Re: Apple Storm

[payner@netcom.com (Rich Payne)]

In article <92342.191101KCR103@psuvm.psu.edu> <KCR103@psuvm.psu.edu> writes:
>Well, this article kind of opened up and old wound.  I haven't complained about
>Apple so much recently.  But let's face it, the management of Apple has made a
>lot of bad decisions.  To not release the ROM 4 GS was the worst of all.
>Apple has failed to realize that many Apple II users are ready to push the
>Apple II further or move on.  If Apple had produced the ROM 4, I probably
>would have plunked down the cash.  And later I probably would have linked my
>Apple II's together with a Mac slightly further in the future.  Apple has
>removed the upgrade path I intended to take.  Now I am eyeing 50Mhz 486's for
>my upgrade path.  I intend to continue writing GS software ad infinitum but I
>will probably take my program talents to other platforms someday too.
>     That platform will not be a Mac.
>1) I refuse to buy a Mac
>2) I expect that Mac to be killed off in about four years- even better reason
>
>Apple is betting on the RISC based machines for the future and I know the
>meaning of history.  I also remember those wonderful comments from Apple execs

I thought this comment was made on the net by an Apple employee.
 
>"We will not treat the Macintosh like we treated the Apple II."
>
>     The Joke these days is "What happens when you merge Apple and IBM?"
>"You get IBM."
>
>If you are planning for the future, Apple is not the way to go.  I really hope
>that the Avatar makes it to market.  It would be the bridge machine that would
>provide a practical upgrade path...
>
>
>Ken


I was reading in Byte (I think) of a new micro-programmable RISC
chip which could emulate a fast 486 (and run slightly faster) when
programmed as a 486. It said that the design team had already
written the microcode to emulate a 68040 and the i486. At production
volume the prices mentioned were around $10-$15/CPU.

It occurred to me this might be a great way to soup up the Apple-II.
Just program in as a 65C816, and it should run rings around even the
Sanyo 14 MHZ chip. 

I need to dig that up and post the article. I think it was a short
Nanobyte article.



Rich

payner@netcom.com