From david.ottalini at verizon.net  Fri May 19 17:31:42 2006
From: david.ottalini at verizon.net (David Ottalini)
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 17:31:42 -0400
Subject: [Apple3-L] May 19, 1980 - Happy Birthday??
Message-ID: <6A00258B-12F4-442F-8B13-72676CDC4DE7@verizon.net>




I'll pass this along from Applematters.com ... and it's hard to argue  
save there were some Macs that were also pretty bad. Of course, the  
fact that there are still Apple ///s running today and even at the  
most basic level still capable is a testament to something. The ///  
was a transition machine that was ill-designed - an indication that  
Steve Jobs was not always a superman. It really should have been an  
updated A2, fully capable of running all A2 software - it could have  
done that and SOS could have just been called ProDos...

It will always have this chain around its neck, I'm afraid.. but I  
got a heck of a lot of work and enjoyment out of it.. and I would  
never have had a chance to meet so many great folks without it!

Dave




http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/history/may-19-1980- 
apple-iii-worst-apple-ever/


May 19, 1980: Apple III. Worst. Apple. Ever.

by Chris Seibold

The Apple III is likely the worst computer Apple ever produced. Not  
because of any inherent problem with the specifications. Compared  
with the competition the specs were solid. What was lacking was the  
execution.

The clock chip didn?t work, the computer had no fan and would  
overheat, the sockets were loose to begin with and the machine would  
corrode internally. The blame for the lameness built into the Apple  
III was laid at the feet of Quality Control and problems with the  
component manufacturers. This was partially true; the corrosion was  
the fault of a subcontractor. Many of the other flaws, however, can  
be blamed on Steve Jobs? erratic leadership of the project.

The Apple that was so bad that Apple wouldn?t release another  
computer with a III in the name for 13 years was announced on May 19,  
1980.


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From jeff at altair.com  Fri May 19 18:48:58 2006
From: jeff at altair.com (Jeff Marraccini)
Date: Fri, 19 May 2006 18:48:58 -0400
Subject: [Apple3-L] May 19, 1980 - Happy Birthday??
In-Reply-To: <6A00258B-12F4-442F-8B13-72676CDC4DE7@verizon.net>
References: <6A00258B-12F4-442F-8B13-72676CDC4DE7@verizon.net>
Message-ID: <979697ED-2111-4581-AA2F-280E6359FCD8@altair.com>


Mine still comes in handy fairly often, but I agree, it is always  
going to have that aura.  People come into my office and ask "wow is  
that an Apple II?  Does it still work?" (no, and yes, very nicely  
still).  Once I remind them it is an Apple ///, the next question is  
whether I have to drop it to power it up (no!)

Have a great weekend, all.

Thanks,

Jeff

___
Jeff Marraccini
Manager, Altair Systems
Altair Engineering, Inc.
http://www.altair.com/
jeff at altair.com
+1 (248) 614-2400 ext 294

"The Computer is your Friend." -- Paranoia
This email message is not a digital signature and its opinions are my  
own.


On May 19, 2006, at 5:31 PM, David Ottalini wrote:

>
>
>
> I'll pass this along from Applematters.com ... and it's hard to  
> argue save there were some Macs that were also pretty bad. Of  
> course, the fact that there are still Apple ///s running today and  
> even at the most basic level still capable is a testament to  
> something. The /// was a transition machine that was ill-designed -  
> an indication that Steve Jobs was not always a superman. It really  
> should have been an updated A2, fully capable of running all A2  
> software - it could have done that and SOS could have just been  
> called ProDos...
>
> It will always have this chain around its neck, I'm afraid.. but I  
> got a heck of a lot of work and enjoyment out of it.. and I would  
> never have had a chance to meet so many great folks without it!
>
> Dave
>
>
>
>
> http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/history/may-19-1980- 
> apple-iii-worst-apple-ever/
>
>
> May 19, 1980: Apple III. Worst. Apple. Ever.
>
> by Chris Seibold
>
> The Apple III is likely the worst computer Apple ever produced. Not  
> because of any inherent problem with the specifications. Compared  
> with the competition the specs were solid. What was lacking was the  
> execution.
>
> The clock chip didn?t work, the computer had no fan and would  
> overheat, the sockets were loose to begin with and the machine  
> would corrode internally. The blame for the lameness built into the  
> Apple III was laid at the feet of Quality Control and problems with  
> the component manufacturers. This was partially true; the corrosion  
> was the fault of a subcontractor. Many of the other flaws, however,  
> can be blamed on Steve Jobs? erratic leadership of the project.
>
> The Apple that was so bad that Apple wouldn?t release another  
> computer with a III in the name for 13 years was announced on May  
> 19, 1980.
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Apple3-L mailing list
> Apple3-L at news.altair.com
> https://news.altair.com/mailman/listinfo/apple3-l



___
Jeff Marraccini
Manager, Altair Systems
Altair Engineering, Inc.
http://www.altair.com/
jeff at altair.com
+1 (248) 614-2400 ext 294

"The Computer is your Friend." -- Paranoia
This email message is not a digital signature and its opinions are my  
own.


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