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.

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