Re: Apple Drops Backward Compatibility for Next MacOS

[zatezalo.2@osu.edu (Shane)]

George Van Treeck <treeck@sybase.com> wrote:

>Luci Ellis wrote:
>>   The article quotes Hancock as saying "If we have to pick between
>>   backward compatibility and new functions, we're voting for new
>>   functions." As amplified through wire service stories and untold
>>   generations of mailing list and Usenet postings, the popular
>>   perception now seems to be that Apple has said _no_ current
>>   Macintosh programs will run under Mac OS 8.
>> 
>>   That's simply untrue, and understanding why is not much of an
>>   intellectual exercise. Apple would be committing corporate suicide
>>   if _all_ existing Macintosh software ceased to operate under
>>   future versions of the Mac OS...

>You don't know what your are talking about.  Was the Mac compatible
>with the Apple II? No!!!

>Many computer vendors have come out with new computers and operating
>systems completely incompatable the previous generation -- with
>no ill effects.  They simply continue to support the old versions
>until the demand becomes so small it's no longer profitable.
>For example, Apple supported the Apple II for many years after
>the first Macs shipped.

Ah, but Apple *killed* the II - the demand never dropped. And if you
think Apple came out of it w/ no ill-effects, just go visit
comp.sys.apple2 for a bit.