Re: Wozniak vs Jobs

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article shack@onyx.southwind.net (Randy Shackelford) writes...

>: understood that the Mac wasnt making zillions of money from the start.
>: The II was a machine that sold well until the end.
>
>Apple's sales figures given for a one month period to the Operation Apple
>Storm panel were exactly seven IIgs and seven //e systems sold nationwide.
>At that rate you'd have 84 units per year. Not "selling well" by my figuring.

    Consider the facts -- the Apple IIe and Apple IIgs selling then
were functionally *identical* to the originals released in 1983 and
1986 (the Platinum IIe and ROM 3 were completely insignificant out-
side of the Apple II community--and then even within the community,
when you think about the extremely minor changes). Even a decade
ago, computers become obsolite after short time periods; perhaps
not mere months, but a few years were like a lifetime in computer
years. You _have_ to continually keep computers up to date as
technology is introduced (and enhance and maintain the existing
features) or the machine is on a path towards death.

    Also, consider that all advertising was dropped for the Apple II
not long after the "Apple II Forever" hype began when the IIc was
introduced. It was incredibly rare to see the Apple II advertised
on television or in magazine adds around the time of the GS, and
by the late 80's and early 90's there was no exposure whatsoever
more or less. Finally, during all this time the price of the IIe
and GS had remained outrageously high (even next to expensive Macs)
and the company showed no signs of interest in supporting their
own product. All things considered, it is quite remarkable they
managed to sell a total of even 14 Apple II units.

    Try doing the same for the PowerMacintosh: cut all advertising,
drop support, keep costs high and do absolutely nothing to upgrade
the machine (sell the same model, unchanged year after year) and
see how long it lasts. You can even pretend the PC compatible is
on equal footing in terms of market size and popularity for this.
The end result will still be the same. The Apple II did not die
because of lack of interest, it died because of Apple Computer.

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca