Re: "The Apple II is DEAD" - Long Live the Apple II

[ag471@yfn.ysu.edu (Eric S. Ford)]

In a previous article, dlyons@apple.com (David A Lyons) says:

>> In a previous article, ag471@yfn.ysu.edu (Eric S. Ford) says:
>>
>> True, Apple Inc. may be on the verge of dying, or maybe they'll just
>> change their name to Phoenix and rise from the ashes.  [...]

>What?  That's news to me!  There have been some changes, and there will
>always be more, but I don't see any lurking corporate death.

Perhaps it's only "doom-smithing", but the computer industry strongly
resembles the Video Recorder industry situation of the early and mid 80's
with Apple (in particular the Mac) playing the role of the Sony BetaMax
and MS-DOS that of the VHS.  Sony did not perish, but they now sell VHS
and I can easily perceive the same transition occurring with Apple,
particularly with their Power-PC line.  Is this an apt analogy?  I think
it comes close.  Apple systems and software have all but disappeared from
the shelves of retail stores.  In the end it will be the consumers who
suffer because we will end up with fewer choices and even those will be
cosmetic (small differences in packaging).  The computer revolution gave
us rapid growth in capability because of the competition, innovation and
diversity.  No one expected that to continue forever, but it sure was good
while it lasted!  


-- 
Eric S. Ford    ag471@yfn.ysu.edu