[net.micro.mac] A computer for the rest of us???

gwe@cbdkc1.UUCP ( George Erhart ) (07/29/85)

[ it's soapbox time ... ]

Hello fellow Mac users!

I just got a look at Atari's 520ST in a local computer store. I looked 
the machine over and found that it was inferior to the Mac in several
ways:
	1. The disks hold only 360K per. I think I remember reading
	   that the ST was to use 800K DSDD disk, but the manual said
	   otherwise.

	2. The desk top was a poor copy of what Apple has done. Since
	   the 16 color mode allows only 320x200 pixels. As the desk
	   top was done in this mode, the icons and such look terrible.
	   By the way, the highest res mode is 640x400 mono color.

	3. The fonts do not appear to be as flexible, and I missed the 
	   set of basic desk accessories that come with the Mac.

	4. The "drop down" style menus are the pits. I found myself having
	   to move the mouse on to an unused portion of the desk top to
	   get rid of the menu.

These are just a few ... I personally like a one button mouse!!! (So there!)

BUT, I was amazed to find out that a 520ST, monochrome monitor, and one
disk drive was only $799.00, at my local store. (He could not quote a 
delivery time though.) 

NOW, I am the owner of a 128K, two disk Mac system.  I have asked on a 
regular basis at my local computer shop about the 
price of a 512K upgrade. It is still quoted at $700!. Now, why does Apple
charge  so much, when I can buy a new computer for the same price as the
upgrade!! I am getting tried of this "Mac is the computer for the rest
of us" bullsh*t. 

I read in a computer mag that Apple signed a contract
with a big Japanese semiconductor maker to buy 256K RAMs at $.71 per.
Assuming a x3 mark up, the price of the RAM should not exceed $35.00.
I think that the price for the upgrade should total no more that $300,
allowing for dealer profit and labor charges. But Noooooo, Apple still
wants to pork their loyal Mac owners. I just don't see how the Mac is 
going to fair against the Amiga and the 520ST with the attitude that
Apple currently has toward prices.

An irate 128K Mac owner. (I will not do a Brand-X upgrade until Apple
officially says that I can get the ROM upgrade too.)

George Erhart
ATT-NS/Bell Labs
{ihnp4,cbosgd}!cbdkc1!gwe

PS. Apple, can you hear me, or are you off in the clouds?

sman@helens.UUCP (Michael Spillman) (08/01/85)

> 
> George Erhart
> ATT-NS/Bell Labs
> {ihnp4,cbosgd}!cbdkc1!gwe
> 
> PS. Apple, can you hear me, or are you off in the clouds?

	I heard they were off in Compuserve MAUG.