Path: utzoo!censor!geac!torsqnt!hybrid!scifi!bywater!uunet!sdrc!wggabb
From: wggabb@sdrc.UUCP (Rob Gabbard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Basic questions from a potential Next customer
Keywords: next
Message-ID: <813@sdrc.UUCP>
Date: 31 Jan 91 04:11:46 GMT
Organization: SDRC, Cincinnati
Lines: 39

After picking up NeXTWorld from Walden Software tonight and reading just the
15 page NeXT ad and the article on the NeXTstation, I am ready to sell my 
Amiga 2500 to raise money toward the purchase of the $4995 NeXTstation.  Yes,
I know I'm sacrificing color, upgradability and loads of software (all those
games !!! :-) but what the hell - I'm getting a UNIX-based machine with what
appears to be the most sophisticated development environment available. You
see, I'm a UNIX diehard that spends his 8 hr. day pumping out X Window,
HP Starbase 3D graphics and O/S interface code. Trust me though, XNeXT doesn't
interest me - why drive a CHEvette when you have a CORvette readily available.

However, before I leap I had better look. Can someone e-mail with any info
they have on the following topics ? (These all apply to the $4995 config.)

	- How much is the 340mb disk option ? Is it an internal replacement
	  for the 105mb disk or an external peripheral ?

	- The NeXT ad said that the NeXTstep development environment was
	  available for the asking on the NeXTstation. Does this mean that
	  its free ?  Since the O/S takes up around 70mb (according to the
	  article) how much does the development environment take ?

	- Is Mathematica bundled only with academic purposes ?

	- Can you print to PostScript printers connected via Ethernet or
	  over Appletalk such as DEC LPS20s or Laserwriters ?

	- Does WriteNow have the option to output PostScript to a file rather 
	  than a printer ? This would allow me to upload the output to work 
	  for printing rather than having to buy a laser printer at home.

	- I've seem several horror stories about Businessland.  Is there any
	  other source for the NeXTstation in the Cincinnati area ?

Thanks in advance,

-- 
Rob Gabbard 				    UUCP: uunet!sdrc!wggabb
Technical Development Engineer   	INTERNET: wggabb%sdrc@uunet.uu.net
Structural Dynamics Research Corporation