Re: I'm at a loss for words

[smentzer@pacbell.net (Steve Mentzer)]

In article <54g0s6$pck@blackice.winternet.com>, cplater@winternet.com says...
>
>Sam Ismail (dastar@crl.com) wrote:
>: Charles A. Plater (cplater@rattlehead.pass.wayne.edu) wrote:
>: 
>: : I have considered Nathan as a friend since way before this whole Dr. Tom
>: : Vs. Nathan Mates thing ever started.  Keep in mind that there are more
>: 
>: Again, this is not about Nathan vs. Tom or Nathan vs. Anyone.  This is
>: about Nathan.
>
>Then why is it that it is always the same, very small group of people who 
>side with Tom that attack Nathan?
>
>: 
>: : would see his actions this way.  Nathan has released some very good
>: : programs.  One that comes to mind is Swatter Disk which I don't think he
>: : even recieved 2 shareware payments for.  He might just be a little bitter
>: : about that.
>: 
>: Well, assuming your speculation is correct (re: he's bitter about not
>: receiving payment) who cares?  He's a terrible businessman, why should
>: he take out his frustrations on a public newsgroup.  Are you giving
>: him an excuse for being so immature?
>
>I assume you have done business with him?  I can't speak for Nathan, but 
>the Swatterdisk thing may just bring the piracy issue closer to home for 
>him. (Oh, BTW it I would assume that it is piracy to use Shareware after 
>the 30 days expiration without paying the shareware fee.
>
>: 
>: : People seem to think that piracy did not kill the Apple II.  Well you are
>: : wrong.  The problem with Apple II piracy was that the Apple II market was
>: : not big enough.  Just about everyone pirated every software that came 
out.
>: : If the user base had been twice the size with 1/2 of them purchasing the
>: : software things would have been ok, and the IIgs might still be alive
>: : today, but piracy ended this.
>: 
>: Where's your proof?  Where is your data and statistics that show that
>: piracy killed the Apple ][?  What carefully constructed evidence to
>: you have to present which validates this theory?  In other words,
>: WHAT ARE THE FACTS, AND TO HOW MANY DECIMAL PLACES???
>: 
>
>The fact that piracy was just as big in the PC/Mac markets and those 
>people did not go out of business should prove this.  Look at the games 
>that were supposed to be released for the GS that were canceled for lack 
>of support.  Most authors stated that there was no money to be made in 
>the Apple II market because most if not all people pirated wares.
>
>: 


Well, I also had an ibm pc/xt, pc/at, pcJr, clone 286,386,486,pentium
and guess what... I have *pirated* warez sitting at home. I have yet
to buy a copy of Ultima. And guess what, IBM PC warez have *always* been
easier to pirate than c64 or apple games. Any programmer will know that this
was due to the fact that you could do non standard sector schemes, nibble
counting, half tracking/spiraling and many other things with an Apple II
that would prevent the successful duplication of software!

The IBM Pc didn't have that copy-protection luxury. 

THE THING THAT KILLED APPLE WAS APPLE COMPUTERS' ARROGANT NON-LICENSING OF
APPLE II ROMS, NON-EXISTANT DEVELOPER SUPPORT AND OVERPRICING. IT IS THE
SAME REASON THE MAC'S AND POWER PC'S ARE GOING TO THE LANDFILL. WILL YOU
BLAME PIRACY FOR THE DOWNFALL OF THE MAC TOO?

You see above. Piracy did not kill the apple II. Apple computer did. 
There was limited support for the apple II because most families could
not afford a $3000.00 apple // with all the cool stuff, but they could
afford a $500.00 commodore 64. 

Get a clue. If you are going to make an argument, make sure your point is
valid...

smentzer@pacbell.net