Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!maverick.ksu.ksu.edu!brtmac
From: brtmac@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu (Brett McCoy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: SPARCstation 2 --> workstation wars
Message-ID: <1990Oct20.003611.28732@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu>
Date: 20 Oct 90 00:36:11 GMT
References: <9010180146.AA09967@mcs-server.gac.edu> <2090@island.uu.net> <579@roo.UUCP>
Sender: news@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu (The News Guru)
Organization: Kansas State University
Lines: 33

In <579@roo.UUCP> Lovstrand@EuroPARC.Xerox.COM (Lennart Lovstrand) writes:

>I couldn't agree less with your general sentiment!  I don't know about
>NeXTs specificially, but in my experience, installing your generic UNIX box
>usually requires an MSc in Computer Science to get everything right.  This
>includes everything from acquiring and setting up an IP subnet to loading
>up a DNS server, getting the latest version of sendmail, ftpd, etc from the
>Net and installing them, etc, etc.  This is just ridiculous in comparison
>to the Mac (and Xerox XNS) world.

While I'll agree that setting up a UNIX box takes more brains than your
average Mac user has, it isn't impossible by any means.  Even I, a lowly
ugrad, can set up and install a system from the ground up.  It does take
more work and investment of time than most people are willing to impart
though.  But, all of the things you complain about taking so much time
and effor (i.e. sendmail, ftpd, DNS, etc.) aren't even available for your
average Mac, so why compare them.  As far as setting up a single user,
standalone Sun goes, just stick the installation tape in the drive, sit
down with your installation manual and turn it on.  It takes a few hours
to get it up and running and doing everything you want it to do, but it
isn't impossible.  Most systems you buy today don't even have to have that
done to them.  If you buy a SS1 with an internal drive you will get the
OS preinstalled for you.  All you have to do is go through and change the
site specific stuff.  It may take longer to set up, but the difference
between what an average Sun can do and what an average Mac can do is
ridiculous in comparison, especially considering the price comparison.

--
Every day you scream at me to turn the music low.
But if you keep on screaming, you'll make me deaf, ya know. -- Judas Priest

Brett McCoy	brtmac@maverick.ksu.ksu.edu	NetNews Dictator