Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!bu.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!bloom-picayune.mit.edu!athena.mit.edu!trims
From: trims@athena.mit.edu (Erik G Trimble)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Low End NeXTs (was Re: Desktop publishing)
Message-ID: <1991Apr3.195018.19319@athena.mit.edu>
Date: 3 Apr 91 19:50:18 GMT
References: <14483@life.ai.mit.edu> <4753@lectroid.sw.stratus.com> <34936@athertn.Atherton.COM> <14575@life.ai.mit.edu>
Sender: news@athena.mit.edu (News system)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Lines: 58

In article <14575@life.ai.mit.edu>, petrilli@geech.gnu.ai.mit.edu (Chris Petrilli) writes:
|> 
|> I don't think I agree... the NeXT wasn't a dog with the 030, but it
|> was close, the software spectacular, the hardware a littel boring.

I happen to possess an '030 cube with a hard drive and 2.0 running on it and,
sure it's not the neat '040, but it runs alot faster than the entry level
Mac Classic or '286 Clones.   Remember, this is supposed to be an entry-level
system, NOT a power-user.  I say go with a 40Mhz '030/'882 combo (incluing 
of course the 25Mhz 56001)

|> Another program is that there is no upgrade path with the Station,
|> perhaps a "processor card" (about big enough to hold the '040) would
|> be the right way to go, then I would say that an '030 would be OK,
|> becuase then people could upgrade at a later date.  I agree, however,
|> that the networking MUST stay, the NeXT can't deliver on its
|> "interpersonal computing" promis without it, though I wouldn't mind if
|> the twisted pair disappeared :-), as I never thought it a sound
|> approach electrically, too many problems.

Yeah, a big problem of the Stations is no expandability. an '030 Direct Slot
would be nice on a low-cost NeXT. But, never underestimate the ability of
those crazy 3rd-party developers to make clip-on accellorators for the CPU.
(like most CPU-upgrades for Macs).   I agree tha Networking must say, but leave
twisted pair in, too. Thin-wire can be pretty expensive, and remember, this is
supposed to be a LOW-cost NeXT.


|> 
|> >The real question is can NeXT make enough money even if the sales volume
|> >is high? They need to have good enought profit margins to stay alive.
|> 
|> Yes, they can survive with a little bit more volume :-), I believ
|> their factory is capable of roughly 100,000 machines/year, more then
|> enough, and they could always build anouther.
|>  .....
|> Chris
|> 
|> --
|>  
|> + Chris Petrilli
|> | Internet:  petrilli@gnu.ai.mit.edu
|> + Insert silly disclaimer drivel here.


I think NeXT would have no problem maintaining profitability if they sold low-end 
NeXTs. Profit margin on each low-end may be considerably lower than on the
Stations and Cubes, but hey, that's why you sell them in HIGH VOLUME.

To Summerize, here's my vote for a low-end NeXT (NeXT, are you listening? ;-)  )
40Mhz 68030/68882,   25Mhz 56001 DSP,   Thin and twisted pair Ethernet,
SCSI-I (note!),   8 SIMMS sockets, 2.88 Floppy, on-board video, '030 Direct Slot,
and options for 80/105/200 MB  3.5 hard drive

Would be nice to see retail for this (inc. Monitor + keyboard) around $3000.
(maybe H.E. around $2000) for 80 HD / 8 RAM  version.

-Erik