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From: matthews@lewhoosh.umd.edu (Mike Matthews)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Some dumb questions . . .
Message-ID: <8316@umd5.umd.edu>
Date: 24 Mar 91 15:03:57 GMT
References: <16755@chopin.udel.edu>
Sender: news@umd5.umd.edu
Organization: Computer Science Center, University of Maryland, College Park
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[btw, this:
Newsgroups: radel@chopin.udel.edu
doesn't exist.. wonder if it's a problem on your end or mine ..]

In article <16755@chopin.udel.edu> radel@chopin.udel.edu (Todd Radel) writes:
>I realize this has probably been convered before, and I'm very sorry.
>But I'm thinking of buying a NeXTstation and I've got a couple of
>questions for current users out there...

That's what this group is for, actually.  Well, one of its purposes.

>(1) I see by everyone's .sig files that most people with NeXTs are
>    Comp.Sci. majors, engineers, etc.  I've heard that it's a great
>    machine for desktop publishing/writing (with PostScript, FrameMaker,
>    etc.).  Has anyone used a NeXT for this purpose?  What are your
>    experiences with DTP?

The NeXT was made for DTP.  That is why it uses Display PostScript.  I wish I
had FrameMaker, or *something* but I don't so that is all I can comment on.

>(2) How easy is it to share files with IBM's?  With Macs?

With IBMs, just stick the 3.5" MS DOS floppy in.  Lotus Improv reads 123
files like a charm, NeXT WP handles IBM WP 5.{0,1} files nicely as well.  Not
sure of any other specific apps.

Macs, on the other hand, require some sort of net link, either serial or
TCP/IP.

>(3) How good is the WriteNow/FrameMaker combination?  Should I buy
>    WordPerfect to go with FrameMaker?

WP needs some improvement.  I would hazard a guess that WriteNow would be
good enough in conjunction with FrameMaker.

>(4) Is it worth using the NeXT as a standalone workstation, or should
>    it be tied in to a Unix network?  (We've got plenty of 'em, so
>    this wouldn't be too difficult!  ;-)

Nets are always more fun.

>(5) Is 8Mb of RAM and a 105Mb hard disk big enough?  Some of the threads
>    lately have made it sound like 8Mb isn't enough.  (It's eight times
>    the amount I've got now, so... :-)

Hell no.  I would add in another ~ $800 for a 20M RAM upgrade, and would
seriously consider getting at least another 200M of HD.  Since you can get
660's for a little over $1400, I'd add that in too.

>(6) How easy is it to get shareware/add-ons?

Shareware is a simple ftp session.  Not sure what you mean about add-ons.

>(7) What about using a NeXT with a modem?

What about it?  It's doable.  Might take some Unix magic if you want dial-in
as well as dial-out.

>I guess that's enough questions for now.
>Please e-mail replies to radel@chopin.udel.edu.  Thanks for your help!

I posted 'cause other people might want to know too.

>-- Todd Radel
>   (probably the only English major to consider a NeXT!!)

With Shakespeare and Webster and Oxford Quotations online, I doubt it.
------
Mike Matthews, matthews@lewhoosh.umd.edu (NeXT)/matthews@umdd (bitnet)
------
"Honest Officer, had I known my health stood in jeprody I would never had lit
one."     - Maxim of the Hells Angels