Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!iuvax!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!uxc.cso.uiuc.edu!m.cs.uiuc.edu!march
From: march@m.cs.uiuc.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Comments on The NeXT Book
Message-ID: <61300011@m.cs.uiuc.edu>
Date: 26 Jul 89 21:25:00 GMT
Lines: 43
Nf-ID: #N:m.cs.uiuc.edu:61300011:000:2477
Nf-From: m.cs.uiuc.edu!march    Jul 26 16:25:00 1989


Well, I have to say I'm disappointed in "The NeXT Book" recently released.
While the first section detailing the port pinouts and other sundry hardware
of the NeXT is rather informative, the rest of the book is of a non-techincal
nature.  Basically the rest of the book describes WriteNow, the Digital
Library and all of the other applications which are bundled.  Mr. Webster
even goes to the point of describing the use of various UNIX commands (ls,
cp, mkdir, etc).  The jacket cover led me to believe that this book would clue
me in on some of the lesser know aspects of the machine.  It didn't! Maybe
I was mislead?  Anybody ????

I was also disappointed in the amount of release (0.9) specific information.
An expamle being the appendix on system administration.  While I doubt that
much of the information on NeXT administration will change or ever has changed,
I did note that they made it quite clear that this appendix was for 0.9.  I
see that Bruce Webster feels that administration only merits space in an
appendix.  Given the nature of this book I feel it should have either been
a full blown chapter or not have been included at all.  I also noted a few
other instances of a 0.9 specific remark (unfortunately, none which I can 
recall now).  Does this mean that we will all have to go out and buy the
second edition when 1.0 arrives on the scene?  I should hope not!!

At any rate ... I recommend the book for those who are planning to use the
NeXT and are new to either UNIX or computing.  The book has a complete
OVERVIEW (and only that much excepting the first section on hardware) of
the applications and Workspace.  However, I must recommend the online
documentation and most likely (as I have not seen them yet) the NeXT 
technical manuals (the $250.00 ones) for the more technical users.

Anyone else care to voice his/her opinion?  I would very much like to see
a more technical book ... maybe I should try to get a hold of the NeXT
technical manuals?  Anyone got $250.00 they could lend me? :-)

				Steve


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Steve March						(H) 344-5303
Department of Computer Science, University of Illinois	(W) 333-7408 
march@cs.uiuc.edu		                          
{uunet,convex,pur-ee}!uiucdcs!march                      
"Emotions are alien to me.  I'm a scientist." -- Spock, "This Side of Paradise"
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