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

[rubywand@aol.com (RUBYWAND)]

In article <4lfung$l98$1@mhafc.production.compuserve.com>, Tom Zuchowski
<71214.1670@CompuServe.COM> writes:


<<
Doede Boomsma <dboomsma@sci.kun.nl>:

I think, but that's my opinion, that people would be surprised 
how many Rom 5 machines would be sold IF there was such  a (new) 
machine!
I think there are several hundred thousand people still using 
their Apple II almost every day, or at least several times per 
week...
>>


>I think (and of course this is =my= opinion <g>) that there is 
>perhaps 30,000 Apple II's still in regular use.  I base this on 
>local UG numbers and rumored commercial service numbers.  The 
>number might be as low as 5,000 or less for people who actually 
>have a significant emotional investment in the machine.
>

     Estimates of Current regular users, User group members, Ex-II users
who wish there was a new Apple II, etc. are difficult to validate with any
degree of confidence. If there are 5000 users with an active interest in
II computing, the developers of a high-performance non-PC II-like computer
start with several advantages over the guys who launched Apple from a
garage nearly 20 years ago.
   

>I am vague on the benefits of a new super-GS.

     GS-X users will have a new, II-like platform which is in every
respect equal to or superior to PC. It will be vastly more user-friendly
than PC or, even, the current IIgs. On GS-X, users will be able to write
programs (in BASIC, C, 65C816 Assembler, RISC Assembler, ...)  utilizing
SVGA-class graphics and high-quality sound.

     A straight-forward, high-performance, no-kludge design will make it
easy to convert favorite IIgs wares and to run II+/IIe wares under
software emulation. Since GS-X Sound, Graphics, Speed, and Memory will all
be standardized _and_ exceed PC standards, it will be easy for PC vendors
to convert wares for the GS-X market.

     Once web browsers, net navigators, etc. are available, GS-X users can
dump their PC's and Mac's (unless they just like having them around to run
old games).
 

>What is the market for the machine, that isn't already filled by the Mac?

     What market _is_ filled by the Mac?


>Who would spend $2500 for a machine whose only claim to fame is that it
can 
>run old lo-res GS apps, when they can spend the same money and get 
>a pretty hefty Mac or Pentium?
>

     First, $2500 is too high for good home market penetration. Figuring
on a decent 200MHz MIPS, Alpha, etc. RISC system with 16MB RAM installed,
3.5 diskette drive, x8 CD-ROM, and 2.1GB hard disk, the GS-X 'box' with KB
and mouse should come in at around $1500.

     Run "old lo-res GS apps"? I like a lot of the old stuff (Bard's Tale,
Dungeon Master, Bounce-It, Santa Paravia, Enchanter, Eamon, ....).  It's
one of the best reasons for having (and keeping) a IIgs.

     GS-X may, via conversions or emulation, run old IIgs wares; but,
that's it. Bank switching, weird memory & I/O re-mapping, shadowing, and
speed switching are just the more obvious of many kludges which make
direct IIgs compatibility impractical. Any such design would slash GS-X
performance and mushroom costs.

     Who would buy GS-X? Who buys any computer? People looking to enhance
personal power and have some fun who talk about balancing checkbooks and
making sure the kids are computer-literate. They end up buying a "hefty"
user-unfriendly platinum-white blob with the personality of a mop because
that's all there is.

    Sure, if GS-X starts on a shoestring with no advertising budget, the
growth of a GS-X user base will be much slower than were the machine an
Apple, Inc. product. Early buyers would, mainly, be Apple II and IIgs
users. (I'd buy one!)

     If, on the other hand, GS-X turns out to be Apple's New II, then it's
a whole different ball game. With a high-performance, integrated,
user-friendly, _non_-PC compatible "new Apple II" backed by II users and
selling for less than $1800 (including SVGA monitor),  Apple marketing
could sell GS-X's 'like hot cakes'.    




Rubywand