From: bcoleman@hayes.com (Bill Coleman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Subject: Re: Mac Market
Date: 6 Oct 92 18:01:12 EDT
Followup-To: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA

In article <nazedgi-021092201747@stiles-kstar-node.net.yale.edu>, nazedgi@yalevm.ycc.yale.edu (Edgardo Nazario) writes:
> Being a former PC user and now a Mac convert I've come to the following
> conclusion:  The majority of Mac users just don't get it.  If Apple really
> wants to lure a significant amount of PC users it will have to do something
> more than proclaim the superiority of the Mac hardware and software. 
> They'll have to enter a cut-throat competition:  Dell is doing it, Compaq
> is doing it,  Big Blue is doing it.  

Apple is doing it. Price cuts just happened.

> And I'm not talking about
> middle-of-the-road solutions like the Performa line,  I'm talking about
> really powerful computer at cheap prices.  Right now, you can get Windows
> workstations for less than $2000 (including a monitor) that would blow away
> all but the fastest macs, the Quadra line. 

By what measure to you mean "blow away" Quadra line Macs? Having more MIPS?
Big deal. Once you load that honking wad of inefficient code -- Windows --
on top of that fast processor, things even up in a hurry.

There's also tons of stuff that come standard with a Mac that aren't even
included in your $2000 price. 

With Apple's recent price cuts, you can get an LC II with a monitor for
your  $2000. You might be able to get a IIsi at a discount. The Performa
600 is a possibility as well.

I've been a Mac user for a longer time, and I don't get it. Every time Apple
cuts prices, we see postings from PC mavens that say Apple has got to cut
prices.

> Now, I'm not saying that Windows
> is even close to the MacOS (heck, it's not even an operating system), but
> it will certainly give you a good run for your money.  

If it isn't even close to the MacOS, then it can't give you a "run for your
money."

> For the average PC user, Macs look pretty,  but incredibly overpriced. 

That's a misperception borne of ignorance.

> Apple computer is a financially healthy company with huge cash reserves. 
> They can afford to cut their profit margins without sacrificing quality or
> performance.  

They have. 

> If they could offer competitive prices to PC users, many of
> them would jump into the Mac bandwagon.  

They have.

> Apple would increase their
> marketshare and hence would be able to keep their profit margins down. 

They have.

> Apple must act quickly because soon another formidable competitor is going
> to enter the race:  Windows NT.  

They have.

> Bill Gates already succeded in turning a
> lemon like Windows into a hit.  God only knows what he'll do with a true
> gem like Windows NT.  

Windows NT == GEM? Hmmm. Oog.

> Bill Gates is the predator and Apple may well be one of his most coveted 
> preys.

Not a chance.

-- 
Bill Coleman, AA4LR                ! CIS: 76067,2327    AppleLink: D1958
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Disclaimer: "My employer doesn't pay me to have opinions."
Quote: "The same light shines on vineyards that makes deserts." -Steve Hackett.