Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!swbatl!kim
From: kim@swbatl.UUCP (5605)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Will the Next sell?
Summary: probably.
Message-ID: <977@swbatl.UUCP>
Date: 22 Nov 89 20:09:02 GMT
References: <4283@helios.ee.lbl.gov> <30217@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
Distribution: na
Organization: Southwestern Bell Tele. Co. - Advanced Technology Lab - St. Louis
Lines: 95

In article <30217@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>, hughes@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (larry hughes) writes:
> In article <4283@helios.ee.lbl.gov> tierney@lbl-csam.arpa (Brian Tierney [SFSU Computer Science Dept]) writes:
> >
> >Second, why Joe average will never buy one:
> >    It's too damn expensive, and a $1000 AT clone run's all the
> >software he needs.
> 
> Today.  Not tomorrow.  In the early 80's, people were saying "Why
> by an IBM PC, when my C/PM system runs all the software I need?"
> 
> >Third, the business community:
> >   Here, I'm not sure, but it seems most company's would rather spend
> >$4000 for a 386 machine running Xenix and an 80M drive than $10,000
> >for a Next with a 330M drive. We'll see...
> 
> I don't agree...give a dog and pony show of a NeXT and a '386/Xenix
> machine to a team of high executives.  See which one they think is
> sexiest.  (After all, which one is a preppy black cube with voicemail?)
> 
> >Is there another major group I'm forgetting (remember, Universities
> >don't really count, they get such a big discount).
> 
> They do count!  In my opinion, Sun wouldn't have made it to where it is
> today without the interest (and dollars) of universities.
> 
> >So in general, the Next seems to be not powerful enough for the scientific
> >community, and too expensive for everbody else.
> 
> I don't think the scientific community is the target market.  As far
> as expense goes, what isn't expensive at first run?  It's not fair
> to judge it this way, in my opinion, for at least two more years.
> 
> Thanks for your comments and ideas, though!  I don't mean to argue,
> just want to provide an alternate viewpoint.
> 
>  //=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=\\
> || Larry J. Hughes, Senior Programmer ||  hughes@silver.bacs.indiana.edu   ||
> ||        Indiana University          ||                                   ||
> ||   University Computing Services    ||  "The person who knows everything ||
> ||    750 N. State Road 46 Bypass     ||     has a lot to learn."          ||
> ||      Bloomington, IN  47405        ||                                   ||
> ||         (812) 855-9255             ||  Disclaimer: See quote above.     ||
>  \\=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=//



I couldn't resist this line of conversation.
I run a graphic arts shop with 21 MacIIcx's
using primarily desktop publishing and pre-press
software packages. (We provide most of
the employee information newsletter support,
internal business presentation slides, and a
smattering of 2 to 4 color advertising pieces 
to a five state region.)
My corporate environment 
is rapidly moving to Unix as a standard. 
I have to have a mechanized device which
a designer can use as a tool. Note: Designer,
not a programmer.
So, this is what I need:
a) A high power desktop/media presentation device
which will allow me to migrate into the new
media arenas of desktop video and hypermedia,
complete with MacIntosh-like user interface.
(designers have a very understandable mental
block against MSDOS)

b) A "generic" operating system:
i.e.UNIX.

c) Machine which will run faster.

d) Machine which will run all of the
emerging prepress and visual system
software.

Now, price is not the hot issues here, as
I'm already throwing 8,000 to 9,000 dollars
at each Mac right now.

So, in summary:
+MacType interface.
+Unix
+Desktop Media.
+Priced competitely between $8,000-$10,000

Sounds like NEXT to me.

K Gordon - "but then what do I know?"
w:
-- 
Kim W. Gordon - SWBT - Graphics / Media
One Bell Center - 7th Floor Graphics Center - St. Louis. MO. 63101.
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PHON: 314-235-5605 FAX: 314-235-5609