alt Hacker NewsIt’s not really an 8-bit computer, stuck in a weird place between the //e and the Macs. It kind of is a II, but only in a half hearted way, kind of a new Apple ///, but designed for graphics and sound, and nicer at pretending to be a //e. It’s not even the fastest II - that would be the //c+ - nor the last to be discontinued, which was the Platinum//e.
It’s a nice machine, but I find it uninspired, a bit like the C128, which instead of improving the VIC II, added a VDP with garish RGBi colors. Both look like they tried to check all boxes and, in the end, made computers unable to follow on their immediate ancestors legacy. Both disappointed me because they could be so much more.
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I like the comparison to the C128-- I think I'll use that.
I like both my IIgs and C128D. They largely serve the function of running everything the earlier machines in their line run, but neither is very exciting for bringing new capabilities to the line. Both suffered from developers being hamstrung by supporting the older machines because the new machines didn't have major adoption. The new features felt to be mostly unused.
I actually never understood this, the C128 was a strange device (as you say like the IIGS). Was it really because Albert Charpentier left and then nobody was able to do a VicIII until much later (C65)?
Oh darn, actually, I mixed up the IIgs with the //c+, which is the one I really want .. ;)