tom@math.berkeley.edu (04/15/89)
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I am balancing our limited budget again this year and considering the
upgrade from a Macintosh II to a IIx. Now we don't particularly need a
slightly faster machine, but I am concerned about future software
compatibility. Does anyone have an opinion on how an older machine
configuration (68020, PMMU, 68881) will be supported in future Apple
software releases? I would love to spend the $1700 on microphones instead.
tom erbe-technical director-center for contemporary music-mills college
tom@mills.berkeley.edu -or- tom@jif.berkeley.edugoldfarb@hcx9.UCF.EDU (04/18/89)
>Does anyone have an opinion on how an older machine >configuration (68020, PMMU, 68881) will be supported in future Apple >software releases? I would love to spend the $1700 on microphones instead. In the face of people selling Mac II's like rats leaving a sinking ship, I had to explore this issue myself to satisfy my own curiosity and my penchant for spending my money on other things, too. Based on the results of my feelers, I'm sticking with my Mac II. I'll give you the benefit of what I gleaned from the proverbially unnamed sources. Please bear in mind that my information is unofficial. My informant told me I had nothing to worry about for at least two years. Two years is long enough, in my opinion, to justify keeping the II. The upshot is that II owners will be supported through software patches even if II*x owners get SIMM firmware upgrades during that period. I was told I should consider the IIx ROM-only upgrade, as it may be necessary to run some of the future software releases. (Note that all of this is very nebulous, but it has to be since that's how it was given to me. Sorry!) Remember that lots of folks were predicting the end of Mac Plus support when the SE was released two years ago. I'm running 6.0.2 on all our Pluses right now. I've heard others say: "Why should Apple support three CPUs? [68000, 68020, and 68030]. The Mac II is the only 68020 machine, so it will surely perish." Well, whether Apple chooses to manufacture '020 machines is not really relevant; it is Apple's continuing support of the installed base that is at issue. DEC hasn't manufactured KA780's for years, but that CPU will be supported by software for a long, long time. I don't believe Apple's marketing people are so dumb as to paint themselves into a corner. After all, if all those Mac II's are being SOLD, someone's BUYING them. [Who's getting the better deal, mateys?] Remember, the above is all either opinion or hearsay. My flame shields are up! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ben Goldfarb uucp: {decvax,peora}!ucf-cs!goldfarb University of Central Florida Internet: goldfarb@hcx9.ucf.edu Department of Computer Science BITNET: goldfarb@ucf1vm.BITNET