Re: Second Sight

[mjmahon@aol.com (Michael J. Mahon)]

vector wrote:

>Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote in message
>20030531204217.20909.00000753@mb-m27.aol.com">news:20030531204217.20909.00000753@mb-m27.aol.com...

<snip>

>> And there seem to be "enough" ZipGS's to go around, since they
>> don't usually get bid up over $200...
>
>Yes, enough cards, but to compare 7 MHz versus 50 MHz?  I know which one I'd
>prefer...

I suppose you come to "need" whatever speed you become
accustomed to.

But, unlike the mainstream PC world, where applications and
system software have expanded to require the hundred-fold
increase in processor speed, Apple II software is still the same
software that was "acceptable" running at 1MHz or 2.8Mhz.

Running it at 50MHz seems a bit like overkill.  I might feel a little
intimidated if my big assembly was completed before I got my
finger off the Return key.  ;-)

Seriously, I am quite satisfied with the pace of computation on
my 8MHz Zipped //e.  It runs about 3x-5x faster than stock, and,
with a hard disk, most things that make sense to do in the Apple
world are done promptly.

Many things that take longer are doing a lot of I/O, which would
not be accelerated by a processor speedup.  So most of the
"50Mhz" thing is just bragging rights, not a better or more useful
computing experience.

Certainly, game play is not going to be acceptable without
slowing down to human speeds!

I can appreciate the "need for speed" emotion, but it is not
particularly valuable in practice.

Consider owning a beloved Model T that you enjoy putting
around in on weekends.  Now consider installing a 900 HP
turbine engine.  Now how do you like "whooshing" around
at 300 mph in your neighborhood?  Charming?  ;-)

-michael

Check out amazing quality 8-bit Apple sound on my
Home page:  http://members.aol.com/MJMahon/