Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!ccwf.cc.utexas.edu!greg From: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga Subject: NeXT Intro (Was ) Summary: NeXT fully upgradable? Sure... Message-ID: <38267@ut-emx.uucp> Date: 15 Oct 90 06:46:31 GMT References: <1990Oct14.215059.12461@csmil.umich.edu> Sender: news@ut-emx.uucp Reply-To: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp) Organization: The University of Texas at Austin Lines: 106 In article <1990Oct14.215059.12461@csmil.umich.edu> chymes@zug.csmil.umich.edu (Charles Hymes) writes: [Charles enclosed the following article, which I have edited into little, tiny pieces, mo-hahahaha......er....'scuse me.] [This is not a personal flame to Charles Hymes or Charles Perkins.] >Article 8066 of comp.sys.next: >From: clp@wjh12.harvard.edu (Charles L. Perkins) >Newsgroups: comp.sys.next >Subject: For more of a flavour of Intro day, here's a personal report. >A slide shows the Mac II ci >and fx at about 4 and 7 MIPS (I'm trying to write this all from memory, so >forgive silly errors), the average of the IBM and Compaq 386 and 486 PCs at >around 7 and 12 MIPS, and the SPARC SLC and about 12 and the SPARC 1+ at about >15 MIPS. Now remember that NeXT wants to be a "Super PC" not a traditional >workstation, thus the comparison to other PCs, and thus also its positioning at >15 MIPS -- equal to the SPARC 1+ and exceeding all other available PCs. ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ First of all, if I ever needed a reason to dislike Steve Jobs, I've got one now. Using (M)isleading (I)ndications of (P)rocessor (S)peed has got to be one of the most dishonest ways to benchmark a computer. Second of all, referring to the underlined phrase: Not even in Steve Jobs' wettest dreams. The 040's fast, but it's no RISC. > On the price issue, he showed the same MIPS slides with the prices written >above them for comparison. I believe they were approx. $8k for the ci, $12k >for the fx, about $7k and $10k for the 386/486 pair, $6500 for the SLC (all >machines had the cheapest disk added to them to get them up to the 105 MB >included in the NeXT), and $9k (?) for the 1+. The lowest cost NeXT comes in >at only $4995 retail price. This includes: > > - 68040 with 8 MB RAM - DSP 56001 / CD sound out > - 105 MB disk with 2.0 pre-installed - MegaPixel 17" display > - SCSI-2 interface and connector - 2 improved RS-423 ports > - Usual (LOTS) of bundled software - Integrated microphone > - 2.88 MB floppy disk drive - Twisted pair and BNC ethernet No color for this model. From what I hear, NO MATHEMATICA! I have heard from more than one person that this was the _ONLY_ reason to buy a NeXT. In fact, that's why my school has one... > For the applications issue, there were four main thrusts. Steve presented >the four areas of interest as: (1) business productivity apps (traditionally >dominated by the PC market), (2) desktop publishing and layout apps (Mac), >(3) custom-designed and tailored high-powered apps (Sun), and (4) To-be- >discussed-later. I'll talk about each presentation in turn: These people are afraid of Multimedia... > And, to address the fourth complaint, no color, Steve saved the best for >last. He introduced a version of the $4995 NeXTstation called NeXTstation >Color... >... >and costs only $7995. Yes, friends, a $3000 option. And guess what? You can't upgrade a NeXTstation to a NeXTstation Color... >A brand new NeXTdimension LIST PRICE is $14k, about 1/3 to 1/4 >the price of comparable ANYTHINGs, workstations, personal IRISes, PCs with all >those extra boards, etc. For the price, I'd buy a Toaster... Granted the NeXTDimension might (MIGHT) have better performance. Then again, since I haven't seen them side by side, I could be wrong about the performance being ANY better... > I think this really is the beginning of a new era, just as PCs brought down >the price of individual computing, this will bring down the cost of individual >multi-media, integrated environments that can as easily download and utilize ^^^^^ ^^^^^ It won't bring this price down with a pricetag of $14K for the NeXTDimension. >the latest movie, MTV video, and local songwriter's MIDI performance info. as >they can create their own programs, music, video, and movies. All information >services can now begin to combine distribution channels, all forms of media >can now be edited. I forget to mention, the NeXT also has a cheap CD-ROM. And ^^^^^ ^^ ^^^ How cheap is cheap? A CD-ROM drive will cost the same amount for any computer, unless Apple or NeXT makes it, in which case it will cost more... >don't forget the integrated networking, multi-media mail, and services. You >can see the possibilities as well as I...it is an exciting time we live in. I agree that the new NeXT is exciting, but don't try to tell me that it's all that revolutionary. Anyone can advertise an 040 machine before they're out. Nowadays most manufacturers have the tact to wait until they can actually start shipping to avoid embarrasment. > Charles I'm not sure why this was re-posted to this newsgroup. If it was intended to clear up a few things, it has only proven that manufacturers can still get away with alot... Greg ---------------Greg-Harp---------------greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu---------------- AMIGA! // // Don't you just hate those long signature files? I mean, there oughta \X/ be a law. If I were in control, .sigs would get cut off if they were