Re: New Apple II (was Apple's next move ...)

[rubywand@aol.com (RUBYWAND)]

In article <Pine.PMDF.3.91.960501231709.1615067748C-100000@ewu.edu>, "Ian
K. Erickson" <ierickson@ewu.edu> writes:


>I don't understand this thread.  Is the "GS-X" topic based on any *real* 
>feedback from Apple saying "We want to rekindle the Apple II/GS market" 
>or is this just a hackers version of fantasy roleplaying?
>
>Apple is not dead or dying but they're in serious financial hurt and are 
>parring off all the "dead wood" like Taligent and Dylan in order to get 
>the PowerMac back on track.  Do you think in the haze of this industrial 
>bloodshed that Apple has the time, fund or staff *to spare* on this?
>

    PowerMac _is_ on-track. It's a one-way slide to The Big Tube.

    Some kind of integrated GS-X style machine including some degree of PM
compatibility is a reasonable option. Especially if launched in tandem
with a broadly compatible machine from IBM, there would be a good chance
of making a major dent in the home market. 

    However, there are several ways for a "New PM" strategy to bomb.

1. New PM could retain PC compatibility. Bad move! To retain PC
compatibility is to remain captive to the PC software base and PC software
development which, naturally, must acommodate the vast 'standard PC' base.
New PM may be a fine machine; but, it would end up running for-PC software
and soon be the subject of unfavorable performance comparisons with the
next PC clone generation. 

2. New PM could be too pricey. One might expect that Apple-IBM would price
their new machines to grab a major chunk of the home market. In the past,
however, they have been willing to sacrifice user numbers in order to
maximize short-trem profit. Many prospective buyers will stay away from
any new machine which seems likely to remain a 'rich man's computer' with
relatively few users.

3. New PM could be under-powered and/or non-expandable. There is a strong
temptation to build a machine that has "enough power" and, perhaps,
'frills' to look good. Atari ST and Mac LC are good examples. Most buyers
may know zilch about computing power; but, they have no trouble reading
reviews and talking to friends. They do not wish to be embarrased by a
machine which is nailed as a nice "toy".

4. New PM could omit II series support. II users _might_ go along with
including PM compatibility. They will not tolerate an absence of II series
compatibility. Many will insist that the New PM be named an "Apple II"
with Apple II features in a clearly dominant role. Failure to win broad II
user support would not merely cut potential sales. It would assure a
chorus of criticism and weaken confidence in the viability of the new
machine.
        

>Apple tried this before with the PDS Apple IIe card for Mac.  It lopes 
>along at 4 Mhz, can use all your LC's RAM (6 megs? :) and can use disk 
>images on your harddrive with the right software.  It wasn't a raging 
>commercial success.
>What could convince Apple to throw money at 
>something like this again?

      One can wish that Apple has learned a valuable lesson about tossing
table scraps to II users.

      
>I have a IIe card and love it, but I'd rather 
>see Apple move forward rather than back.
>Think emulators guys.  Stop The Madness on a Power Mac beat the snot out 
>of my LC II 10/80 with a IIe card.

     Small wonder!


>STM is still buggy and unfinished, 
>but its software and can be fixed.  A IIgs emulator might "recreate" a 
>faster IIgs than you might think.  (Then again, maybe not.)

     Attempts by Mac users to run GS software are admirable. However,
settling for a IIgs based on a doomed platform is not a very attractive
offer.


Rubywand