From: bcoleman@hayes.com (Bill Coleman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy
Subject: Re: Macintosh bigots
Date: 23 Nov 92 16:12:33 EDT
Organization: Hayes Microcomputer Products, Norcross, GA

In article <1992Nov14.033657.11520@sequent.com>, furballs@sequent.com (Paul Penrod) writes:
> 
> One of the biggest detractions to the Macintoy is Apple. 

Yeah, them and these stupid PC-bigots who can't spell MacintOSH. <1/2 grin>

> They designed a computer for the average user who couldn't care less
> about the insides, but then went completely soft in the head on
> creating a development environment that encourages software
> production. 

I'm not sure what you are saying here. Are you saying MPW sucks? You 
are right in many ways. Of course, there's always the THINK products,
which have excellent followings. 

Given my experience with MPW versus Microsoft development environments,
I'd say that Apple is still way ahead of Microsoft in the development
environment area, regardless of MPW's shortcomings.

> Given Apples litiganous attitude, 

I believe you mean "litigious", as in "prone to engage in lawsuits."

I don't believe the accusation holds. Apple is no more litigious than
any other technology company trying to protected their intellectual
property.

> the strangle hold they place on development by attempting to completely 
> control it, 

I've been a Mac developer since 1984. Apple hasn't tried to control me
at all. If they have done anything, they have encouraged me to do MORE.
They haven't strangled me at all.

> a less than desirable set of tools and development environment as
> compared to the PC and UNIX bases, 

Funny, it seems that MPW is BASED on the Unix environment you praise. 
How can it them be "less than desirable"?

Apple is working on new development environment. I'm told it will be nothing
like MPW. So there is hope. In the meantime, there's always THINK, AppMaker
and a number of other useful tools.

> it is absolutely cost ineffective to develop software for the Macintoy, 
> unless your whole process is geared to support that environment alone. 

Again, your spelling defect shows up.

This is patently false. It is cost effective to develop software for the
Mac. Indeed, the smaller market arena may make it quite profitable. Many
developers appear to work under the mistaken assumption that the PC market
has more machines, therefore a bigger market.

Unfortunately, PC users don't buy as many packages per machine as Mac
users do. Further, there's more developers competing in the PC market.
So, it is probably more cost effective to enter the Mac than for the PC
market. 

There are many developers who have found the Mac market cost effective 
enough to support the development of Windows products as well. (Windows is
lucrative because it is a new market, with potential for much early growth)

> Much of the really good software comes from small shops that are bought out
> by the big boys, (ie: Sun, Microsoft, IBM, Borland, etc.), to
> become a part of their respective products. 

I'll agree that much of the really good software comes from the small shops.
Not all of these small shops are bought out by the "big boys". 

> I know of very few succesful Macintoy programmers who make a living 
> doing this.

Gosh, your spelling is awful.

You must not get out much. I personally know several. You just don't hang
out with the right crowd.

> Usually once they get a taste of freedom on the other boxes and the
> superior tool sets, their gone...

You are deceived. Most Mac developers will only surrender their Macs when
you pry their cold, dead fingers from them.

Macintosh. It's not just a job, it's a religion. <grin>

-- 
Bill Coleman, AA4LR                ! CIS: 76067,2327    AppleLink: D1958
Principal Software Engineer        ! Packet Radio: AA4LR @ W4QO
Hayes Microcomputer Products, Inc. ! UUCP: uunet!hayes!bcoleman
POB 105203 Atlanta, GA 30348 USA   ! Internet: bcoleman%hayes@uunet.uu.net
Disclaimer: "My employer doesn't pay me to have opinions."
Quote: "The same light shines on vineyards that makes deserts." -Steve Hackett.

Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.advocacy