Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!crdgw1!rpi!mts.rpi.edu!Garance_Drosehn
From: Garance_Drosehn@mts.rpi.edu (Garance Drosehn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Not another NeXT defector???!!!
Message-ID: <CS^^M|%@rpi.edu>
Date: 12 Nov 90 01:23:41 GMT
Organization: Rensselaer Polytechnic Inst.
Lines: 41
References:<1990Nov9.195958.15383@midway.uchicago.edu> <1990Nov9.224209.18758@agate.berkeley.edu> <1990Nov10.015237.3468@athena.mit.edu> <1990Nov10.022306.6551@agate.berkeley.edu>
Nntp-Posting-Host: gilead.its.rpi.edu

In article <1990Nov10.022306.6551@agate.berkeley.edu> 
           knrgroup@garnet.berkeley.edu (Raymond group) writes:
> As for a Mac IIsi or Mac IIci, hard disk, laser printer, and >4 MB of 
> RAM, I don't know the cost of such a package, but bear in mind that 
> you can get a NeXT for $3000-$3500 with an educational discount.  Toss
> in a laser printer for $1200-$1300 (with educational discount) and you 
> have a machine with a 400 dpi postscript laser printer, 105 MB hard disk 
> (with 30 to 60 MB free),
> lots of bundled software, 8 MB RAM, Unix and true multitasking,
> built-in Ethernet, a Digital Signal Process (for compact disc quality 
> sound), etc.  Thus, for as little as $4200-$4300, you can get a machine
> that is arguably more powerful than a $12,000 Mac IIfx!

   (was that the price for the color NeXT, or the grey-scale NeXT?)

While a NeXT is a nice machine in several respects, there is a certain 
degree of trickery in the above comparison.  While quoting NeXT prices, we 
hear about the "with education discount" costs.  When putting up the price 
of the Mac IIfx, we get a price which is apparently unconnected to any 
educational discounts.

Which is not to say that a IIfx with an education discount is going to 
beat that $4200 price quoted for the NeXT.  On the other hand, it is "a 
little" less than $12,000.  On our price list for RPI, an IIfx with 80 meg 
drive (which would probably have 75 meg free), 4 meg memory, 13" color 
monitor, 8.24 display card, 6 expansion slots, and the Extended Keyboard 
II totals up to just about $7295.

Buy 4 more meg of IIfx memory (to get you to 8 Meg), and you're still 
under $7500.  If you go with a Laserwriter SC (quickdraw), add $1315.  If 
you go with the NT (postscript), add $2165.  So you're talking more like 
$8,800-$9,700.  Not peanuts, but not $12,000 either (and the difference 
between it and $12,000 isn't peanuts either).

If you disagree, please send $2300 to me, and I will gladly admit you are 
right and send you a bag of peanuts in exchange.  Send $3200 and I'll send 
*two* bags of peanuts (what a deal!).

Garance_Drosehn@mts.rpi.edu
ITS Systems Programmer
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy, NY.  USA