Re: Apple Computer, What Are You Up To?

[supertimer@aol.com (Supertimer)]

Chad Choi Lin <chadlin@nyetcom.com> wrote:

>That is what Apple Computer's "Think different" campaign is
>accomplishing. The comparison with the abandonment of the Apple II line
>is eerie: Apple introduces a new system (Macintosh/iMac and the new G3)
>that has little to no compatibility with the previous generation of
>technology (Apple II/Macintosh), then eventually drops support for
>legacy systems altogether. Considering that Steve Jobs, the
>self-proclaimed father of the original Macintosh, is back at the helm of
>Apple Computer (as far as I know), can we be witnessing a repeat of
>history? Is Apple willing to create a group of alienated Mac users to
>join the disgruntled Apple II users of the world, people whose favorite
>computers are officially deemed unworthy of support?

I think I've figured Jobs out.  He's extremely good at "build it
and they will come" but extememly bad at "keep em happy and
they will stay."

This iMac/new G3 trend is exactly what I'm talking about.  But
you know what, Jobs does not care.  He only wants "the next
best thing."

It was only after Jobs got removed back in 1985 or so that Apple
was able to implement a pretty good support policy for legacy
systems (mainly Macs but the Apple II also benefitted).  With
Jobs back at the helm, it is the same old "throw out the old"
philosophy.

This is ok for now because Apple sorely needs innovation,
but after this cycle is out and millions of users are stuck with
iMacs and Steve Jobs goes on to the NEXT big thing, watch
a repeat of the defection to Win PCs that we saw when Jobs
abandoned the Apple II.  Because everyone knows that you
can ALWAYS take the software and peripherals from your
current PC and install them on your next PC.  At least for two
or three revision cycles.