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From: goose@surf.sics.bu.oz.au (Ralph Schwarten)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: *** NeXT in Australia ??? ***
Message-ID: <1406@surf.sics.bu.oz.au>
Date: 17 Dec 90 01:09:40 GMT
References: <6272@munnari.oz.au>
Organization: SICS, Bond University, Australia
Lines: 105

From article <6272@munnari.oz.au>, by jimt@mullian.ee.mu.OZ.AU (Jim Trivellas):
> G'day,
> I have a few questions, and any help will be greatly appreciated.
> 
> [1].  Is there a chance that NeXT may be available in Australia in the
> near future (like 1991/1992)?
> 
Hi, I work at the Bond University on the gold coast.  About 3 months ago
I was going through the same "stress" as you :-)  This is what I
discovered from NeXT Inc.

1)  NeXT will not sell direct to you in Aus.
2)  You could apply to become a developer and get the machines at
    developer cost.  You need to contact NeXT and ask for the appropriate
    forms.
3)  Your University could apply for and execute a "Higher Ed Agreement".
    This entitles any staff or student of the institution to purchase a
    machine at student discount.  The institution is required to buy at
    least one machine about $20,000 US worth of spare parts and send
    someone to the NeXT training camp in California for about $900 US.
    The Institution must also become a self sufficient support centre
    for any machines they sell, hence the spare parts.

> I've heard a few things about it, like "... once Motorola starts producing
> the '040 in large enough quantities ..." etc,etc.

I don't know about that, buit NeXT told me they plan to set up a
dealership of some sort in Aus *eventually*.  They said they were too
busy to consider the Aus market at present.  With the new machines just
starting to ship they will be even busier.
> 
> [2].  From what I can gather, the so-called "educational discount" seems to
> apply to anyone affiliated with an academic institution in the U.S.
> Like, even students can buy a NeXT for personal use, at a good price!
> Is this true?
> 
> The reason I ask this, is because in Australia "educational discounts" apply
> only to purchases by academic institutions, for use only within the 
> institution. (ie. even though I'm a full-time student, I can't get any
> reduction in price whatsoever. The net result being that students in Australia
> get ripped-off when they buy a computer system, when you consider that a NeXT
> costing $4000US in the U.S, may cost me over $8000AUS, with the exchange rate 
> being $1US = $0.80AUS).
> 
> [3].  If your answer to question 2 was "TRUE", then will the same policy be
> adopted in Australia?   (PLEASE ???)

Through the Higher ed agreement you can buy machines at the US discount
plus exchange rate differences and a little more for higher sales tax
and freight.

[stuff 'bout mac higher ed deleted...]

My university was not willing to execute the higher ed agreement.
A collegue and 	I sourced and purchased two second hand machines from
various people in the states.  I was lucky, my machine is almost barnd
new and still in warranty.  It ended up costing me less than half the
price of a similairly configured Sun or Mac system (and that include the
freight and 20 % sales tax !)  Really good value for maoney !!

Support was a bit of a worry.  I was concerned when my motherboard
failed due to a bit of misplaced static energy :-(
So I phoned NeXT and had a new motherboard free of charge *3* days
later.  Incredible service !!!  I doubt that a local dealer would have
been prompter.

Anyway, excellent machines buy one any way you can you won't regret it !

Cheers
Ralph Schwarten


Dept Comp and Info Tech
Bond University
Gold Coast
Qld

Co-founder First official Australian NeXT users group OzNeXT.
email: goose@kirk.nmg.bu.oz.au

> 
> Anyway, Thanks in Advance.
> 
> 	See ya round,	Jim Trivellas.
> 
> 
> PS.  Is there a chance of seeing a RISC NeXT in the (near) future ???
> 
> 
> ===============================================================================
>   Jim Trivellas.
>   Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering.
>   School of Information Technology & Electrical Engineering.
>   The University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Victoria, Australia.
>                   |
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>                 *****				Telephone: +61 3 3446663
>      _______*************_______		Email: jimt@mullian.ee.mu.oz.au
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