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From: ernest@cithep.caltech.edu (Ernest Prabhakar)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: listen up NeXT! (IBM RS/6000s running NeXTStep)
Message-ID: <1991May2.190241.6205@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 2 May 91 19:02:41 GMT
References: <1991May2.150710.17939@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>
Sender: news@nntp-server.caltech.edu
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 31

In article <1991May2.150710.17939@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu>  
feasterd@bronze.ucs.indiana.edu (Mickey Feaster) writes:
> bill@gothamcity.jsc.nasa.gov (Bill Shirley) writes:
> 
> >I haven't heard anything from IBM about a machine released with NeXT Step
> >( like maybe the RS6000 ).  
> 
> It seems to be an option that is available if you specifically request it, 
> but they're not going to bring it  up otherwise. Anyone know why? Are there 
> perhaps problems with their implementation?
> 

In a word, yes.  We (Caltech) have a ton of IBM RS/60000s, and we have ordered  
NeXTStep from IBM.  The RS/6000, while an impressive machine, is fairly buggy.   
What's worse, it runs AIX, which is a) unstable, and b) less functional for IPC  
than Mach.  NeXTStep 1.0 doesn't have color.  NeXTStep 2.0 uses Mach heavily  
(note the threads in WorkSpace Manager).  There are workarounds to fake Mach  
under AIX, but they are really slow.  So IBM is faced with the choice of:
	a) Releasing a product less functional that NeXTs (1.0)
	b) Releasing a product that is slower (due to various kludges).
Give the amount of flak they have gotten for their machines already, they  
apparently are reluctant to make themselves a bigger target.  We, however, are  
continuing to pester them, and it seems likely there will be SOMETHING  
available in the next couple of months.  I know a number of beta-sites exist;  
it is just a question of them having a technology level they aren't embarrased  
by.

--
Ernest N. Prabhakar,            Caltech High Energy Physics
ernest@pundit.cithep.caltech.edu            CaJUN President
"If we are out of our minds, it is for God." - II Cor 5:13a