted BASIC ready. ... 

     Apple prices A2PB at around $1100 (w/o monitor). They price a
notebook-size carry-around 'satellite' computer (for students) at $399.

     In one fell swoop, Apple groms a nice chunk of the home market,
gets back into the education business, and takes back control of its own
machine design from PC-ville.    
   
  

Rubywand