🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <3122@watale.waterloo.edu> engsoc@watale.waterloo.edu (Engineering Society, CPH 1327, x2323) writes:
> In article <Apr.11.01.01.35.1989.22877@topaz.rutgers.edu> 
> witting@topaz.rutgers.edu (Paul K Willing) writes:

> >THE IDEA:  Take a Mac IIcx box, pull out the 68030, the MMU, the math
> >co-processor, and any other expensive bits that aren't required.  Drop
> >in the standard 6800 and a regular Floppy drive.  Actually, Apple may
> >etc... 

> I think staying with the 68000 would be a mistake.  I have no doubts
> that Apple's next OS will (or should) require the HW memory management
> of the '030 to achieve true multitasking.  The DOS world is stuck
> with brain dead 8086s and 80286s, and that has held them back.  Even the
> great OS/2 has to pander to the 80286 oddities - it does not take 
> advantage of the 80386s memory management features.

No, it doesn't. The Amiga has had true multitasking for almost 4 years
using a 68000 and no MMU.  While I don't insist that apple do it the
way Amiga does, an 030 definately isnt neccessary.

> Apple is trying to establish the 030 (or 020 with 68551 MMU) as it's 
> lowest common denomenator.  What's that you say..."What about the huge
> installed base of Mac Plus's and SE's ??"   Well, Apple has always struck
> me as a rather ruthless innovator: they dropped the Lisa...then they dropped
> the Mac 128k... [etc..  stuff deleted about MSDOS and OS/2

The Lisa was dumped because there was no installed base.  They were
horrendously overpriced and didn't do much.  the 128k macs are still
out there, and are still running software.  Many publishers go out of
their way to try to make a program fit on the smallest possible mac.
But yeah, Apple has always been assholes that way.  Makes me wanna buy
Amiga... 
> 
> So, Apple wants to avoid this.   Todays computing is demanding power and
> multitasking (don't say you don't need it untill you try it - you'll get
> hooked very quickly!).   You can't do this with a 68000.   However,the

I WANT MULTI TASKING!!  NOW!! see above comment about Amiga

> 68000 was designed with 32-bit contiguous addressing, supervisory mode,
> and lots of other goodies that will make the transition to multitasking
> fairly painless.   The software won't have to be re-written.   DOS programs
> are so full of kludges to get around the 8086 stupidities that they all
> have to be re-written to go to OS/2 (the 'Compatibility Box' is just a 
> kludge to keep users happy..but still in the dark ages).
> 
> Granted, the leap to the 030 level is more major than a ROM upgrade.  Apple's
> new OS will still have to have a way of running on the 68000,   but the
> extra features available in the 030 mode will make it very attractive to
> new buyers to stay away from 68000.   MOST of the current S/W will run
> under the new OS - so no waiting for applications like the poor OS/2 sods!

Seems you just argued my case for me.  A 030/020 is not neccessary.
Multitasking, if it requires an 030/020, will be a reason to buy a
better machine, but not everyone is going to be willing to pay $1000
dollars for it. (secrataries, poor college students, etc.  You want
them to buy IBMs?!  Or worse, Amigas?  If they go Amiga they may not
want to go to macs, esp if they get hooked on multitasking.  Aftyer
all, a multitasking Amiga box goes for as little as $650 + monitor.
IBMers would upgrade to 386 machines.  Once a system is decided on,
people tend to stick with it, which is the reason for student purchase
programs. 

> No, I really think would be a step backwards on Apple's part.  As I said
> before, Apple is rather ruthless about advancing the standard.  In the
> long run, it works.  I hope they don't forget this.

They still sell Mac plusses.  They Sell Apple //gses.  how can that be
advancing the standard?  The original mac was in this mold.  Heck, the
IIcx hasn't advanced any standards.
         
> >paul

>          Ciao,
>            Jay Gibson

At least, IMHO

paul	*Big Smile*

PS	Anyone want to give me a job? Math/CompSci major!
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