🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <43ff6r$cfg@onramp.arc.nasa.gov>, josco@eco.arc.nasa.gov
(Joseph Coughlan) wrote:
> >I agree here.  MS apparently feels that if older machines aren't
> >supported in the PC world, they should try and make sure they
> >aren't in the Mac world.  However, MS aside, the statement
> >generally holds.

> What suites are avaiable for the MAC aside from MS's?

I haven't researched such Apps.  I do know that I use WriteNow
and I use the old version of Excel (not bothering with the
bloated and slow new version).  I do know that Wingz also
exists.

> My fellow
> workers all use MS OFFICE on the MAC.

That is mostly because NASA has a site license and so every one
is pushed toward it (either because it's no charge to them or
because everyone else is using it for that reason).

> I think the MacOS is also
> growing pretty large

It getting larger (the ultimate in both efficiency and user friendlyness
is the Mac's System 6).  However, listening to reports of what Win95
takes, it's significantly bigger than system 7 (which can run on
a 4 Meg Mac Plus).

> Legacy software is one thing but buying apps and
> keeping current on older MAC is hard becuase of how Apple designed
> them.

Not at all, I was putting new software packages on my Plus up until
last year and on my office mate's plus just a few months ago.

> a) Apple's only offering one configuration to students and it's
>    inflexible on their configurations so students are getting
>    a one size fits all system -- easy to maintain for Apple.

So you buy more memory?  What does this have to do with the
fact that Mac's are made obsolete the way PC's are?

>    The system comes with 12MB of RAM which is not enough for a 
>    NEW SYSTEM.  One would like to keep a new system for 3-5 years.
>    12MB isn't enough FOR A NEW SYSTEM.

Both wrong and off topic.  1) 12MB is plenty for a new system
(maybe PC applications are all bloated but it's fine for a Mac).
Heck there are people in my branch going just fine with 8 Meg.
I even know someone who was managing to scrape by with 5 Megs
(on a computer that is about 6 years old).

But it is irrelevant since you can alway just buy more memory
as your needs increase.  Not an option if, like in the PC
world, you find your stuff just won't run, regardless of memory.

[More complaints about size of memory delelted]

Repeat after me.  Just because a Mac is shipped with xx Megs of
memory, doesn't mean you can't have anymore that.  You just upgrade.
Even 10 years ago (when PC's were stuck at _640 K_) a Plus
could take 4 Megs (which even today is still enough for routine
task, while it's PC's contemporaries are longs since gone).
My computer (bought over a year ago) can take 64 Megs, enough
for years more.  To put it another way, nobody I know has ever
bought I new Mac because the old one wouldn't hold enough memory
but I do know people who had to buy new PC's because they
couldn't run new stuff.  This is why Plus's are being used
for years after their PC contemporaries are history.

> b) I'm bashing Apples decision to constantly ship systems that
>    are difficult and or limited in how that can be upgraded.
>    Upgradibility is a premium feature for Apple systems.  

How is it "difficult" to upgrade memory on an Mac.  You buy
the simmms and stick them in.

> Did you just buy a 12MB system?  I hope not.  New systems with 12MB
> will soon need RAM upgrades, probably requiring one to toss some
> SIMMS.

First of all, the probably requiring tossing simms should be "probably
not".  Every system I've seen shipped with at least one empty slots.
You are trying to make a big deal out of RAM upgrades which are
the most trivial thing I've heard of.

> The 68000's a fine CPU. 
> 
> For work in an office or classroom, these older systems just cannot run
> current apps and have problems with file compatibility.

My officemate Plus had no such problems 6 months ago.  It may be
that 68000 machines are finally getting to old.  But this is
_years_ after their PC contemporaries become obsolete.  

> We have some
> MACse's around and some ][Ci`s but these systems are straining to run
> apps that are functional with our PPC MAC's.

The IIci will run most software just fine.  Several people in our
branch have them and if they were forced to spend unecessary money
on new machines because someone (like MS) stopped sopporting it
they would be getting screwed.