Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!uwvax!tank!zaphod.uchicago.edu!barry
From: barry@zaphod.uchicago.edu (Barry Merriman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Student's view of NeXT marketing plan
Keywords: price, distribute, centralize
Message-ID: <4866@tank.uchicago.edu>
Date: 6 Aug 89 06:33:29 GMT
Sender: news@tank.uchicago.edu
Reply-To: barry@zaphod.uchicago.edu (Barry Merriman)
Organization: Dept. of Mathematics, Univ. of Chicago
Lines: 55

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In previous posts, I have seen it suggested that NeXT, by
offering a $6500 machine directed at students, may be
trying to return us to the era of centralized computing, with
(small) NeXT clusters provided for (large) student bodies.

I have also seen it suggested that NeXT should price in at $4k,
to compete with low end SPARCstaions.

As a member of the target user group (student---4 years undergrad,
5 years grad, just getting PhD.), I have the following comments: 

(1)     For the majority of students, centralized computing was, is
    and will continue to be a necessity---because of (lack of) money.
    In my 9 years, I have never had enough money to get even the cheapest 
    IBM clone, much less a Mac, Mac II, SPARC, or NeXT. Even If someone
    _gave_ me a NeXT with a NeXT Laser Printer, I would have a hard time
    buying the $120 toner cartridges for it---I'm poor, and so are 
    many of my friends. We can't afford the NeXT if they give them away!

(2)    The only computing available has been centralized---I'm just 
    glad that we got away from the "mainframe" concept 
    (undergrad years: 1 CDC and 2 Vaxen [with ~20 users _at a time_] 
    and operating systems from hell, for 30,000 students---10,000:1 ratio),
    and advanced to the "cluster of graphic workstations" concept 
    (grad years: 3 Sun 3/60's for the 80 students in the Math Dept. 
    and 40  Macs and 16 Mac II's  for the 8,000 students in the U of Chicago
    ---27:1 and 175:1 ratios).
        NeXT _has_ planned an advance of this current state of affairs.
    As I was reading through the NeXT propaganda, fantasizing, I came
    across their vision of the (immediate) future. The idea is for
    a University to provide a NeXT cluster, but for each student
    user to provide their own $55 optical disk (I _can_ afford that)
    which, having 256MB, carries the users entire _computing world_
    ---operating system, applications, data, etc. In this way, each user
    can totally personalize the machine, as if it were their own. And
    they can  transparently and effortlessly compute at different clusters, 
    even at different universities. Your own computer (environment) for $55
    ---This is a further step towards the ultimate 
    decentralization of personal computer ownership.
    It would sure beat the hell of of a Mac II cluster---unless your
    world is small enough to fit on a 1.4 MB diskette %-).

Well, in short, all most students can afford is to use a University
cluster, and I'd rather use a NeXT cluster than just about any other 
(save, perhaps, a Sun cluster, but the interface/environment is not
as pleasant---certainly for people shy of UNIX, as most college students
are inclined to be.)

Any comments...?

-Barry Merriman
Grad Student (for three more weeks)           That said, I'll be buyin'
University of Chicago, Dept of Math           my own Cube as soon as I
                                              get a few real paychecks...