Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!osborn From: osborn@cs.utexas.edu (John Howard Osborn) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: Re: Risc rumors and Tao7 Message-ID: <18424@cs.utexas.edu> Date: 9 Mar 91 20:12:58 GMT References: Organization: U. Texas CS Dept., Austin, Texas Lines: 50 In article shawn@chaos.cs.brandeis.edu (Shawn Broderick) writes: >I've heard serious rumours that NeXT is going to make some major >announcements this fall. We all just sorta shook our heads and >wondered what big things they could possibly be working on that none >of us know anything about. I'll make some guesses: (Speculation is SO much fun!) NeXT will come out with a card that contains 4 68040s with associated support chips and RAM to allow transparent multiprocessing. A lower cost version of the NeXTdimension board will be available. It won't contain the video capture or image compression hardware and it will basically be a low-cost color option for the Cube. (Some other company, like SuperMac or Radius may beat NeXT to the punch with their own lower-cost color solution. Who will undersell whom? We'll see.) NeXT will eventually ship a CD-ROM containing the latest system software and a full set of on-line documentation. Somebody, probably not NeXT, will ship a card that allows the current gray-scale monitor to display 8 to 16 bit deep gray-scale. This card will drive cheaper displays as well, allowing for a multiheaded gray-scale cube. Release 2.1 might include support for non-NeXT, non-postscript printers, such as the HP DeskJet, HP LaserJet, and Canon BubbleJet. The software will work like Eric Scott's iwf or Sun's NewsPrint (which already allows this). The software will include hooks to easily plug in support for new printers. If it isn't in Release 2.1 it will wait until 3.0. 3.0 will include still more ready-to-use objects for interface builder, including the database kit demoed at the 68040 introduction. And, most importantly, NeXT will begin shipping spiffy black coffee cups and mousepads displaying the NeXT logo. (Do YOU have your full NeXT collection of napkins, pencils, Tshirts, sweatshirts, and mug?) Disclaimer: Despite my best efforts, I don't work for NeXT or anybody having to do with NeXT. I have *NO* access to inside information, but I do read trade magazines and netnews very carefully. Don't email me asking for details about this vaporware, because I havn't got any and I'll ignore you. :) - -John H. Osborn -osborn@cs.utexas.edu