🚀 go-pugleaf

      The fact that Apple has announced the demise of MacApp before
Bedrock is even released is a bad sign.  Remember, Bedrock is still
vaporware.  Before Symantec can deliver a development environment,
they must 1) come up with a usable C++ compiler for the Mac platform, 
something they have not yet been able to do despite acquiring Zortech,
2) integrate that compiler with some kind of environment, probably the
one from Think C, 3) make Bedrock work in that environment, and 4)
produce a manual that makes these tools usable.  

      These tasks may take a few years to complete.  It's entirely
possible that there will be a long hiatus during which there will be NO
commercially supported tools for the development of complex Mac
applications.  This can only accelerate the move to Windows.

      Yes, Symantec could sell Bedrock for use with MPW/C/Cfront,
but that would make the market so small that Bedrock wouldn't sell
through Symantec's dealer channels, just as MPW doesn't sell through
dealers.  Symantec wouldn't derive any marketing advantage from their
established dealer channels, and they aren't set up for high-priced
low-volume products sold through an in-house sales force.  So that
doesn't make business sense.

      It's almost as if Apple were killing off the Mac, like they
killed off the Lisa.  Is Scully really betting the company on 
Power PC, the "strategic alliance" with IBM, and "personal digital
assistants"?  Some published interviews indicate that he is thinking
along those lines.  

      Apple has not yet provided a credible statement of direction 
which would encourage developers to continue investing effort in
its Mac platform.  Perhaps it will do so.  Meanwhile, the Windows
development kit is widely available at low cost.

					John Nagle