info-mac@uw-beaver (01/14/85)
From: <bang!crash!bwebster@Nosc>
I received the following product announcement in the mail a few days ago
and post it here FYI only. I haven't seen the product (or its effects)
and, of course, can give no assurances whatsoever. Text follows:
NEW PRODUCT RELEASE December 10, 1984
MegaMac(tm) Memory Upgrade for Macintosh(tm)
with MegaRAM(tm) RamDisk Software
MicroGraphic Images Corp. announces release of the MegaMac memory
upgrade for Macintosh Personal Computers. The new hardware provides a
full 1024K memory with 512K of core [sic] memory and 512K used as a Ram
Disk.
The upgrade board is mounted inside the Macintosh and is fully compatible
with all Macintosh software, including packages designed to work with the
512K "Fat Mac". The MegaRAM Software package sold with the upgrade
allows the user to load any file or application program from the 512K Ram
Disk into the core memory 3 to 6 times faster than from a disk drive.
The MegaMac and MegaRAM software are covered under the standard 90
day limited warranty.
MicroGraphic Images Corp. makes the MegaMac/MegaRAM upgrade kit
available to Apple Dealers for resale. Suggested retail price of the
upgrade is $1595.00 if the original 128K motherboard is returned to
MicroGraphic Images Corp. or $1895.00 without the 128K board "trade-in".
The trade-in value for 512K motherboards has not yet been announced.
The MegaRAM software, used to implement the 512K RamDisk features,
will be free during the initial 90 day introductory period of the product.
Suggested retail price for the software is $90.00.
Additionally, MicroGraphic Images Corp., an Apple Value-Added Reseller
and Authorized Developer, will sell the MegaMac as a complete system,
including the Macintosh computer. Retail price for the computer with
1024K is $3790.
19612 Kingsbury Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 (818) 368-3482
----
end of text
Comments: the idea is nice, but I consider the prices 'way too high,
especially in light of the DDJ article and the $15/chip price for
256K DRAMs mentioned previously in this conference. I'm afraid they
won't get a whole lot of takers. A far better price would have been
the same as Apple's 512K upgrade, i.e., $995. Heck, at that price, I
would have sprung for it. Also, the price for the 1MB Mac ($3800) is
a tad steep, since I've seen 512K Macs advertised here in San Diego for
$1995--almost half the cost. Still, a MegaMac is appealing: having both
the 512K ramdisk and the 512K of main memory, I could get some greatly
improved performance out of my machine.
..bruce..
Bruce F. Webster, BYTE
bang!crash!bwebster@nosc
{ihnp4|sdcsvax!bang}!crash!bwebster