Re: Re. Sun-Apple

[mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us (Mike LaMorte)]

RUBYWAND (rubywand@aol.com) wrote:
<stuff deleted>

:     The PC, in fact, IS the only affordable home computer. All of this was
: pretty much decided back in 1989. When Apple failed to deliver either a
: major IIgs upgrade or a competively priced Mac, it left the field to the
: PC clone makers. Intel, Microsoft, and the clone makers set the standards.
: The massive user base forces software entertainment and productivity
: vendors to comply.

Although, in return for a slightly higher price, Mac owners got certain
things standard that was optional on a PC. (16-bit sound, SCSI ports, etc)
Also take into the consideration the PC "standard"... every company tries
to start their own "standard" and as a result, nothing is completely 100%
compatable with the other. Apple's ironhanded licensing and controls have
ensured a 99% compatability rate, and under 1% dead-on-arrival computer
rate... the best in the industry. People didn't realize how problematic
PCs were until they bought them. More than one PC owner I talk to has
said, "Looking back, I wish I had invested in a Mac." 

Upgrading is also easier and cheaper on a Mac. Take a Mac IIfx and a 386.
Compare costs for adding a CD-ROM drive. Mac: buy the drive, set SCSI
number, plug into SCSI port. IBM: check bios to see if it's supported.
What? It isn't? Well, upgrade the bios. Get an interface card. Find an
available slot. Not working? Check IRQs, etc etc etc. 

:     Cheapo '486 machines have already squashed Mac. Today, the Pentiums
: are merely engaged in a mop-up operation.

Well, I wouldn't be so sure. Mac's had their highest selling point last
year at the same exact time Microsquish released Win95. Coincidence? No...
People were waiting to see how "Mac-like" Win95 would be. When they found
out it still wasn't as user-freindly as the MacOS, they bought Macs
instead. In the past year alone there's been a 30% increase in both sales
AND 3rd party development. That's a HUGE market indicator. The problem is
just that Apple has made the Macs so popular and dropped the prices enough
to be compeditive, that they can't keep up with demand. Other companies
have done the same thing in the past... make something too popular and you
risk putting yourself out of business.

<shrug>

Time will tell....

-- 
Mike LaMorte <mlamorte@freenet.columbus.oh.us>
CEO, President, Designer
Aurora Concepts Inc.
Design & Consulting