Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!mcnc!ecsgate!ecsvax!jfreem From: jfreem@uncecs.edu (Joe Freeman) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Dissatisfaction with NeXT the company Message-ID: <1991Jan20.214014.18419@uncecs.edu> Date: 20 Jan 91 21:40:14 GMT References: <1991Jan19.200318.10586@macc.wisc.edu> Distribution: na Organization: UNC Educational Computing Service Lines: 76 In article ty@springs.cis.ufl.edu (Tyng-Jing Yang) writes: > >It seems that I'm not the only one who complains about NeXT Inc. >Before I say more, I have to say I love my NeXTCube ;-) though I even >try to put it on yard sale(yeh, shame on me). > >The following list is the common problem/complains appeared in this newsgroup >(during last year& half) and my own opinion. > >2. Modem > People keep asking "How to connect a modem ?" again and again. This is a problem. Most folks want to dial out. They should probably buy a third party product (like they would on a pc), such as communicae. Dial in should probably be documented better. Folks wanting to set up UUCP should probably read one of the nutshell books > >3. Poor Documentation/programming books I found the tech docs quite usefull. The concepts manual explains quite a few interesting areas. There should be a "book" on the programming subject. I know of a couple in the works. > > E. C++ seems the right programming language to follow > but to my knowledge, no book about "C++ progamming on NeXT" > and How serious is NeXT Inc. on C++ programming ? C++ is a migration tool for existing C++ programs and systems. I doubt, in the near future, you will see much emphasis on it from NeXT. Objective-C provides certain functionality that would be difficult to obtain under C++ (no C++ flames please) > >4. Poor Upgrade policy > I don't hwo NeXT distribute those hot 68040 CPUs. It seems most > people like s/w upgrade first. > Why not send 2.0 Extened s/w OD to those who order 2.0 upgrade. We are doing that. It took longer than we would have liked. > >5. Qestionable Component quality > I saw posts about Dead CPU, Hard disk, Mouse problem. Well, it is > understandable for there is no perfect quality control even some of > the components(keyboard,mouse,monitor,OD driver,OD) are made by Japan. If it is understandable then why bring it up. The number of quality posts is less than (or on the order of) competetive products. > >The problem made me very unhappy is that My OD driver in NeXTcube >will died of "Sucking in too much dust" SOME DAY. This is obviously a >"wrong system design" from NeXT Inc. Extending warranty from 3 month >to 1yr doesn't solve the problem. I have had my cube (old design) for 22 months and have not had a failure. Other people have had dust problems. Usually they can be corrected with c blast of compressed air, sometimes not. Newer machines have an optional filter fitted onto the back of the MO. Other CD/optical drives have had similar problems. > >6. Arrogant silence in this newgroup > Frequency of NeXT's voice on comp.sys.next are countable. Arrogant postings are also in this news group. What is the reward for responding? > >7. Poor customer service > My experience of customer service from 800-NeXT or ask-next is good. > from the bookstore I bought is fair. > From the Bland is poor. Problems with retail outlets should be detailed and sent to your local NeXT office. I will be happy to provide the address if you wish. NeXT cannot control all retail outlets, anymore than can any other vendor. We make strong efforts to help bring them up to speed and need constructive feedback as to the type of problems you are having at a particualr site. -- Joe Freeman jfreem@uncecs.edu jfreeman@next.com I work for NeXT but this is not an official posting from them. The opinions espressed here are my own and are not shared by my employer or