Re: Apple II obsolete???

[pubpc1@library.ucla.edu]

"Dan Yertzell" <Dan-Yertzell@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>SUTTON GARY E <gesutton@olympic.ctc.edu> wrote:
>> Dan Yertzell wrote:
>>
>> > For the same reason there is Mac emulation software for Windows. Windows
>> > emulation software for Macs.  Windows emulation software for Unix. TRS80
>> > emulation software for MSDOS.  Etc, etc, etc.
>> >
>> > Because it's possible, it's cool, and lots of talented programmers are
>> > out there.
>> >
>> > Although, generally speaking, Apple //'s are obsolete, the existence of
>> > emulation software for them is neither proof of nor the reason for it.
>> >
>> > Dan
>>
>> Personally, I've always felt that if you can find one good use for a
>> system (excluding serving as a paper-weight or door-stop), then that
>> system is not obsolete.  :3
>
>Yeah, I agree.  That's why I said "generally speaking".  Look, I have a //e
>here an run //gs emulation on this here pc.  I used to have a //gs a few
>years ago.  Heck, my first Apple // was an Apple /// in // emulation mode!
>I have lots of obsolete computers.  A TRS80 model 1 & a model 4, a couple
>of 386sx16 laptops, and a Tandy 6000 Xenix system.  All obsolete in my
>book, but I still use/play with them

I disagree with your definition of obsolete, then.  I use both a '486
PC (25MHz) and an Apple IIGS regularly and equally.  For word processing,
I use the GS almost exclusively because at 13.75MHz, the GS runs its
word processing and page layout software faster than the '486 runs its.
For graphics processing and Netscape, the '486 is very useful.

But then again, based on your definition, a '486 is obsolete too, right?
Come on, what is something that's obsolete?  A horse and buggy is an
obsolete form of transportation because, in fact, it can't do most of the
things that a car can.  However, would you consider a classic Mustang as
an obsolete transport?  No, because you know that it can be driven around
just like the latest Taurus.

Back to computers, one a may consider the Timex Sinclair obsolete
because you can't even run a word processor on it.  However, when
a GS not only runs word processors, but run them well and generate
printout with TrueType fonts that is as sharp as you'd get from any
newfangled Mac or PC, how can it be obsolete?  Word processing and
page layout together still define the majority of the tasks that
people use their computers for.


>Obsolete does not equal useless.  A rotary dial telephone is certainly
>useful, but is still obsolete by any reasonable definition of the
>word.

But....the GS compared to a "modern" computer is not the same as
a rotary to a dial-tone phone.  The GS can still run your core
applications (wp, page layout, spreadsheet, db, terminal/web, music,
some graphics).  A rotary phone can't be used in the now day to
day computerized transactions that one uses the dial-tones for.
A GS is more like a "manual" dial-tone phone where, say, a Pentium
or PowerMac is like a "speed dial" dial-tone phone.  Both are still
capable of the same class of applications, but the newer computers
are just faster.


>It's just that with computers, obsolescence happens at a *very* quick
>pace.

So, based on your definition, the Pentium-66 class is obsolete by now
right?


>Anyways, the comment was meant in an offhand manner, meant to illuminate
>the main point I was making.  Which was, the original question was
>something of a non-sequitor.
>
>I should have realized people here would jump on it.    :-)
>
>Dan

Yes, emulators are impressive technical achievements.  (The Mac emulator
that runs on a PC runs under DOS, I believe, not Win, -I think?)

Heck, I even find some uses for MS-DOS emulation on the GS (using PCT).
I'd still rather run GS software on a real GS and Amiga software on
a real Amiga.  When an emulator can pull off what a loaded GS can,
then I may think differently.

-Scott G.