From: UC525655@mizzou1.missouri.edu (Mark Eaton)
Subject: Re: Apple's product line: ideas for the future...
Organization: University of Missouri
Date: Sun, 20 Dec 92 13:00:26 CST

In article <1992Dec20.021634.9706@ac.dal.ca>
seanmcd@ac.dal.ca writes:
 
>
>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:
>
 
[deleted: descriptions of five machine classes]
 
>
>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.
>
This idea has been kicked around several times before, especialy in
the PC world. Compaq (and others) has a line of computers that do
exactly what you describe. The processor, video et. al. are on
daughterboards which can be swapped out. Guess what? No-one upgrades.
When someone wants a new machine, that sell the old one as a whole,
and get a complete new system.
I dunno. maybe Apple can make this work. But it's not new.
 
>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.
>
>Sean McDowell
>(a happy classic user -- at least i've got a full page display!)
>seanmcd@ac.dal.ca
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark Eaton                    | Opinions? We're not allowed to have
UC525655@MIZZOU1.MISSOURI.EDU | opinions at Mizzou... get back to me
                              | in '94 when I graduate... ;)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware