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From: barry@pico.math.ucla.edu (Barry Merriman)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: (Ne)X(T) Terminals---a hot product idea?
Message-ID: <1991Apr25.084827.1475@math.ucla.edu>
Date: 25 Apr 91 08:48:27 GMT
Sender: news@math.ucla.edu
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Organization: UCLA Dept. of Math, UCLA Inst. for Fusion and Plasma Research
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Here's an idea: given the popularity of X Terminals, could there be 
a market for ``NeXT Terminals''?

We all agree that NeXT should not lower the quality of its computers
simply to produce a box they can sell for $2000. BUT---what if they
make something that has _no pretense_ of being a computer, but
rather just a smart NeXTStep display meant to run off a server over a network?

The cost reduction over a Slab would be big---no need for disk drives,
8MB RAM or 68040 (leave in the microphone, though!)---that cuts about
$1000 off production costs already (and most of the eliminated
stuff is not NeXT produced anyway.)

I bet they could sell the monochrome NeXT Terminal for $1500
($999 educational price) and a color one for $2500 ($1999 educational).
This would certainly provide a low cost ``color solution'' for
many users that want color.

There are two markets I can imagine: 

(1) medium--large networks for low-power users; for e.g., office settings
and educational computer labs, where the goal is to give as
much access as possible, but the typical user does not require
too many resources. A few loaded servers and a lot of NeXT Terminals
would be great, and the low entry price would get the NeXTs in the
door. (They'll want more, once they've had a taste!)

(2) a home machine for people with a NeXT at work; if your server
has SLip or PPP, a NeXT Terminal at home plus a 9600 baud
modem would be a great way to stretch one NeXT computer to other
locations. Maybe even have a printer port so that the
Terminal could fork stuff to a local printer. For < $3000 you could
get most of the benefit of the NeXT GUI and laserprinter at home.
(Actually, its much in the spirit of the NeXT Printer---they
put all its power in the remote host computerto cut costs; why not do 
the same with the display.)

I know universities would immediately load up on undergraduate NeXT Labs 
if the cost were ~ $1000 per seat (+ a tiny fraction of the server).
And this could solve the low cost color problem as well---
Businesses would love it too---even the secretaries could have NeXTs.
As it is, its often overkill to load up Slabs/Cubes for everyone---many users
just won't need all the power under the hood. All they really
need is the great interface and access to the great software---so why not 
offer them that as the entry level. That should further explode the
professional user base, and knowing NeXT, I bet they could get them out the
door within a year.

Comments?


--
Barry Merriman
UCLA Dept. of Math
UCLA Inst. for Fusion and Plasma Research
barry@math.ucla.edu (Internet)