Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!aplcen!wb3ffv!ka3ovk!raysnec!shwake
From: shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: NeXT to go with 88K (?)
Message-ID: <293@raysnec.UUCP>
Date: 14 Apr 91 17:05:45 GMT
References: <151480@pyramid.pyramid.com><1991Apr10.215125.28932@neon.Stanford.EDU> <2473@fornax.UUCP> <SCOTT.91Apr12221422@mcs-server.gac.edu>
Organization: IRS/CI - Technical Solutions Branch
Lines: 36

scott@mcs-server.gac.edu (Scott Hess) writes:

>First, consider the time-frame we are talking about here - realistically,
>the processor has not even been truly announced, yet (or so they're
>saying), meaning that any machine based on it is probably 18 to 24
>months out.  By that time, there had darn well better be at least one
>more generate of NeXT out there - else, I'm very worried for the market.

	This isn't necessarily the case. Given the upward compatibility
of the 88000 and 88100, announcement and delivery could follow in short
order. As an analogy, industry observers expect product announcements to
*accompany* Intel's release of the first 486SX.

>But, seriously, there will certainly be another processor after the
>next one used, be it CISC or RISC.  The 68000 class of machines is
>over ten years old, and though it's not a bad architecture, it
>can't hurt to open some windows and let in some fresh air.  After
>all, ten years is about 12 hardware generations or so . . .

	This line of thinking could, as well, argue that the internal
combustion engine is dated because it's 100+ years old.

>I'd bet that any RISC machine NeXT comes out with is going to be a
>prime opportunity for them to recoup some of the profit margins they
>are missing now - after all, you've gotta charge more for the fast
>machine than you do for the slow one, else no one'll buy the slow
>one!  So, don't expect the 88110 (was that the right number) based
>NeXT, should it ever exist, to cost $3300 educational pricing . . .
>rather, it will cost $8000, while the 40Mhz '040 version that's sold
>in the same time-frame will probably be $3000 . . .

	Now we're in the realm of sheer speculation and wishful thinking.
Some of us have better things to do with our time.

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