From: jcav@ellis.uchicago.edu (JohnC)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.apps
Subject: Re: Why Apple's System 7.1 sucks in my opinion.
Date: 5 Jan 93 01:38:51 GMT
Reply-To: jcav@midway.uchicago.edu
Organization: The Royal Society for Putting Things on Top of Other Things

In article <rsvanc00.726190074@mik.uky.edu> rsvanc00@nx06.mik.uky.edu (Randolph S. Vance) writes:
>I recently purchased Apple's Macintosh operating System, Version 7.1

>Then, to my horror, I noticed a small note Apple packed in. It read:
>
>"If your computer does not have a 1.4 MB floppy drive..." (title)
>
>"If your Macintosh is a Macintosh Plus, a Macintosh SE, or a Macintosh II
>computer and you do not have a 1.4 megabyte (MB) floppy disk drive, you
>will not be able to use the high density floppy disks included with this
>7.1 Personal Upgrade Kit.

>To obtain a set of 800K floppy disks that you can use to upgrade your
>computer to system software version 7.1, please call 1-800-769-2775."

    I agree that there could/should have been two versions available.  After
    all, the MS-DOS companies manage to juggle both 5.25" and 3.5" versions.
    But...

>I think that Apple is mostly at fault for not providing the right disks
>to start with. It's something I think will give Apple a bad PR reputation,
>as well as customer service, especially for the majority of Macintosh
>owners who don't have 1.4 MB floppy drives, i. e. Plus owners like me,
>or everyone else. 1.4 MB floppy drives haven't been out long enough for
>owners to start upgrading their systems. Also, I noticed on the "Required
>equipment:" panel on the side of the box, the owner would need "An Apple
>SuperDrive floppy disk drive", that's it. No explanations on what a
>"SuperDrive" was or the size of the drive. Another big mistake on Apple's
>part.

    The Superdrive has been standard on all Macs (but the Plus) since 1988.
    It seems very likely that there are a lot more Macs out there with
    Superdrives than without.  I agree that Apple could have been slightly
    more clear as to the hardware required, but only slightly.  After all,
    "Superdrive" really _is_ their trademark for the 1.4M drive.

>I also lay a bit of blame on MacWarehouse. I told them the Macintosh I was
>upgrading, and none of them informed me about the special drive required.

    The 800K is "special" these days, not the 1.4M.  Sorry.

>I suppose the Subject of this post is wrong then. I haven't as yet tried
>System 7.1, so I cannot judge the quality over any previous system. My
>grudge is solely against Apple's poor judgement in providing the wrong
>disks to many Mac users. I really feel like Apple has given many Mac
>owners a brutal raping with a broom handle, and if this were the quality
>of Apple's technical support and marketing, I would be less inclined to
>purchase software from Apple.

    They decided to make the 800K-disk version of System 7 a special-order item
    and you equate this action to "brutal rape"?  You must lead a sheltered
    life...

>....and so, his heart filled with rage and sadness, the disgruntled Macintosh
>owner strides off the net, deciding between slashing his wrists or OD'ing.

    Seek counselling...


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John Cavallino                  |  EMail: jcav@midway.uchicago.edu
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