From: an780@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Travis Grundke)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: Apple's product line: ideas for the future...
Date: 21 Dec 1992 02:03:05 GMT
Organization: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH (USA)
Reply-To: an780@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Travis Grundke)
NNTP-Posting-Host: thor.ins.cwru.edu


In a previous article, seanmcd@ac.dal.ca () says:

>With the February release of five new Macs, the total of current boxes will be
>15; 15 different Macs with differnt names. While I'm familiar with them all,
>I don't really know if this is the sort of direction Apple should be taking
>with its hardware. Below are a few ideas.
>
>First, as seen on this newsgroup, people get anxious when they know a new
>cpu will be released: should I buy? should I wait? I feel this anxiety too, but
>it is less forceful for me since I only by VM's : virtual machines = $0. :-)
>But seriously, with a new product comes a new name, and the impression that
>you'll be missing out on something significant if you don't wait. Often, 
>the differences may be only speed or some other options.
>
>I've been thinking that, since Apple has declared that it needs to bring 
>computers to market quickly to keep pace with advancing technology (e.g., the
>IIvi/perf. 600/IIvx, and powerbooks) it should modularize its hardware
>design. I see it as follows:
>
>(1) A 1-slot pds/nubus Mac a la LCIII with 16 bit video for up to 16" monitors.
>16Mhz, 25Mhz, 33Mhz, 40Mhz 68030 varieties.
>
 Actually, this isn't such a crazy idea. However, it would really throw
Apple's marketing folks for a loop. This is in where the problem lies. If
you offer folks an 030-40mhz Macintosh ala the setup you said above for
$1299 and then offer a 030-40mhz Macintosh ala another setup, you confuse
the customer and you confuse product lines. Personally, Apple should
re-introduce the Macintosh IIsi in February in the same case with the same
innards, except give it VRAM and lower its RAM cap. to 32 megabytes. This
cheapens it. Also, give it a 25 or 33mhz processor. Make the FPU an option,
of course. Keep every other aspect of the SI alive. Sell it WITH an
extended keyboard and dich the current standard keyboard altogether. Nobody
likes it, anyway. Sell one configuration in a 5/160 w/keyboard and Apple
14" Color Display for say, $1550 (NOW we're talking mass market) and sell a
5/160 without monitor for say $1099. GIve it 1 meg of VRAM across the
board. Almost forgot- need to use that new CPU Accelerator slot idea as
well. 

>(2) Three slot nubus Mac a la IIvx with same video as (1); 25Mhz; 33Mhz 68030;
>20Mhz, 25Mhz, 33Mhz 68040 flavours; option for ethernet
>
 Agreed options here!

>(3) Five slot nubus Mac a la 950 with same video as the 950; 25Mhz, 33Mhz,
>40Mhz 68040; option for ethernet, DSP and other goodies
>
Yes and no. It MUST have DSP, plus it must have a CPU accelerator and other
goodies. Speaking of which, EVERY Macintosh should have an upgrade path to
the PowerPC next year.

>(4) Powerbook; option of passive b&w (low end); passive grey; active grey; 
>active colour; option for 16Mhz (low end, good for road machine); 25mhz;
>33mhz; 40Mhz 68030 (if they can do it) + FPU for each; video out options
>of: none; 13" 8 bit; 16" 16 bit
>
 Video output should be STANDARD in All PowerBook models. FPU should be an
option on ALL models. Make it either Pasive Grey or Active Grey, and if you
want active color, plan on spending lots of $$$$.

>(5) Duo: same as for (4); we need a 16Mhz duo w. a b&w screen! Why? Apple's
>talking about using these things in schools (students writing essays) and
>business (doing whatever business people do) and linking up to a central
>dock when needed. If you're trying to appeal to a market like this which is
>supposed to capitalize on price savings, a cheap (let's say $1200) duo like
>this is what is needed.
>
>What's the point of this? An easy upgrade path through modularized components.
>Want a colour screen? Take your PB to your dealer, who pops in a new rom and
>clicks on the new screen. A faster Mac? Take 'er in for an upgrade. Plus
>now you'd have to choose between five basic configurations instead of 15
>separate products. There would be more flexibility for consumers; for example,
>as a programmer, I might like the fastest (1) machine going but I don't really
>need the NuBus for expansion. Or I might like to get a (3) machine but I
>don't have the money right now for the top of the line speed; however, when
>I do, I don't have to trash my machine.
>
 I agree with this upgrade policy, but it makes the Macintosh harder and
more expensive to manufacture.

>Any ideas? I find this concept intriguing. I think consumers are more savvy
>now than they used to be, or at least there is a significant minority who
>would like the flexibility to customize their Mac instead of taking what
>Apple puts forth. It would also allow Apple to bring out faster machines
>more quickly, as well as allowing users to upgrade their machines more
>economically.
>
>Comments and other ideas about Apple's product line and how it should be
>implemented or changed, if at all, are eagerly awaited.
>
 I like your ideas, Sean on the different product line, and I can see how
they might work, but what Apple really needs to do is make the Macs (all of
them) power machines. Ditch using 16, 20, and 25mhz CPUs from the 68030
family and make the 33 and 40mhz models standard in new models. Push 040
technology in more models, and bring the price down. Hopefully move the
entire line to 040s. YOu don't need 5 flavors of one CPU speed, just the
two fastest clocked chips available- in this case the 33 and 40mhz 030s and
the new 33 and now 40mhz 040 chips. Apple should make a new "VX" type
machine with a 25 and 20mhz 040 and sell it for the same price as as
current VX. This is why I see the VX as being a limited machine right now.
ITs being squeezed and I don't see it lasting very long. Its hard to
balance hardware/options in computers and market them differently. Right
now Apple's got it more or less worked out. What they need to do is to make
power users happy by offering a machine like the Performa 600 or IIvx for
the price of a IIsi right now- ~$1799. 
 As far as a color PowerBook goes, don't hold your breath. Color Active
Matrix computers are muy expensive. 

 See, the solution is to win the lottery so you can own a Quadra 950,
PowerBook 180, and a Duo 230 with docking station! Simple solution!

>Sean McDowell
>(a happy classic user -- at least i've got a full page display!)
>seanmcd@ac.dal.ca
>
-- 
Travis Grundke	 	    |  For More information about MacGames Digest,
Contributing Editor-        |  The First Publication Dedicated to Macintosh
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an780@cleveland.freenet.Edu |  E-mail address. (c) 1992 Travis Grundke/MGD
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware