Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!cornell!batcomputer!itsgw!steinmetz!uunet!convex!concave!buyse From: buyse@concave.uucp (Russell C. Buyse) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple Subject: Re: Apple supporting the Apple // line Summary: Act, do not react. Keywords: Apple Computer, Inc. Message-ID: <594@convex.UUCP> Date: 21 Sep 88 18:43:52 GMT References: <8809141038.aa07670@SMOKE.BRL.MIL> Sender: news@convex.UUCP Reply-To: buyse@concave.UUCP (Russell C. Buyse) Organization: Convex Computer Corporation, Richardson, Tx. Lines: 42 Every week I read at least 2 postings like this ("Apple supporting the Apple // line") that add nothing of value, nor add any *constructive* criticism to the policies at Apple Computer. Rather than crying out simply to "make it better", consider your position and that of Apple, then try to contribute something of value to better the situation. I agree completely that the support the Apple II line in the past and the present is not up to the standards that it should be, though it is improving; as a professional computer scientist and software writer, I find this abhorrent. As a consumer and as an Apple II owner, I find the marketing of the Apple IIe and particularly the Apple IIGS to be questionably aimed and dubiously pursued. It is in our interest to amend those policies which are faulty, and to build support where it is currently lacking. From readers' polls conducted by the major Apple II-specific magazines, it is clear that the IIGS is not an educational-only machine. It is used by well-educated professional people, hobbyists, students, and others. This portion of the marketplace has been myopically regarded as too difficult to define and less worthwhile to pursue in marketing strategy. I contend that it is this very segment of the marketplace that is the anchor for present and future Apple II's. These people are the lifeblood and fertile ground from which spring new applications, innovative approaches, and continuing revenue to enhance and augment their machines' (and their own) capabilities. It is my goal to have an Apple II that can fulfill the needs that it can best serve while still retaining the inestimable quality of being an Apple II. In order to accomplish this, *enabling* technology must be brought into the foreground of attention to developers and developer support for the Apple II line of computers. Provide the essential tools to the seed of software authors and watch the flower of Apple II prosperity spring forth eternal. We have simple requirements for future IIGS's as machines: Greater speed (2x the IIGS or better), Greater vertical resolution (twice, if feasible), a faster Operating System, and a faster C compiler. Give us these, and you will pave the Appian Way for the Apple II world of the future. -Russell Buyse, Apple II afficianado and devotee, speaking for myself. UUCP: {uiucdcs,sun,uunet,harvard,killer,usenix}!convex!buyse