Most of the survey's 200+ respondents offered their own prescriptions for Apple's continued survival, and some wrote at considerable length—there is a lot of material here. We have tried to compile a selection that is both interesting and representative (no small task, since virtually all of the comments were interesting).

We neither asked for nor received permission to publish respondents' names, so the quotes on the following pages are unattributed. Because a number of responses from current Apple employees are included, anonymity seems a good policy in any case. We have edited the responses for spelling and brevity but have otherwise reproduced them exactly.

You'll notice a wide range of opinion on display, but there is a common undercurrent as well: everyone wants Apple to survive (every one of our respondents, at any rate). As Bill Gates says (we're paraphrasing), "People care about Apple and want them to succeed." However, Gates made a point of adding, "That doesn't mean they will succeed," and our survey respondents seem well aware of Apple's widely perceived vulnerability. The threads of urgency and concern that run throughout these messages are indicative of the enormous good will Apple still commands in the Macintosh community, and beyond. This will be a crucially important asset as the company grapples with an uncertain future.

We think you'll find that the Macintosh spirit is already at work in the following pages.

(Reviewed July 28, 1997)

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