Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!olivea!oliveb!amdahl!JUTS!duts!kls30 From: kls30@duts.ccc.amdahl.com (Kent L Shephard) Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Subject: Re: NeXT software size Message-ID: <84LR02ly072m01@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com> Date: 10 May 91 13:15:01 GMT References: <4d7Gypu=1@cs.psu.edu> <21316@cbmvax.commodore.com> Sender: netnews@ccc.amdahl.com Reply-To: kls30@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (Kent L. Shephard) Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA Lines: 88 In article <21316@cbmvax.commodore.com> daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie) writes: >As compared to what? The NeXT isn't architecturally that different than any >high-end personal computer. It is noticably different than traditional How many personal computers have 2 huge Fujitsu gate arrays with custom Channel Processors, 9 DMA channels on the cube, 8 on the slab. They operate very much like the Channel Processors found on mainframes. How many personal computers come with built in twisted pair and thin ethernet. How many come with a DSP integrated into the system with DMA support to peripherals. How many come with 17" monchrome or color. Architecturally the NeXT is about as different from anything else as you can possibly get. You could not just get DPS and emulate a NeXT like you can do with the Mac roms and a Mac, Atari, or Amiga for that matter. They have similar hardware. The NeXT does not. The NeXT has more in common, architecturally with a mainframe or mini than a PC. >workstations, like HP or Sun machines. It comes with a workstation sized >display, which lets you do workstation things with it. But it doesn't have >a faster hard disk controller than an A3000, or faster expansion bus (for >cubes only) than an A3000 or a MCA/EISA based PC Clone. Perhaps they ship a The expansion may not be faster but form factor is very large. You could fit 3x as much on NeXTbus card vs. MCA/EISA. Put 5 DSPs on a single card in a MCA/EISA PC or an Amiga --- I don't think so. >faster hard disk with it, which is the current limitation of the A3000 -- the >Quantums are good (apparently good enough for Sun; they ship them in all the >SparcStations we have), but if you can afford on, a Wren VI or any number of >HPs or Fujitsus will go faster. It is true that a NeXT '040 machine, as with >most any '040 machine, can compare favorably to modern low-end Workstations >like the SparcStation I. > >Thing is, not everyone wants a Workstation. They are good for certain >problems, but this latest "pizza box" trend is generating only closed boxes. >That's good if you need a specific amount of memory, display, etc. but not >so good if you're trying to suit a variety of needs. I could theoretically I disagree. If you want to fill a variety of needs, get something that has everything except the kitchen sink thrown in. Something that you can add lots of memory to (NeXTstation 32 meg, cube 64 meg). Display that will run all software made for the machine mono or color, etc. >replace my office A3000 here at work with a workstation; it has a 1000x800 >monochrome display, 200MB of disk space, and ethernet. I would have to >give up the 7 extra serial ports, but I could probably live with it. The ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just use a SCSI adapter and get eight out of the SCSI port. >BridgeCard could be replaced with a software emulator, since I'm not doing >much with it. Of course, since the Ethernet isn't a built-in, it costs a >bit more to hook this all up, I need an A2065 card. > >At home, forget it. I need my extra ports; I like two modems and a possibly >a fax attached, plus printers and an occasional extra hardware doohicky. I >may eventually need more memory than I can fit on the motherboard (obviously a >VM system can trade off speed for memory). When the time comes (in 4-5 years??) and you need more than 32 megabytes of real memory, it will probably be time for a new machine. > >In the lab, forget it completely. Too much stuff to hook up, plus occasional >special purpose boards, logic analyzer, scope, that kind of thing. Another >kind of lab may need other data acquisition cards, video devices, music >devices, etc. A workstation may have its place, but it is not a general >purpose solution. Use SCSI data aquisition or the DSP, it does work. No problem with music devices, we have midi support and the DSP. Other video on a slab is difficult but not impossible. Look at what you can do with a Mac SE or Classic, I've seen SCSI solutions to their video limitations. > >>Mark Gardner > >-- >Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests" > {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh PLINK: hazy BIX: hazy > "That's me in the corner, that's me in the spotlight" -R.E.M. -- /* -The opinions expressed are my own, not my employers. */ /* For I can only express my own opinions. */ /* */ /* Kent L. Shephard : email - kls30@DUTS.ccc.amdahl.com */