Re: P-Source: A Guide to the Apple Pascal System

[mdj <mdj.mdj@gmail.com>]

On Dec 5, 11:01 am, "Michael J. Mahon" <mjma...@aol.com> wrote:

> > But the only difference between that 700MHz Pentium III system and a
> > current computer is power (speed, memory, and so on). There is nothing
> > that it could do that a current computer couldn't duplicate exactly, only
> > faster. That doesn't exactly inspire loyalty or fond memories.
>
> Exactly.  And isn't it ironic that the very standardization that made
> the PC pervasive in modern life (as opposed to a hobby), essentially
> rendered it a soulless commodity.

I tend to think of soullessness as an attribute of commodities so the
situation is of no surprise to me :-) Anything abundant isn't
valuable, almost by definition...

> It seems that the choices are niche machines with personality or
> "standard" machines without.  Talk about a Hobson's choice!

When you think of it in Wintel terms, it certainly seems that way...
It's nice that there's been some resurgence in recent years towards
'choice' in platforms.

> Of course, I guess that *we* now have *both*.  ;-)

Indeed "Apple II forever" may become an axiom; hobbyist computing will
always be more fun if you understand the whole machine ... :-)

Matt