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From: kevin@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu (Kevin Harris)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: A kind word...
Message-ID: <2264@cunixc.cc.columbia.edu>
Date: 27 Nov 89 16:05:12 GMT
References: <4275@helios.ee.lbl.gov> <21327@ut-emx.UUCP> <6431@cs.yale.edu> <4606@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Columbia University
Lines: 29
In-reply-to: mrc@Tomobiki-Cho.CAC.Washington.EDU's message of 23 Nov 89 02:37:26 GMT


	Here is one sure-fire way for NeXT boxes to take off.

	Let's face it.  There's a whole lot of Unix groupies who'd kill for a
	Unix box of their very own.  I know the feeling; I was in a similar
	position as a DEC-20 groupie.  Many of these guys and gals have no
	chance of getting enough cash to buy a NeXT.  On the other hand,
	they're pretty good programmers and with the right motivation would
	work for virtually nothing.

	NeXT should identify 100 or so of these individuals (note: I said
	*individuals*, not schools), and loan them NeXT machines for free in
	return for work on a particular project.  They would be registered
	developers, and all that.  Possible criteria may include academic
	status (e.g. undergraduate students only).  The loan would be for some
	period (e.g. 6 months) and would end either with the return of the
	machine to NeXT or transfer of title of the machine to the individual,
	based upon a pre-agreed set of criteria (e.g. getting the project
	finished to NeXT's satisfaction).

	This program would be amazingly cheap -- a couple of hundred kilobucks
	at most -- and would instantly generate 100 NeXT fanatics.  It would
	certainly get a lot of software development work at a much lower price
	than salaried employees would cost.

	Mark Crispin / 6158 Lariat Loop NE / Bainbridge Island, WA 98110-2098
	mrc@CAC.Washington.EDU -- MRC@PANDA.PANDA.COM -- (206) 842-2385

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