Re: Awks stuff

[tpe123@gaol.com (escobedo)]

In article <3581F08C.2E562F9F@swbell.net>, rubywand@swbell.net wrote:


> > 
> > All kidding aside, you made your point so much more elegantly than
> > Dickhead Mates ever could. After tasting AW 2 from Asimov, perhaps your
> > comments can convince someone to *purchase* AW 3, given that it is, in
> > fact, superior to AW 2.
> 
> 
>      Fine. But Alltech does not list Awks 3; and, Bev says that SQC is
> not selling it, either. Meanwhile, Awks 2 is available. For word
> processing tasks on a 128k machine, Awks 2 easily beats anything being
> offered commercially.

Actually, I was surprised to see that Alltech does list AW 3 for $15.95.
Check out: http://www.allelec.com/sftwr.htm 
By the way, I'm perfectly happy using AW 2. Nobody is losing any money,
either, because there is no way I would purchase AW 3.

> > Unfortunately, I won't be one of those who upgrade. And here is why:
> > 
> > No amount of upgrades, hardware or software, will make *ANY* Apple II half
> > as functional as the multitude of $50 486s or Macs flooding the used
> > markets now. For all intents and purposes, the A2 IS dead.
> >
> 
>      For you, perhaps. Our IIgs gets lots of use, including word
> processing via Awks 5.1. Our PC gets lots of use, too.
> 

My A2 gets use too. But you're preaching to the choir here. Try convincing
a newcomer to buy an "old Apple II". "But can I play DOOM?...Can I go on
the Web?..."are the questions you'll hear. A $25 IIgs can't compare once
you figure another $50+ to max out the RAM, $50+ for a hard drive, $25+
for a decent monitor, and heaven forbid, more $$$ for an accelerator. And
it STILL can't play DOOM or surf the Web like the $50 486 or MacII. 
Just try to convince a newcomer that they can do without DOOM or that LYNX
is just as good as Netscape! I hope he/she isn't a friend...'cause they
won't be for long.
By the way, the $50 486 I bought came with DOOM and Netscape already loaded.

> > It is a bit sad that the A2 won't see much more commercial development
> > because of "pirates".
> 
>      It would be sad were it true. "Piracy" in Apple II land has become
> an excuse employed by developers who do not know how to develop software
> of interest to users.
> 

You make my point. Reread my following paragraph.
 
> > A pragmatic view is that pirating is a fact of life
> > and the cost of doing business for a software maker. But I think a bigger
> > factor than pirates is that any money spent on an A2 just won't add much
> > value. Obsolescence is inevitable.
> 
>      Obsolescence is ineviable for all current computers. That is why we
> are interested in an upgrade path.
> 
> whereas everyone knows the '486 machines are obsolete pieces
> of junk. 

I tend to agree. My 486 is a piece of junk. But it works. And I venture to
say the upgrade path for the 486 is more sensible and more open.
It just seems to me foolish to develop for the Apple II with the intention
of making a nice profit, pirates or not.

Remember, I'm not attacking the Apple II. I just see it for what it is...
on old computer.