With the introduction of its Power Macintosh computers, Apple launched marketing efforts to tout the machines as DOS/Windows compatible. In fact, much of the initial advertising asserted that the Power Macintosh “runs DOS, Windows and Macintosh software.” When people read papers or magazines and simply glossed over Apple’s ads, they often only noticed this bolded statement, and ignored the fine print. Consequently, numerous individuals were convinced that Apple’s new machines were actually Macintosh/DOS hybrids, not unlike the Quadra 610 DOS Compatible. Because of the heavy promotion that the Power Macintoshes ran circles around 486-based machines, many people also believed that these new Macintoshes ran DOS and Windows software at Pentium speeds.
When such people came into computers stores all over North America looking for the Power Macintoshes, they were often disappointed. After all, the base Power Macintosh 6100/60 could only run DOS and Windows at 386SX speeds. It also required that the machine be equipped with 16 megabytes of RAM and Insignia’s SoftWindows emulator. This added to the cost of the machine (pushing the cost of such a bundle to approximately $3500.00 Cdn.). In addition, despite the fact that the Power Macintoshes could handle 16-bit, CD-quality stereo sound, the software emulator could not emulate a SoundBlaster card and was thus restricted to simple PC computer blips. The final insult was that the SoftWindows only emulated a 286 and 287 instruction set, which meant these formidable machines could not even run DOOM in DOS emulation.
Apple’s major flaw was to promote the Power Macintoshes as DOS/Windows replacements. As a person who has been in the industry for over 5 years, I would never recommend somebody buy a Power Macintosh to use exclusively as a Windows machine. The combination of the Power Macintosh and SoftWindows is an important compatibility solution for many Apple customers. Apple’s advertising for these machines, however, should have been primarily directed towards individuals who have a Macintosh but need some limited DOS and Windows compatibility, and those PC users (fence sitters, as Apple calls them) who’d like to switch to the Macintosh environment but who’d like to make transition gradually.
Apple’s brevity in its initial advertising may have resulted in continued alienation of some DOS and Windows users. I do contend, however, that misguided interest is better than no interest at all. Ingram Labs has officially proven that the Power Macintoshes are price/performance leaders and the most powerful personal computers currently on the market. After all, DOS and Windows users really ought to know what they’re missing.
