Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!dino!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!midway!news
From: gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Next intro: any effect on Mac _high-end_ prices?
Message-ID: <1990Sep28.050506.19522@midway.uchicago.edu>
Date: 28 Sep 90 04:55:32 GMT
Sender: news@midway.uchicago.edu (News Administrator)
Organization: University of Chicago Graduate School of Business
Lines: 41

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When I've seen a Next releated thread in this group, I generally try to steer
it over to comp.sys.next, since I get tired of reading flames against the Mac
and Apple (besides, Mac people are flamed over there).

But I've been thinking about it: it's true that Next may be out of business in
a couple of years.  And it's true that it will never have the impact that the
Mac had; it's a bit late for that.

But it's also true that -- probably primarily out of desperation -- they are
offering quality machines at outstandingly low prices, particularly for
university people (despite my sig, I'm not one, unfortunately :->).  I just saw
a note in the Next group which said that Stanford will be selling the minimal
Next config for less then $3200!  Think about that: an '040 machine with HD,
and with rights to lotsa software, for $3200.

Sure, the Next has lots of negatives, and I'm always glad to point them out. 
Some of them in this low price model are: grayscale, and never more than 4096
colors even if you upgrade to color -- that is you can kiss 24-bit goodbye; not
much room on the included HD for all the software you have license to, and
about $1600 upgrade to the next larger HD size; etc.

But still....it's a pretty nice deal.

So, my question is: does anyone have any speculation on how Apple will respond?
Surely the high-end Macs, in particular the IIfx, have become less competitive. 
I don't expect the Mac to come down to Next's prices; not unless Next starts
selling mega amounts.  But some more competitiveness would be nice.

Any thoughts?  (And please, no "Next will win!" opinions; I'm so sick of
hearing Next agitprop I could puke!).

Robert

 
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= gft_robert@gsbacd.uchicago.edu * generic disclaimer: * "It's more fun to =
=            		         * all my opinions are *  compute"         =
=                                * mine                *  -Kraftwerk       =
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