Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!uwvax!dogie!uwmcsd1!ig!agate!ucbvax!ANDREW.CMU.EDU!jm7e+
From: jm7e+@ANDREW.CMU.EDU ("Jeremy G. Mereness")
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Gassee's Interview (wasRe: Claris buys Styleware: good or bad?)
Message-ID: 
Date: 8 Jul 88 22:00:02 GMT
References: <8217@brl-smoke.ARPA>
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
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Goug Gwyn writes....

>I wonder if the Apple VP recently interviewed in Open-Apple who thinks
>that the only market for the Apple II family worth pursuing is the
>"education" market (and that the only significant market for the
>Macintosh is the "business" market) has noticed these retail figures.

I read the same article in Open-Apple and was able to see Gassee's point about
getting specific, high volume markets nailed down. I can live with
concentration of sales pitching around such markets, the Apple // to education
and the Mac toward business. I mean, Apple has to compete.

However, I see no reason whatsoever why the both hardware and the promotion of
software R&D should also take this philosophy. With the Mac with the business
label, it seems that most parties are abandoning the Apple // for "bigger and
better worlds."

Further, to use Tom Weisharr's words, Apple has no reason to "go out of its way
to lower the Apple //." Not only do people seem to be disregarding the //
presently, but it seems that they feel it has no room for growth. Why?
Marketing the targeting its high volume sales to the K-12 market...

Well, there are more to computers than high volume sales. Perhaps Apple's
lifeblood comes from those who buy Macs by the truckload, but hobbiests,
students, small businessmen, and entrepreneurs are what built the industry and
still play a significant role in sales. It is these people who are hurt by
Apple's neglect of the Apple //.

Perhaps one source of friction is the high-school to University market, where
Apple seems to be obsessed with keeping the // out of the latter. This should
not be at all for many reasons, not least of which is people who cannot afford
a Mac, are disappointed with the //'s performance capabilities (at this point)
in comparison, want more flexibility than the Mac can offer, or simply don't
like them are going to buy IBM equipment instead. In the end, Apple loses. And
in my mind, so do those students.


Capt. Albatross
jm7e+@andrew.cmu.edu

============
disclaimer: These opinions are mine and will remain so until more intelligent
or insightful or informed people are kind enough to show me the error of my
ways.
Remember: A mind is a terrible thing to baste.