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Anker wrote: >I don't want to create a panic, but: Having worked for computer companies I can tell you all that that statement is ALWAYS made to hopefully prevent all customers from abandoning the product in droves. In most instances I have seem the vendor fail to live up to the promises. > >Anker I'd say Apple, for one, is a company that HAS, consistently, lived up to the vast majority of their claims regarding backward compatibility. In truth, software written to conform to Apple's developer guidelines in 1984 (the era of 8MHz, 16 bit 68000 CISC) still runs today under OS 7.6 on a 240MHz 32 bit RISC PowerMac. In fact, I've recently seen 1985 software running on a 500MHs+ PowerMac in an Apple hospitality suite. Sure, Apple has fallen into the trap of abandoning various pieces of hardware over the years. And there HAVE been some minor compatibility issues. But with only a few exceptions where Apple made a decision to change how a resource was handled to take maximum advantage of some unanticipated new hardware, what worked in 1984 worked in 1990 and works in 1997. I'm no unquestioning Apple supporter. Hell, as an ex-Apple VAR/developer/dealer, I've suffered more than most at the hands of the folks in Cupertino. They have made some truly boneheaded business decisions. And like most Apple users I'm immensly ticked that Apple pissed away most of their huge OS technology advantage. But you have to admit that they've done a fine job of migrating their OS through three generations of radically evolving hardware. Apple, after all, IS their OS. I can't imagine even the most short-sighted Apple exec putting THAT reputation in jeopardy. I'd be willing to bet you some major dollars (and, in fact, WILL be betting some major dollars) that Rhapsody will provided good support of Mac OS 7.x. Which is not to say that any of this has anything to do with diving in general, or tech diving in particular. To bring it closer to target, I should mention that Chris Parrett is in fine company with his somewhat premature announcement of a completed software version. If he ships a Mac version any time in 1997, he'll STILL be a year or so ahead of the boys in Redmond regarding what's now termed Windows 95. And it probably doesn't need stating that Chris doesn't have the same sort of resources to throw at the problem that Bill Gates has. Bill Thackrey Steam Machines, Incorporated Closed Circuit Training & Expeditions Makers of the PRISM closed circuit breathing apparatus rbreathr@ix*.ne*.co* -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send list subscription requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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