GENERAL
Ben,
Like I said I don't want to start a holy war on computer platforms. However
I do agree with you on your IBM PC statement! 😎
I'll just answer this way: IF her two main concerns are sound quality and
lots of educational software for primary grades AND IF those two concerns
have to be addressed RIGHT NOW, then I would still recommend the IIGS.
You're right: It does not support multi-tasking, but how many primary-level
kids need multi-tasking? BTW, it has no problem supporting a MIDI system,
and with Apple's new sound tools, it gives _excellent_ sound quality.
Anyhow, whether the school boards should have mostly //e's and IIGS's is a
moot point. The fact is that they do, and there is a large and active group
of third party developers creating primary-level education software for it.
And there is already a large base of educational software out there for it.
Another bonus is that you can pick up a used IIGS system quite cheaply
these days, because of the confusion about its future. And if you want you
can add in up to 8 megs memory, an accelerator, a hard drive etc. etc.
The downside is that the standard configuration is slow and underpowered
for any sophisticated user. The graphics modes are not as good as many of
the other micros out there. Apple Inc. flip-flops on whether they should
advance the II-series or not (although they still are providing tools,
support and operating system upgrades). Most Apple dealers don't know
anything about the Apple II.
On the upside, there is about 5 million Apple II's installed base, and over
1 million of those are IIGS's. There is a hard-core user base with a
network of user groups. The II-series is actively used in the primary
school system. There is a ton of educational software available for it.
Apple still supports it (as a matter of fact they just released HyperCard
IIGS – a colour implementation of HyperCard 1.25 from the Mac – very
compatible and quite a nice implementation). There is also a hard-core set
of