Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!samsung!olivea!uunet!stanford.edu!eos!aio!gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov!bill From: bill@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Bill Shirley) Newsgroups: comp.sys.next Subject: listen up NeXT! Message-ID: <1991May2.133857.21752@aio.jsc.nasa.gov> Date: 2 May 91 13:38:57 GMT Sender: shirley@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Bill Shirley) Organization: Software Technology Branch - NASA/JSC Lines: 44 listen up NeXT... I haven't heard anything from IBM about a machine released with NeXT Step ( like maybe the RS6000 ). It seems to me either one of two things is happening: 1) IBM wants to release such a product, but NeXT is being a tightwad about their "official" agreement or 2) IBM is dilly dallying and NeXT is not waving the proverbial carrot in their faces, or reminding them what a great environment it is and how much users would love it. It seems to me there are no technical reasons for the delay; Display PostScript is already available and (from what I've heard) NeXT Step has been ported. Such a realease by IBM (no I'm not an IBM advocate, just the thought of a dark suit or a tie gives me a rash) would not only get self serving, quasi-informed journalists from Forbes of NeXT's back (or was she jumping on Jobs' back, my view of the mud pit was obscured) but it would provide an 'upscale' market for application that have been/are being/will be developed on the NeXT. It will also give other developers the extra push they needed to get into the NeXT application market. As much as NeXT/Jobs may want to 'make it on their own' without any 'help' from that three letter word company, or leave them in the unenlightened past, IBM has enough momentum to stay arround for quite a while. It is apparent that IBM has recognized that users are going to demand ease of use and an intuitive interface (witnessed by that braindead product from MS on top of that braindead OS). It seems if IBM doesn't decide than NeXT Step should be supported on any of their machines, then, eventually, they'll end up developing and designing their own. This would not only be an enourmous waste of man power on IBM's part, but it would fragment the developer base. This would end up costing end users everywhere! What do you think net? What do you think NeXT? O.K. I`ll get off my soap box now and wait for someone to start spewing fire my way. -Bill Shirley