Re: Idea to save the IIgs

[spec@vax2.concordia.ca (Mitchell Spector)]

In article Pim Blokland <pibl@spc.nl> writes...

>Mitchell Spector wrote (slightly paraphrased):
>>
>> Naahh, that will never work. You won't be able to make that happen.
>> You're a fool for thinking that you can get together enough people,
>> enough cash, let alone enough enthusiasm.
>> If you try, you'll only be disappointed. Apple won't even notice you.
>> So forget it. You don't stand a chance.

    Um, I did not write those words above. If you add ">"s next to
the lines of text, along with "so and so wrote" just above it, it
implies that you are taking an exact word for word quote. Yes, what
I said was something vagely similar what you've summarized above,
but not a direct quote. In future, please do not quote something
unless the person actually wrote it (the above would be fine if
you lost the standard quoting tools).

    Incidentally, I was trying to state a realistic view on the issue,
not throw random negativity at someone's dream. If you want to know
the truth, I'm probably one of the biggest fans of the Apple IIgs
left around these days. I'm just thinking realistically here. Sure,
it is possible you could get enough people interested, and it is
even plausible to believe an investor with enough money could be
found to buy the Apple IIGS and its technology (it happened when
Gateway bought the rights to the Amiga). Not very likely, but it
is possible. There is a part here that is an impassable barrier
and makes it impossible though--that being Apple Computer who will
*never* let go of the rights for the IIgs. If and when Apple dies,
then it might be worth looking at the issue again.

>Have you ever heard of the phrase "Think different"?

    Yes, I have. I believe a more accurate phrase for Apple Computer,
their products, and the Macintosh itself, should be: "Don't Think".
:-)

>It was launched by a company that wanted to remind us that we don't
>necessarily need to follow the majority, to stay with the herd, to fly
>with the flock. It also reminds us that there are people like Mike Morton,
>who may be seen by some as a crazy one, a rebel, a round peg in a square
>hole, someone who has no respect for the status quo. But he changes things.
>He sees things differently, and you can disagree with him, but you cannot
>ignore him. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change
>the world, are the ones who do.

    I guess I took that belief too seriously, because Apple wanted
me to "stay with the herd" and "fly with flock" and get a Macintosh
when they abandoned the Apple II. Well I decided to Think Different
and continue using my Apple IIgs as my only computer up until early
last year. :)

    I love the irony of the 1984 commercial Apple aired when they
first introduced the Macintosh. The thing is, it is now Apple users
who are chained to a desk and listening to a single dictator that
chooses their destinty and path. I use a PC because it gives me
freedom of choice for hardware, software and even tinkering with
the machine, but *not* because the status quo uses it. I consider
myself a very non-conformist person, and believing that owning a
PC would change that is quite silly. I don't need to buy an Apple
product to make any statements...

Mitchell Spector
spec@vax2.concordia.ca