Re: Mensch Computer

[tombo@mail.on-line.co.uk (Richard King)]

fsdlb1@aurora.alaska.edu (Derek Bastille) writes:
 
>> I wouldn't hold my breath for the Mensch Computer.
 
>Actually, I wouldn't hold my breath for it OR the Avatar.
 
>> But personally I am not expecting a thing..
>Not only am I not expecting anything, I am _hoping_ that it never
happens...
 
> Seriously, I think that it is a Bad Idea for us to try to reinvent the
wheel by
> creating the Mensch/Avatar machines.  Why should we limit ourselves to
early
> 80s technology?  If the new PowerPC can emulate a Quadra or a x86 at
darn near
> full speed, there is no reason why it can't emulate a //gs.  I know
that this
> has been brought up before in cba2, but I strongly believe that trying
to
> design new hardware to fit the quirks of our machines is a severe waste
of
> time. As much as I love my gs, I am definitly going to get a PowerPC as
soon
> as I can afford one.  It would be so cool to be able to still run my gs
stuf on
> the new machine.
 
Sorry to be cynical, but what makes you think that you'll _ever_ be able
to run GS software on a PowerPC? Perhaps it is capable of all you hope,
and more, but theoretical capabilities and actual performance are two
_very_ different things. Yes, given time and enough hamburgers, the
engineers _can_ make the most amazing things happen, but at some point
the marketroids get hold of it - and we all know what happens then. 
 
We've been right royally screwed by the 'suits' before (too many times to
be funny anymore) and I guarantee that if you stand in line for a
PowerPC, you'll get the same treatment. You'll get charged extortionate
sums for second-rate solutions, and just when you're learning to tolerate
this piece of trash, they'll change it all around, and buy HUGE amounts
of advertising (for which, ultimately, _you_ have to pay) to persuade the
gullible that this is a desirable thing to do. THAT is the point behind
the Avatar - a machine which _isn't_ subject to 'suit-degradation' and
the whims of pig-ignorant, monocultural MBAs.
 
What we (stubborn GS-users) need, is a machine which IS supported, but
supported by people who are on OUR side, not by people who see us as
cash-cows to be milked until we're dry, then cast aside because we have
no more money to spend.
 
If it sounds like I loathe and detest MBAs and bean-counters, you're
right. They're messing up the whole damned PLANET (look around you) quite
apart from the fact that they have done their level best to kill the
Apple II line, and especially the GS. And we paid their salaries while
they did it.
 
You also ask why we need to limit ourselves to 'early 80's technology'?
Well, what are the advantages of (so-called) 90's technology? It goes
quicker? Big deal. Humans can only type at a maximum of 200 wpm (absolute
tops - Mavis Bacon and about one other person), so _any_ computer (except
a Babbage) is mostly doing nothing while it waits for the next key. The
real advantage of 90's technology would therefore appear to be the
ability to do nothing a lot more of the time.
 
Oh, you mean graphics? Er, is the Super Nintendo fast enough for you? It
is? You think that's fast enough? I got news for you. It has a WDC65186
in it. Just like the one inside your GS - granted, it has a specialised
Graphics Engine, too, but there's nothing to prevent you buying a SNES,
ripping the chip out (and with a quick wave of the soldering-iron)
running up a board to go into a GS. A few twiddles to the software, and
you're away! Okay, okay, I _know_ isn't THAT easy, but I assure you, it
would be a lot less soul-destroying than hassling with the suits.
 
You can't trust 'em. They are not on your side. They are not trying to
help anyone except themselves. They don't know, or care, about anything
except money, and they sully and tarnish every dream they touch. They are
dangerous to your health and sanity. And the PowerPC is their idea, not
ours.
 
Moreover, if you're aware of the history of computers, we've all been
here before - many, many times. Every few years there is some project
which (according to the marketroids) is going to be the be-all and
end-all of computers. The solution to _everybody's_ problems. Buy this,
and you'll never need to buy another, etc. etc.
 
They NEVER EVER work. Multics cost squillions of dollars and a fair chunk
of a forest for all the paper, and not one line of code was ever
executed, though plenty was written. After a couple of years everyone
gave up and went home, disgusted. I could name a dozen more.
 
There's an obvious lie here, too - I mean, what marketroid is EVER going
to sell you something which is so good that you'll never need another
one? He'd be cutting his own throat (Oh, how I wish!) because his sole
reason for existence is to sell, and keep on selling. If there is any
danger of the product actually lasting long enough to saturate the
market, they insist that it is jiggered to make it fail after a set
period. The technical term is 'planned obsolescence', but most (honest)
engineers prefer the terms 'booby trap' or 'rip-off'.
 
Lastly, why be so mean-spirited as to hope that something which many of
us want very much to happen, doesn't? So you don't think it's a good
idea? Fine. You don't want one? Fine. You don't want me to have one? NOT
FINE AT ALL. If you can't be generous, please be quiet - you're trampling
on my dreams.

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Obey little, question much - Walt Whitman | The only thing my GS hasn't
Specialisation is for ants - Lazarus Long | got is a go-faster stripe.
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