note on no PowerPC port

[Mark.Perlin@J.GP.CS.CMU.EDU]

Just an update on how our computational molecular genetics group at CMU is
handling Apple's decision to abandon MCL. 

On the one hand (1) nothing comes close to MCL (in its software/hardware
price range) for productivity, in any language, but on the other hand, (2)
we can't waste federal funds on computers that cannot run the (quite
diverse) applications that we are developing. 

So while the Apple/LISP combination is perfect for developing and refining
computational solutions to be used in the molecular biology lab, it may have
no long term future. 

Therefore, I adopted a "wait-and-see" approach with Apple's computers.  I
purchased two more Quadra 650s for our group to develop on.  If Apple
commits to supporting its magnificent development tools, we (and any lab
that wants to eventually use our software) will buy top-of-the-line
PowerPCs.  If Apple makes no such commitment, then we will move to
conventional UNIX workstations for distribution, though we will probably
continue our LISP development on old Quadras for some time. 

Personally, Apple's inability to see that software sells hardware (and not
the other way around), leading to its decision to abandon its developers and
their tools, strikes me as short-term minded idiocy that reflects an
underlying mentality indicative of a corporation on its way out.  I hope
they see the light, before it's too late. 

- Mark
-----------------

Mark Perlin, Ph.D., M.D., Ph.D.
Research Computer Scientist
School of Computer Science
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

perlin@cs.cmu.edu
(412) 521-7421
(412) 681-5739 (FAX)