sapienza@bgsuvax.UUCP (Michael A. Sapienza) (09/08/90)
I was reading the weekend copy of the USA Today and there was a little tiny article in the money section about Apple. It said "Apple Computer eased 1/4 to $35 3/4. The computer maker slashed prices on its Macintosh IIci personal computer models by up to 20%." My roommate also said that there was a larger article in the Wall Street Journal about it. Anybody know anything about these cuts? Apple are you listening? Mike
rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) (09/11/90)
In article <6224@bgsuvax.UUCP> sapienza@bgsuvax.UUCP (Michael A. Sapienza) writes: > I was reading the weekend copy of the USA Today and there was a little tiny > article in the money section about Apple. It said "Apple Computer eased > 1/4 to $35 3/4. The computer maker slashed prices on its Macintosh IIci > personal computer models by up to 20%." My roommate also said that there > was a larger article in the Wall Street Journal about it. Anybody know > anything about these cuts? Apple are you listening? Of course we're listening. :-) Here's the text of the press release: ============================================= Apple Computer's USA Division Drops Price of the High Performance Macintosh IIci by $1,500 Cupertino, California, September 6, 1990 -- Meeting customer demand for higher performance systems at lower prices, Apple Computer, Inc.'s USA Division announced price reductions of up to 20 percent on all models of its high performance Macintosh IIci personal computer. The Macintosh IIci derives its high performance from a 25MHz Motorola 68030 microprocessor/68882 math coprocessor combination. It features the same flexible compact design and three industry-standard NuBus expansion slots of the Macintosh IIcx. However, the Macintosh IIci goes beyond the IIcx by adding built-in monitor support for a broad range of monitors as well as an optional high speed cache. "We offered a special promotion on the IIci to dealers two months ago, since then we've seen sales of the IIci take off," said Bob Puette, president of Apple USA. "Our customers tell us they appreciate the high level of performance and expansion options of the IIci." Since it was announced in September, 1989, the Macintosh IIci has met with widespread acceptance. It has also been popular with customers that want an A/UX, Apple's version of UNIX, system. The IIci incorporated for the first time full 32-bit architecture, built-in 32-bit color support and integrated video support -- all significance advancements in the Macintosh II architecture. To further offer customers more expansion options, Apple began shipping an optional cache card last month. The small card lets users increase the performance of the IIci by up to 30 percent. The card consists of 32KB of 25-nanosecond static RAM and sells for a suggested retail price of $399. The IIci is the right combination of price and performance for customers. Its high performance characteristics are especially suited to financial analysis, graphic design, desktop publishing or for anyone who desires a more responsive system. Prices and configurations, effective immediately through Apple authorized resellers throughout the United States, are as follows: System Configuration Old Price New Price Change 4MB RAM/SuperDrive floppy $7,469 $5,969 -$1,500 4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk $8,169 $6,669 -$1,500 4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (Parity) $8,669 $7,169 -$1,500 4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (A/UX) $8,769 $7,269 -$1,500 -30- Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh and A/UX are registered trademarks and SuperDrive is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. NuBus is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T Information Systems. ========================================================================== Rick Holzgrafe | {sun,voder,nsc,mtxinu,dual}!apple!rmh Software Engineer | AppleLink HOLZGRAFE1 rmh@apple.com Apple Computer, Inc. | "All opinions expressed are mine, and do 20525 Mariani Ave. MS: 3-PK | not necessarily represent those of my Cupertino, CA 95014 | employer, Apple Computer Inc."
warner@scubed.com (Ken Warner) (09/11/90)
In article <10129@goofy.Apple.COM> rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: >Of course we're listening. :-) Here's the text of the press release: [stuff deleted] >Its high performance characteristics are especially suited to financial >analysis, graphic design, desktop publishing or for anyone who desires a >more responsive system. > >System Configuration Old Price New Price Change > >4MB RAM/SuperDrive floppy $7,469 $5,969 -$1,500 >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk $8,169 $6,669 -$1,500 >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (Parity) $8,669 $7,169 -$1,500 >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (A/UX) $8,769 $7,269 -$1,500 > [stuff deleted] Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be a good deal? These prices make Sun's look good. Ken Warner
philip@pescadero.Stanford.EDU (Philip Machanick) (09/12/90)
In article <406@scubed.SCUBED.COM>, warner@scubed.com (Ken Warner) writes: > In article <10129@goofy.Apple.COM> rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: > [stuff deleted] > >System Configuration Old Price New Price Change > > > >4MB RAM/SuperDrive floppy $7,469 $5,969 -$1,500 > >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk $8,169 $6,669 -$1,500 > >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (Parity) $8,669 $7,169 -$1,500 > >4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (A/UX) $8,769 $7,269 -$1,500 > [stuff deleted] > > Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be a good deal? These prices make > Sun's look good. You mean something like this: IPC:8MB RAM/200MB Hard Disk/16" color monitor $10,000 Add a 16" color monitor, keyboard (remember, it's extra) and 100M external disk to the A/UX system to get it equivalent, and the price is pretty much the same. Where this leaves the IIfx is another story. It's a matter of how much value you place on running Mac software over the speed advantage of the Sun (and possibly specific software only available on the Sun). Sun is putting real pressure on the pricing at the top of the Mac range. Things can only improve. Philip Machanick philip@pescadero.stanford.edu
cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Christopher M Mauritz) (09/12/90)
In article <406@scubed.SCUBED.COM> warner@scubed.com (Ken Warner) writes: >In article <10129@goofy.Apple.COM> rmh@apple.com (Rick Holzgrafe) writes: >>Of course we're listening. :-) Here's the text of the press release: > >[stuff deleted] > >>Its high performance characteristics are especially suited to financial >>analysis, graphic design, desktop publishing or for anyone who desires a >>more responsive system. >> >>System Configuration Old Price New Price Change >> >>4MB RAM/SuperDrive floppy $7,469 $5,969 -$1,500 >>4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk $8,169 $6,669 -$1,500 >>4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (Parity) $8,669 $7,169 -$1,500 >>4MB RAM/80MB Hard Disk (A/UX) $8,769 $7,269 -$1,500 >> >[stuff deleted] > >Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be a good deal? These prices make >Sun's look good. I was thinking the same thing. A person who is willing to buy a Mac IIfx would probably like the EXTRA power of a SparcStation SLC, the turn-key unix in SunOS 4.1, and the savings of $2-3,000. Apple must be earning HUGE margins on these machines. I never thought I'd see the day that a Sun SPARCstation would compete in price with a Mac. Rah rah Sun! >Ken Warner Cheers, Chris ------------------------------+--------------------------- Chris Mauritz |D{r det finns en |l, finns cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu |det en plan! (c)All rights reserved. | Send flames to /dev/null | ------------------------------+---------------------------
zeke@shamash.cdc.com (Robert Scott) (09/13/90)
In article <1990Sep12.152656.29635@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>, cmm1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Christopher M Mauritz) writes: > In article <406@scubed.SCUBED.COM> warner@scubed.com (Ken Warner) writes: > > > >Am I missing something? Is this supposed to be a good deal? These prices > >make Sun's look good. > > I was thinking the same thing. A person who is willing to buy a Mac IIfx > would probably like the EXTRA power of a SparcStation SLC, the turn-key > unix in SunOS 4.1, and the savings of $2-3,000. Apple must be earning > HUGE margins on these machines. I never thought I'd see the day that > a Sun SPARCstation would compete in price with a Mac. Rah rah Sun! > > Chris > Let's look at the big picture here. There are some factors that I think y'all are missing. First, the announced prices for the Ci are Apple's "recommended" prices, NOT the street prices, which are usually lower. Unless you are a big corporate account, or can get an academic discount, the SUN suggested retail price IS the street price. Second, include some extras that you have to buy with the Sparcstation SLC to make it workable as a standalone: External disk with some kind of tape drive: $2000-3000 CD-ROM drive and CD with SUN/OS binaries: $1300 (required by SUN beginning 1991 for OS releases, magtapes not available.) Applications, variety significantly more limited than the MAC/OS/AUX, and far more costly: 20%-300% more $$$ Fact is, if you like the stuff that's available on the Mac, you buy a Mac. If you want the stuff that's available on UNIX, or want to do lots of open-systems programming, you buy a SUN. If you want both, you buy a Ci or FX with A/UX. Or, you buy both, and use each for their strengths. Mac IICi and Sun 3/60 owner. Zeke -- ~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Shrine of the "Last Gasp of ETA Systems" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Extra zesty disclaimer: MINE! MINE! ALL MINE! <chortle snort froth drool> Robert K. "Zeke" Scott internet: zeke@eta.cdc.com Control Data Corp, Supercomputer Support Group
baumgart@esquire.dpw.com (Steve Baumgarten) (09/13/90)
In article <1990Sep12.152656.29635@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>, cmm1@cunixa (Christopher M Mauritz) writes: >I was thinking the same thing. A person who is willing to buy a Mac IIfx >would probably like the EXTRA power of a SparcStation SLC, the turn-key >unix in SunOS 4.1, and the savings of $2-3,000. [ ... ] Uh, "turn-key Unix"? Is that something like "Army intelligence" or "Jumbo shrimp"? I'm sure adding an extra monitor, or a tape drive, or a CD-ROM drive or hooking it up to a network of other Suns are all "turn-key" operations, too, right? Assuming you're a guru, that is. Other hidden costs of Unix systems include the cost of software. Software for Suns generally costs two or three times as much as software for the Mac, and it is almost always inferior (though there are certainly powerful packages available, there aren't exactly loads of choices when it comes to spreadsheets, word processors, graphic design programs, etc.). And some of us like to be able to pick up the phone and order some nice new Adobe fonts now and then. MIPs aren't everything. Quality and availability of software -- including system software -- is usually more important. -- Steve Baumgarten | "New York... when civilization falls apart, Davis Polk & Wardwell | remember, we were way ahead of you." baumgart@esquire.dpw.com | cmcl2!esquire!baumgart | - David Letterman