Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!mephisto!prism!dali!ken From: ken@dali.gatech.edu (Ken Seefried iii) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: new NeXT Message-ID: <13955@hydra.gatech.EDU> Date: 21 Sep 90 04:34:18 GMT References: <1990Sep20.214607.1515@midway.uchicago.edu> Sender: news@prism.gatech.EDU Reply-To: ken@dali.gatech.edu (Ken Seefried iii) Distribution: usa Organization: The House Of Fun Lines: 58 It's late, and probably I should keep my mouth shut, but I get just too many people with this same song and dance (not just about the NeXT...most every new machine comes with its share of silly expectations). Try to keep in mind that I really like the NeXT, and will 95% certain buy a NeXTStation... In article melling@cs.psu.edu (Michael D Mellinger) writes: > > >Why not? When I describe the NeXT computer to people, I tell them >that it is a "workstation class Mac." > He was refering to the nearly endless flame war that develops whenever people mention Mac and NeXT in the same article. In any case, every time I try to explain a NeXt in those terms, the eyes light up and I get "Gee...you mean it will run Excel and MacPaint and...". Then I get to explain that, well, it's *like* a Mac...but it's not a Mac...the eyes go dim and they by a couple more IIcx's. A Mac is a Mac and a NeXT is a NeXT, and as far as people who buy lots of machines are concerned, thats not even close... >I think that people who like >the Mac will also like the NeXT computer. The NeXT is a great deal at >the moment(this may change after they hit it big time). After all, a >Mac fx costs ~$5500 dollars and runs at 1/2 the speed. Besides, when >it comes time to upgrade your Mac, you might find that it's cheaper to >buy a new NeXT instead. ;-). This completely ignores reality. A single individual, sure, maybe upgrading from a Mac to a NeXT is no big deal. However, for the companies that I routinely deal with (several with revenue in the billions), those that have dropped perhaps $1-5 million dollars on Macs, and more importantly, Mac software, in the past two years, jumping into the NeXT machine at this point would mean trashing that investment in hardware, throwing the software (often custom written) in the dumpster, and spending the next year to 2 years trying to sort out the MIS mess. Most of these shops have just gone through trench warfare trying to get Macs in the door in the first place (anybody here tried to explain to a VP of MIS at a 20 year MVS/TSO shop why he needs icons and windows?). This, kids, is why people still buy 4381's and AS/400's when we *all* know that a SPARCServer 330 blows them away for a fifth the cost. The bottom line is that computer companies do not succeed by selling to students and a few artists. Computer companies prosper by breaking into the general buisiness market and selling to the government. NeXt isin't even in the ballpark to do either at this point. -- ken seefried iii ken@dali.gatech.edu "Vee haf veyz off making you talk...release da veasles..."