awillis@pro-angmar.UUCP (Albert Willis) (07/27/88)
William Rupp writes: >I wonder whether the many Apple II users who have gripped about the Apple II >not being able to run UNIX, not having enough this or that, etc., have ever >run a business. The facts, as I see it, are these: > a. Apple Computer, Inc. owes nothing to users except a reliable > product that does what they claim it will. If some people > would like the GS to have been a better machine, that's tough. > Sure, it would be nice if the GS had a 10Mhz clock speed and > a faster windowing interface, but being "nice" does not equate > to an obligation on Apple's part. Apple has often admitted problems with their machines, and have acted to correct the obvious problems. As soon as the Mac was introduced in 1984, Apple acknowledged that (surprise!) 128K wasn't enough. They also admitted that attaching hard drives to the serial ports wasn't such a hot idea, either. Apple knows that the GS isn't as fast as it should be. They've admitted that they are working on the problem. What does that mean? We'll see in September. > [...] > In other words, even if massive improvements > in the IIGS could be made, it would be silly for Apple to > allocate money to do so. Apple's future, immediate future, > at any rate, lies with the Mac. First, improvements in the GS can be made. There's no doubt about that. William Mensch, the creator of the 65816 microprocessor, feels that the GS, with newer custom chips and faster RAM could run at 8-10 Mhz--easily. By the way, recent issue of A+ magazine noted that Apple did one billion dollars in Apple II business. That's (obviously) a sizeable market. It would be in Apple's best interest to make the improvements that the GS needs. Let's not forget that the GS was the best selling Apple computer during the holidays. Yes, that means that it outsold the Mac Plus, SE, and II. The Mac is very important to Apple--there's no doubt about that. But the Apple II is also important to Apple, even though it's hard to tell most of the time. >When will Apple stop making Apple IIs? As soon as they can, is my guess. >That means as soon as the II line experiences a significant decline in >sales. I think that will not happen for a couple of years, but the end of >the II line cannot be very many years away. For now, I imagine the top >Apple people see the II as a continuing source of revenue which is better >kept going. But if the time ever comes when Apple announces *no* new >improvements or related products for the IIs over a period of six months to >a year, I would expect the end to be not far off. [...other stuff...] Apple expects to be selling Apple II's at the turn of the century. That means that they will make the needed improvements to keep the machine viable. Del Yocam, Chief Operating Officer of Apple, noted in the July "Open-Apple" that no one at Apple can actually mark where the Apple II is in its product life. If Apple isn't sure, who do you think you are? *You* don't know! The death of the Apple II has been predicted so many times that I laugh when I read or hear some "expert" predict this. If you've kept track of things, you'll remember that Apple has sometimes gone for long periods of time with out announcing Apple II improvements. If we use your 6 months- 1 year formula, that would have meant that Apple would have stopped making Apple II's a while ago. From April '84 (Apple IIc) to September '86 (Apple IIgs) Apple didn't announce any new Apple II machines or major improvements. We are in the middle of a two year drought now. I expect that in September we'll see an improved IIgs. >It was nice while it lasted. >Bill It's not over 'till it's over, dude. One thing to remember: as far as the Apple II is concerned, it may never die! The Apple II (particularly the GS) has an extremely bright future. With CD-ROM's, newer, faster processors, improved machines, etc., the Apple II "ride" is just beginning--again. I like the fact that I'll be able to remove the 65816 processor from my GS (or upgraded GS Plus) and install the 32-bit 65832. Oops. Just added another 10 years to the life of the machine. Oh well, with those Apple II's, you never know how long they'll be around.