Re: Most overhyped Apple II product???

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

It was not an "Apple ][ product"; but, it may fit. Back in 1991, 'LC 
was released as the Mac which was supposed to satisfy II users. Based on 
a 16MHz 68020, 'LC offered 2MB RAM expandable to 10MB, built-in 40MB hard 
drive, 1.44MB diskette drive, and one Slot for a peripheral card. 
Plugging in a IIe Emulation Card let you run many IIe products. 'LC could 
not run GS wares.

    'LC's video display was, overall, better than GS; sound capabilities 
were somewhat inferior; and, if you accept inCider's benchmarks, 'LC was 
a bit faster than a GS with a 7.4MHz TransWard accelerator.  

     The hype started in late 1990. Using list prices (e.g. 5.25" drive: 
$329, stereo board: $239, 40MB Vulcan hard drive: $899, Apple 1MB memory 
expansion: $229, fan: $49, ...) inCider/A+ managed to show that a GS 
system would cost around $4100! Meanwhile, a roughly comparable 'LC would 
be just $3600. Quite a few readers must have checked the magazine wrapper 
just to be sure it had an Earth postmark.

    Things reached a kind of peak in the summer of 1991 with inCider's 
infamous "LC vs. GS: Side by Side, Head to Head" feature. (This time, a 
more direct comparison of relatively basic machines had the GS costing a 
mere $100 more.)  As those who read the article will recall, it was a 
torturous exercise in doing comparisons without saying very much or 
offending anyone.

     The 'LC was a decent computer which Apple, inCider/A+, and many 
others tried to promote as a 'bridge' by which the unwashed masses might 
migrate to Mac-ness. Head to head or side by side, when it met II users, 
'LC hit a brick wall. 


Rubywand