Re: What's Next for the Apple II?

[Dan <me@here.net>]

In article <Pine.OSX.4.58.0401142029420.1031@babbage-x.local>,
 "Byron Q. Desnoyers Winmill" <byron@desnoyers.org> wrote:

> Dan wrote:
> > Rubywand wrote:
> > > Since it looks like neither PC nor Mac (i.e. the machines and their
> > > cultures) will ever succeed in putting the user back in control, the
> > > lure of the Apple II Idea remains.
> >
> > Exactly what "control" do I have over my Platinum //e and ROM 3 IIgs in
> > a WOZ case that I don't have over my B&W G4 Mac and my  half dozen
> > Windows PCs and laptops?
> 
> I think Rubywand meant that users control the future of the Apple
> II platform, while the interests of large businesses (such as Apple,
> Intel, and Microsoft) drive the future of Macs and PCs.

Frankly, I would rather have a large businesses controlling things.   
That means the platform *has* a future.   The users only "get control" 
when the platform is dead, like the Apple //, the Amiga, TRS-80, CP/M, 
OS/2, Mac OS 9, etc.   

I have Apple //s here (and TRS-80s), but purely for nostalgia.   I don't 
pretend that they are going anywhere, or expect any new 
software/hardware for them.   Even if there *is* new software/hardware, 
I'm not interested in it.   I'm not going spend money on 
software/hardware for a computer that I couldn't even *give* away!

This is not meant as flame bait or anything, just the way I see it.   I 
realize there are people still writing software, and people doing IDE 
cards and whatnot, but it just doesn't interest me.   It's like owning a 
vintage car, but putting a new 6 speaker stereo, air conditioning and 
LCD TV/DVD player in it.   It defeats the purpose of maintaining the 
vintage car.   When you put modern stuff in it, it's no longer vintage!

Dan