Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!mintaka!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!goya!turia!esink From: esink@turia.dit.upm.es (Eric Wayne Sink) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: What if ? was:Re: Not another NeXT defector???!!! Summary: If the NeXT makes it, we might benefit from it. Message-ID: <396@goya.dit.upm.es> Date: 8 Nov 90 14:14:46 GMT References: <2909@unccvax.uncc.edu> Sender: newsadm@goya.dit.upm.es Reply-To: esink@turia.dit.upm.es (Eric Wayne Sink) Organization: dit Lines: 83 OK. I've read this thread so far, and I've seen several people say that they were switching from Mac to NeXT. I have to admit that I too, am leaning in that direction, and I definitely call myself a Macintosh fan. This brings me to a question. First, the disclaimer : Yes, obviously the Mac has a LOT more software and color is cheaper on the Mac. Yes, obviously if Joe has $ 1500 to spend, then NeXT is not an option. Speculation : Let's look at the situation two or three years from now. If the "killer development platform" on the NeXT is that great, than there should be lots of software. Hopefully some of that will be cheaper, more average stuff to meet the needs of all those home users who are supposedly going to buy the thing. The next NeXT is announced, based on the 68050 which is still in alpha. NeXT has sold lots of Stations, and has a respectable user base with respect to its appropriate market (no, obviously there are not as many NeXTs as PC clones - that was a ridiculous argument). System 7.0 is long out (this is starting to sound like a fairy tale :-) and System 8.0, the pre-emptive multitasking Macintosh OS is in alpha. MacMach is being marketed by Mt-Xinu for some reasonable price with respect to A/UX. Apple has sold gobs and gobs of Macintosh Classics and LC's. The Macintosh II(something) is out, based on the 68040, and it is significantly faster than the NeXTStation, because it doesn't have to run UNIX. USENET is still buzzing with discussion. (All of the above is pure speculation on my part, and my part alone. Some of it is admittedly questionable, but it serves my purpose.) Q: How many high end Macs have been sold ? In other words, what is Apple's response to the incredible price/performance ratio of the Station ? Some complain about the NeXT's lack of software, which could change, especially if the tools are as good as they sound. Some complain about the UNIX OS being to much for a home user. Some have refuted this, but in any case, it is those capabilities that Apple is aiming for in its new System revisions. Suppose the NeXT makes it! What do the skeptics have to complain about then ? Even after the new Macs introduction, the Macs cost a lot. Comparing the Macs to the NeXT, the Classic is a good buy. The LC isn't too bad. The IIfx is ridiculous. If the NeXT does well, it seems to me that Apple must change its marketing strategy a bit. I would like to see the NeXT intro benefit the Macintosh buyers. I would like to see a IIfx at $4995 list. I would like to see A/UX bundled with the high end Macs. I would like to see MPW bundled as well. I'd like to see Apple respond to NeXT's "challenge" to the benefit of its users. Obviously, all of this rests on the supposition that the NeXT will make it. This is obviously not a given. The US economy is not exactly booming, and Steve has chosen an unfortunate time to be innovative. The Mac is fairly well established, and the really conservatives will simply buy 386 UNIX boxes. Just because the NeXT is an extraordinary piece of hardware does not mean it will succeed. The NeXT will not follow the path of the Amiga, because it is a little expensive for some home buyers. It will not dominate the business scene, because IBM is still producing standards, if not profits. The NeXT will probably not produce a revolution in the workstation sector. The majority is conservative. (If it works...) What we have here is a very nice piece of hardware staring at at least one major competitor in every sector. Let's hope the NeXT does very well, but it will not dominate. The Mac has not dominated. We like it anyway. I am trying to be objective. I would like to see the NeXT make it. If I was shopping in the $3500 range, I would buy one. There does not seem to be an absolute, however. NeXT could fail. I am more interested in what happens if it does not. [ This posting has been edited in the hope that it is not a network fire hazard. The opinions here are mine. Whether or not you agree, there is an implicit invitation for you to express yours ... politely. ] Eric W. Sink "Are you sure this would |All opinions Departamento de Telematica not be time for a |are mine and Universidad Politecnica de Madrid colorful metaphor ?" |not necessarily esink@turia.dit.upm.es - Spock |yours.