Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!emory!samsung!usc!ucla-cs!math.ucla.edu!pico!barry
From: barry@pico.math.ucla.edu (Barry Merriman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Boycott 68040 upgrades that include Lotus Improv
Message-ID: <606@kaos.MATH.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 24 Oct 90 00:53:16 GMT
References: <1990Oct17.231522.17662@midway.uchicago.edu> <994@happym.wa.com>
Sender: news@MATH.UCLA.EDU
Organization: UCLA Dept. of Math, UCLA Inst. for Fusion and Plasma Research
Lines: 43

In article <994@happym.wa.com> irv@happym.wa.com (Irving [h] Wolfe) writes:
>In <1990Oct17.231522.17662@midway.uchicago.edu> phd_ivo@gsbacd.uchicago.edu writes:
>
>Improv.  And we were lucky enough to have our choice of computer -- NeXT --
>validated by the smartest, most honest company in the software business,
>Lotus!  We get it first, and most of us get it free.
>
If something seems to good to be true, then it probably is!

So you have to ask yourself ``Gee, why would a PC company like
lotus develop a Mega spreadsheet for NeXT? And then give it away
for free, no less?''

My guess: I think that Improv is like a ``technology demo'' for
Lotus. Just to show the world how smart they are, and what the future
will hold. The only reason NeXT figured into things is that
was the most convenient  development  platform for glitzy software.

Its a lot like General Motors demoing experimental cars like
SunRaycer, etc---it allows them to flex their engineering muscle,
and is good publicity. It has little to do with their future marketing
or development plans. 

Makes sense that big software companies would do similarly.

So, don't get any ideas that Lotus is a big NeXT supporter.
If they really wanted to _help NeXT_, they should port 1-2-3 to it!
To most business users, that would be a bigger draw than Improv
(no need to retrain, etc).

(Disclaimer: yes, I'm overjoyed that they created Improv. But,
we should be realistic about what it means for NeXT market penetration.
After all, no one drives a SunRaycer, either.)





--
Barry Merriman
UCLA Dept. of Math
UCLA Inst. for Fusion and Plasma Research
barry@math.ucla.edu (Internet)