werner@ut-ngp.UUCP (Werner Uhrig) (06/20/86)
[ Apple's stick seems so BIG that it seems targeted only towards BIG objects, like major companies. every *LITTLE* guy can simply *duck* - as far as I can tell, noone I know is terribly impressed or worried about it] [ from this weeks InfoWorld, Vol.8 # 24, June 16, 86, page 3 "Just Heard ..."] APPLE SENDING OUT NEW MAC+ OPERATING SYSTEM After, at least, two attempts to patch up the bug-ridden M+ OS, Apple has completed another version that it says corrects the problems that have plagued users since the new computer began shipping. Version 3.2 has been shipped to Apple's third-party developers and is now available on CompuServe and AppleLink, said Greg Ames, Apple's 68000 system software product manager. The new version will be available through Apple dealers by middle to late July, he added. "Apple has had some severe problems with previous releases of the system software," Ames admitted. "We redesigned the resource manager to work faster and more efficiently, and some new bugs wer introduced along the way. The worst problem involved the resource manager of the Mac+," through which applications access fonts, menus, and icons, he said. But there have been no reported bugs in version 3.2, which Apple released internally about two weeks ago, he said. Independent developers confirmed ongoing problems with the Mac+ OS. At least one developer, Aldus Corp., ws prompted to issue a written warning to registered owners of its Pagemaker .. program. Other developers say they have issued new versions that work around the bugs. Developers contacted by InfoWorld confirmed they had recently received Version 3.2, but not all had tested the software. Aldus said it has done limited testing and has not experience any problems with the new version so far. The new version will be available from dealers in two ways, Ames said. Users can bring in their own blank disks and copy the software for free [ HAAA, I know a local BIG university consortium store that is not going to like to be overrun by several thousand customers in the first week ], or they can buy a $15 upgrade kit, which includes 2 disks and a manual. [has anyone seen such a manual and can describe what it contains?] **** end of InfoWorld quote *** [ y'all subscribe: 1-800-544-3712 . ask for the $19.xx / year subscription price; now that I put in this little plug, I hope, they will forgive me for quoting them so extensively. seems like a fair trade- off to me. ] it seems to me, that Apple has a problem (and some lawyers that *THINK* they have found a formula for solving it: a) protect their rights, while b) giving their customers easy access to what they need. I for one sympathize with them, but I keep thinking back to what happened to IBM nearly 20 years ago, when they tried to bundle software and hardware to freeze out the competition clone-machines. Maybe with the current conservative trend in government and the courts Apple could get away with "it", if they should ever try to sue anyone - but, I doubt it. I see noone rushing to court with their silly little "License Agreements". As locally, Mac-Pluses are still being sold with the Finder-5.1 and System-3.0 *Deadly Combo*, maybe Apple should be concerned about getting sued for not making sure that *defective* goods get fixed in a timely manner after they become aware of the defects; rather than leaving items 'on the shelf' in whatever shape they are in. In the "real world" we have 'recalls', 'upgrade notices', etc. The only thing I have received from Apple so far was fancy advertising, and a credit-card offer. Seems to me that I'd rather get a newsletter with all the latest "bad news" on their software, and instructions how to fix things or work around problems. If you ask me, this is the lesser evil of the alternative: having the customer a) get into troubles without knowing what's wrong (and no source to find out - try calling an Apple-dealer sometimes for support with a tricky software bug) b) slowly figuring out that it doesn't seem to be his own fault but rather that the software is suspect (not many people can do that - most of the problems are their own fault, which means that they hesitate to ask for help - IF they even have someone that they can ask ] c) ending up wasting a LOT of time over some bugs Apple has known about even before the machine/software was bought. ON THE OTHER HAND, Apple's is pretty much the only offer for FREE upgrades of system software that I can think of (that is not just a plain bug-fix), so I decided to have patience with Apple's legal girations, hoping that they have patience with "the rest of us" simply ignoring it. If Apple should ever decide to take someone to court, I am sure that there is lot of us out there who are willing to send in $$$s for a legal defense to take the case through all the legal instances. Plus, I think, some of us would look around for another machine to "fall in love with" .... Cheers, ---Werner PS: Mickey and Minnie are saying "HELLO" to all their brothers out their that are living *DANGEROUSLY* in the shadow of the law.