Re: FAXination Update

[kindall@ic.net (Jerry Kindall)]

Mitchell Spector (spector@vax2.concordia.ca) wrote:
: In article gtolar@blkbox.com (Glynne Tolar) writes...
: >
: >David Empson (dempson@atlantis.actrix.gen.nz) wrote:
: >: Directly from Vitesse, at the very least.  I don't think Quality
: >: Computers will stock it - I heard that they will not stock any new
: >: product that only runs on an Apple II.
: > 
: >Well, if that is true that really sucks.  Sorry, I just had to express my 
: >frustration.

We probably will not be publishing any new Apple II programs ourselves.  
The development cost is just too great for the potential return.  
Possibly something got mixed up in the translation somewhere.  We are a 
Vitesse dealer and, if people call us to order something that they make, 
I expect we will order some.  B)  (Hint: next time, don't listen to 
something someone in New Zealand "heard.")

: 	Can someone verify if this is indeed true? You know, I'm beginning
: to wonder about Quality Computers. First I hear they won't stock any new
: products that only run on the Apple II line, next about them outright
: refusing to update their current IIgs titles (ie, Platinum Paint, AWGS)
: and recently complaints about the quality of their II-Alive publication.

It's not exactly "refusing" to update programs.  It's extremely difficult 
to justify producing an upgrade that only a few hundred people will buy.  
(I can't tell you how many copies of AppleWorks 5 we sold, for example, 
but I can tell you we probably won't ever see any money from that upgrade.)

II Alive should be getting better shortly.  We recently hired a new 
writer for our staff, since I and current Managing Editor Dean Esmay have 
been busy with other projects in the last few months.  We will likely 
continue publishing II Alive for at least another year; I don't 
expect it to get any smaller, and the content should improve.  (Slated 
for an upcoming issue: an interview with Steve Wozniak, among other things.)

: I was also rather turned off when I received QC's "Nothing but Apples"
: catalog. Besides the fact the cover could be mistaken for a 4 year old's
: coloring book (I doubt their Mac/IBM catalog has little frogs, toy bears
: and letters of the alphabet splashed on it)... [snip]

We don't have a Mac/IBM catalog.  However, our Enhance publication (which 
is an educational technology newsletter/catalog which covers Mac, Apple 
and IBM compatibles) has a cover that reflects the contents of the 
publication.  As does our "Nothing but Apples" catalog.  The frogs, toy 
bears, etc. are all characters from software titles which we sell and 
which appear in the catalog.  We are primarily an educational technology 
company.  What would you have preferred to see on the catalog cover?

: A 270mb SCSI hardrive for $500? Why, when most any other vendor will 
: sell you the same thing for $179!

The prices are higher on Apple II drives because they require special 
setup, formatting, and support.  However, I'll have our purchasing guy 
check and see how long it's been since the pricing was updated on 
those.  It might be we're inadvertently printing old prices or something.

: At least their price on the Second Sight card is reasonable...

Wait, isn't the Second Sight a new Apple II product?  And Quality is 
carrying it?  Well, golllllleee!  %)

: 	I still think Quality Computers is a vaulable resource for Apple II
: users and a great source of support, but I'd hate to see any of that to
: start slipping. I'm *not* trying to bash QC, I'm more concerned with where
: their future with the Apple II lies based on the above.

We will continue supporting the Apple II as long as significant 
numbers of people continue to buy Apple II products from us.

: Mitchell Spector
: m_spect@pavo.concordia.ca / spector@vax2.concordia.ca

--
Jerry Kindall (kindall@ic.net) -- Manual Labor

I pay for this account myself and do not represent Quality Computers via 
this address.  For QC questions & info e-mail quality@genie.geis.com.