Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!sdd.hp.com!spool.mu.edu!uunet!pmafire!uudell!sequoia!execu!cs.utexas.edu!ut-emx!ccwf.cc.utexas.edu From: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: Amiga OS *IS* state of the art, but the NeXT is better Message-ID: <46835@ut-emx.uucp> Date: 8 Apr 91 12:49:21 GMT Article-I.D.: ut-emx.46835 References: <1991Apr3.190802.11055@sugar.hackercorp.com> <1991Apr4.015311.19714@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> <46749@ut-emx.uucp> <_z8Gw7zh1@cs.psu.edu> Sender: news@ut-emx.uucp Reply-To: greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Greg Harp) Distribution: usa Organization: The University of Texas at Austin Lines: 48 In article <_z8Gw7zh1@cs.psu.edu> melling@cs.psu.edu (Michael D Mellinger) writes: >Let's consider the big educational discount. A 68040(has FPU built >in) machine with a 105MB hard drive, 8MB of RAM, a DSP, , a 2.88MB >floppy drive, a 17" 92dpi monochrome monitor(2 bit gray scale) with >only part of the software installed. What kind of Mac could you get >for that price($3300)? Of course we aren't interested in the Mac >here. I think $3300 will buy you a 105MB 25MHz Amiga 3000(how much >RAM? -- with Unix?). 8MB of RAM and a 105MB hard drive is not >optimal, but it is quite usable. How much space do you have free on >your hard disk? Did you miss reading my post? I didn't say the NeXT's discount was _bad_. I said the sales program was. Since I didn't quote what I said, I'll paraphrase the jist of it. Steve Jobs has started another of his dishonest programs where he sells an under-equipped version of a machine at a low initial price and then soaks the user for all subsequent purchases. He sells a Unix box which doesn't even have space for the release software, much less enough to do any work. Once the user figures out they need more, he sticks them with high-priced expansions. Most users don't know that they can buy regular 8-bit SIMMs instead of NeXT's $2995-per-8MB ones. Many don't know how to install a hard drive, and will have to pay some NeXT-specific person (how should they know that anyone could do it) to install it for them. Once Steve Jobs has his foot in your door he's also got his hand in your wallet. >You can get software from friends or a local users group, if one >exists. How did Amiga users deal with this when the Amiga was first >released? With 30,000 machines what kind of user groups can you expect? It's possible that you _might_ know someone else who owns a NeXT, but it's a small chance. >-Mike > >BTW: Lotus Improv was shipped free to users who bought their machines >before March 31. It wasn't included on the HD. My mistake. Of course, how do you put it on an already-full 105MB drive? :) BTW, how much does Improv cost now? Greg -- Greg Harp |"How I wish, how I wish you were here. We're just two |lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year, greg@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu|running over the same ground. What have we found? s609@cs.utexas.edu |The same old fears. Wish you were here." - Pink Floyd