In message <empnq5$nb8$20@Kil-nws-1.UCIS.Dal.Ca>, Richard Bonner
<ak621@chebucto.ns.ca> writes
>Tony Morgan wrote:
>> Richard Bonner wrote:
>(re: Mac Systems)
>> > As for software, I am under the impression that Intel Macs can run
>> >Windows (and presumably DOS) software natively so they'd have the same
>> >variety available.
>
>> I might be stupid, but it seems to me that if that were the case, all
>> they're doing is making just another IBM PC clone. And god knows - there
>> are more than enough of those already :-)
>> --
>> Tony Morgan
>
>*** I sort of thought the same thing, but not being a Mac user, i can't
>answer.I assume that Mac software would still run and, in addition, PC
>software (at least DOS and Windows programs).
>
> Is there a Mac user lurking that could clear this up?
>
IIRC they tried a DOS/Win emulation layer on top of the Mac OS some
years ago and it was a resounding failure. Acorn also tried it with
their RISC technology - and again it sank like a lead balloon.

I get a sense of Deja Vu. In the mainframe days, ICL developed the 2900
series to replace their 1900 series of mainframes. To allow their
sizable customer base to run legacy software on the new machines, they
provided (free) a 1900 emulation. Problem was that a 2900 running the
emulation was noticeably slower than the 1900 machines that ICL had
persuaded their customers to replace with the 2900. The debacle
effectively finished ICL as a mainframe supplier. Wang too, once a force
in the computer industry, did the same thing which effectively finished
them too.

--
Tony Morgan