Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!remus.rutgers.edu!declan From: declan@remus.rutgers.edu (Declan McCullagh/LZ) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Not another NeXT defector???!!! Message-ID: Date: 13 Nov 90 18:18:00 GMT References: <1990Nov10.015237.3468@athena.mit.edu> <108629@convex.convex.com> Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 42 In article <108629@convex.convex.com>, ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright) writes: > In article <1990Nov12.002503.20363@agate.berkeley.edu> knrgroup@garnet.berkeley.edu (Raymond group) writes: > >Garance_Drosehn@mts.rpi.edu writes: > >What's your point? The NeXT is not intended for people with only $2000 to > >spend. Neither is the Cray, a VAX, an RS/6000, or a Mac IIcx. I guess a > >computer company without some sort of machine for under $2000 should get out > >of the business altogether? > > Yes, that's exactly the point. High-end machines are exciting and sexy, > but unless you also have low-end machines to attract enough users to > attract enough software developers to bring down software prices to attract > even more users and developers to sell more machines, you aren't going to > survive. Apple learned that lesson -- almost too late. And now look what happened: developers must make sure their applications will run in a limited environment with a tiny screen, a pathetically slow processor, and only 1-2 MB of RAM. Since Apple introduced a very CHEAP Macintosh with features commensurate with its price, the Classic may well have the net effect of stifling whatever innovative software development is left in the Mac world. The NeXT is all about raising the lowest common denominator - something you have failed to appreciate. > >Compare the NeXT to any Mac in its price range or higher. The Mac is truly > >guaranteed to lose. > > That's why Apple introduced the new low-cost Macs -- and why NeXT > should do the same thing if it wants to survive. Wrong. You want to see a NeXTclassic, with a 12" screen, mono sound, a 1.4 MB floppy drive, and only 4 MB of RAM, running a crippled version of Display PostScript on its 20 MHz 68030? It won't happen: NeXT's goal is to RAISE the standard of personal computing, not lower it. In other words, application developers can assume certain things about the environment their app is going to run on. This is a Good Thing. Sun hasn't announced any new computers which cost less than the NeXTstation, and they don't need to. Granted, NeXT would like to see its computers be more ubiquitous than Sun's, but it isn't necessary in order for the company to survive. -Declan