Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!helios.physics.utoronto.ca!ists!yunexus!philip From: philip@yunexus.yorku.ca (Phil McDunnough) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: IIgs ROM revisions (was: Support Apple IIs) Message-ID: <22202@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Date: 2 Apr 91 00:06:15 GMT References: <8259@crash.cts.com> <13917@darkstar.ucsc.edu> <22190@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Sender: news@yunexus.YorkU.CA Organization: York University, Toronto, Ont. Lines: 80 In article declan@remus.rutgers.edu (Declan McCullagh/LZ) writes: [lot's gone...] >I didn't know MIDI software and games fall under the heading of >"peripheral devices." As for a color printer - any color PostScript >one will work. And the NeXT uses SCSI CD-ROM drives. I know that midi programs and games don't fall under the category of peripherals. I was just leafing through a dealer catalogue for PC's (MS-DOS) and workstations( Sun and Dec). I could list you thousands of devices that you can get for very little money for PC's. But the corresponding prices for workstations are just very high. As for SCSI, typically peripheral devices that use it are expensive. CD-ROM's for PC's can be had for $200. Price out the ones for the Sun's. Also have a look at fax modems. They exist now for PC's at 9600/9600. That will no doubt come about in the future for workstations, but I doubt they will cost the same.I wish you would stop bringing up the NeXT as that computer is a "fence" computer. It is aimed at the high end micro market, even though software for it isn't inexpensive( like Mac sw). I feel more comfortable talking about Sun's and Iris's and RS6000's and HP-UX workstations. Look at the software costs( and the maintenance). Since you bring up the NeXT however, please let me know how to get a colour system for a cube for $2000. Not everyone is a graphic artist. Moreover, where are the graphics' libraries for it? Cost? However, I'm digressing. >True, software prices aren't necessarily going to be as cheap as they >are in the PC community. But I haven't had to BUY anything for my >NeXT yet. The included software and the excellent shareware and >freeware that you so casually dismiss serve my purposes famously. Well, I'm glad they serve your purpose. The NeXT is the exception. So stop using it as an example. However, try getting a tektronics 4014 terminal emulator for it. >And companies like Lighthouse Design are offering their products at >something like $25 - student prices. That's just a little less than $500. Oh please. First of all they are really the exception. Moreover that is a student price. I have the catalogue, and supplements, in front of me. Let's see. Well, here's a nice Fortran compiler. Educational price $800. >> The 105 NeXTstation is not usable. In any case, would you please quote >> some maintenance figures. These things break you know. > >Sorry, but I beg to differ. I have a 105 MB NeXTstation in my room >right now, networked to my cube. It's working fine. That's right, you had to network it to the cube( does it have a larger hard drive, perhaps?) in order to get it to work properly. Again, why won't you state some maintenance costs. Your NeXT products may not break, but that is neither here nor there. If the things were indestructible NeXT would offer a longer warranty. Even HP gives you 3 years. >If you're talking about HD space, I can free up to 50 -60 MB on a 105 >MB system - that's quite usable. As for RAM, add it yourself later, >if you must. You lose too much of the NeXT by doing that. I never claimed RAM was expensive. >> Again you miss the point. Need I repeat myself. Workstations cost more >> to own. It wouldn't matter if they were free. > >Again, you fail to make one. I understand what you're saying and >disagree with you. I speak from years of personal experience. How >about you? Since we've gotten down to the bottom line, I can assure you that I've been at this stuff since before you started grade school. That being said, of all the high end computers I've used the NeXT is my favorite. I do have an SE/30 and a IIci gathering dust, and a GS which I use a lot. Maintenance costs matter to me. They may not to you. >-Declan Philip McDunnough philip@utstat.utoronto.ca (NeXT/GS mail)