Vince, <<<The thing I don't like about this new releasing system is that it seems like it will delay Mac OS 8. I personally don't care about the new 3D look of the Mac OS, or the new search engine. I want pre-emptive multitasking. I don't think Apple should delay this, because all the other major OSs have this feature already.>>>
I agree. New features are good. However, I think this may backfire on Apple as well. Apparently it has only been in the last 2 months that system 7.5 has overtaken system 7.0.1 as the primary system version on the Mac. People have been very hesitant to buy it (very few have), since really there isn't too much in 7.5 that is much different from 7.0.1 (which is free!), at least not until recently with the advent of Open Doc, Open Transport, QD 3D, etc. Apple plans to sell the new updates (the 6 month updates, not the 3 month ones). Developers will have to support the new updates, but I don't personally think anybody is going to buy an update that doesn't give you any new features. Apple itself has stated that the January '97 update won't include anything new, it will just include it all in one package so that you can assume that if someone has system 7.5.4, they also have QD 3D, Open Transport, and Open Doc installed, whereas now those are available but optional. I'll buy System 8, but probably not 7.6 (unless it looks like Apple will be going down before they can finish MOS 8).
I think it's also going to be a hassle for developers. How do you programmer types like having to support new features every 6 months? I guess it'll be good as long as Apple can get the developers pre-release versions REALLY early. Like 6 months ahead of time, so developers can make use of the new stuff and then sell upgrades to their own programs...still seems a bit unrealistic, though.
I want preemptive multitasking! I think I'll probably get a dual 200 or 225 Mhz 604e processer upgrade for my machine at the end of '97 (they're only $1500 right now for a dual 180Mhz version which smokes!...much cheaper than even a new 7200/120!).
