Path: utzoo!mnetor!tmsoft!torsqnt!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!thunder.mcrcim.mcgill.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!apple!agate!ziploc!eps From: eps@toaster.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Questions about the MUSIC capability and I/O performance of Next. Message-ID: <1076@toaster.SFSU.EDU> Date: 25 Dec 90 00:21:48 GMT References: <5147@husc6.harvard.edu> Reply-To: eps@cs.SFSU.EDU (Eric P. Scott) Organization: San Francisco State University Lines: 25 In article <5147@husc6.harvard.edu> chien@ymer.UUCP () writes: >2. I've tried to use the Nextstation displayed at MIT computer store >I had put very high expectation on the Next computer (just think >about: unix system, real multitasking, audio processing ....) until I >operated it myself at MIT. I would be very glad and appreciated if >any kind person tell me WHY IT IS SO SLOW. I can only think of one OBVIOUS reason: They're demoing an 8MB machine. All the MIPS in the world won't make one bit of difference on a RAM-starved computer. Welcome to the REALITY of VIRTUAL memory. (or as D|I|G|I|T|A|L says, "nothing helps virtual like physical.") If you think the NeXT is slow, look at a PC or Mac under comparable conditions. Since the NeXTstations only have 8 SIMM sockets, you have to put 4MB SIMMs in them (or shut down NextStep) to get any sort of performance... -=EPS=-