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From: jess@gn.ecn.purdue.edu (Jess M Holle)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Desktop publishing
Keywords: desktop publishing
Message-ID: <1991Mar26.213042.8120@gn.ecn.purdue.edu>
Date: 26 Mar 91 21:30:42 GMT
References: <1991Mar25.024612.1264@mlb.semi.harris.com> <1991Mar26.053352.13091@mendelson.com> <1991Mar26.195213.12862@noose.ecn.purdue.edu>
Followup-To: comp.sys.next,comp.sys.mac.misc
Organization: Purdue University Engineering Computer Network
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In article <1991Mar26.195213.12862@noose.ecn.purdue.edu> songer@orchestra.ecn.purdue.edu (Christopher M Songer) writes:
>     Actually, I would have to differ with this analysis. I would stay
>away from the Mac due to Apple's (over)pricing. Their machines are fine
>but Apple is very much aware that they are the only mac maker and 
>set their prices accordingly. The mac market NEEDS compatibles to
>drive the prices down, but Apple has the machine locked tight with
>legal protection.
>
>     I would suggest that the choice for today is a PC. With Windows 3 and
>the associated applications, and with the comparitively low price of 
>relatively high powered PC compatibles -- PC's and applications are cheap,
>fast and available now.
>
>     I would also suggest that the choice for tomorrow may well be Next.
>Lotus went from conception to beta testing with Improv in much less than
>a year. Adobe Illustrator is coming out this month. While the current
>software availability is low, that seems to be changing quickly with
>the impact the new Next line is making. Next's are arguabily the
>performance per dollar leader right now and as a result, software
>houses are taking note.
>
>-Chris    /*I go to and work for Purdue -- I hope never to speak for it.*/

I would agree with your analysis of the Mac as being overpriced TO A DEGREE.
Having used Ventura on a PC for the past two summers, however, I would do
just about anything in my power to avoid EVER attempting desktop publishing
on a PC system again. I used a 20 MHz 286 most of the time, but did use 386s
and even 486s on several occasions. From this experience I conclude that for
GUI based desktop publishing the PC is pathetic. The speed on the 386s was
only on the order of that I would expect from a Mac Plus. Also, in response
to someones earlier post regarding Ventura as the top software choice, I
have never continued used a buggier piece of commercial software and
continued using it. Also, the integration of the various pieces of software
on the PC is more or less non-existant compared to the Mac. By this I mean
that integrating a simple CAD sketch and spreadsheet results into a document
is excrutiating painful on the PC when compared with the Mac, in our case
requiring the use of several DOS file translation tools. In short, I found 
the PC the epitome of unproductivity in the desktop publishing arena.

With regards to purchasing a Mac or Next, both are extremely promising
environments. The price/performance ratio on the Next is better, but the
number of programs available currently is only around 100. The Mac's 
pricing is somewhat steep, but has thousands of proven applications
available. Both are supposedly on approximately the same magnitude of ease 
of use. Admittedly, this poses a difficult choice. I personally am holding
onto my present Mac for a while to see how each platform shapes up (and to
save up enough money for either). Above all, I would be sure to avoid the
PC, however.

Jess Holle