Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!aero-c!gumby.dsd.trw.com!deneva!news
From: thomsen@spf.trw.com (Mark R. Thomsen)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: New HP machines Bad News for NeXT??
Message-ID: <283883B4.2103@deneva.sdd.trw.com>
Date: 21 May 91 02:19:31 GMT
References: <1991May20.143857.1071@hulaw1.harvard.edu>
Sender: news@deneva.sdd.trw.com
Organization: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 46

roth2@hulaw1.harvard.edu writes
  I just read in the wallstreet journal that HP will officially
  anounce it's "proffesional workstation" today, one based on the
  same '040 the NeXT uses. Interestingly, it will cost about the
  same as a station (and less than a cube) (around $5000 I think
  it said) and HP has *already sold* 10,000 of these babies!! Does
  anyone have any idea what they'll be running on that hardware?
  If it's anything decent, this would appear to be BAD NEWS for
  NeXT (no?).
  
  Tony Roth

This is my silly philosophical response, but a valid one from a
particular point of view.

How does the song go? "It's not the meat, it's the motion." HP is
starting to get more attractive computers on the market. But they
are, so far, 1980 computer systems - a box with a CPU, some
memory, some storage, minimal system software. HP sells VUE which
is weak relative to NeXTstep. Until HP moves up the scale on
programming, bundled functionality, and other things of value,
around here they will be just another evaluation system.

Every month or two a new system will be announced with a blazing
new CPU, claiming to make all before it pale. It is becoming a
background buzz to these tired ears. Sparc, MIPS, i860, RIOS,
Sparc 2, Snake, 80586, 68050, ... None of this is diverting
anymore because they are all doing a fine job on the CPU without
doing a decent job on the rest of the system aspects that seem
to count more and more these days - imaging standards, software
environment, telecommunications at human-to-human level, ratio
of performance and cost, and inspiration to do a better job when
using the computer as a tool.

I think that quickie sales for an established company is similar
to tradein return sales with cars - loyalty due to comfort is
good business, but is not the same thing as a new company with
a new product making their first sales. If HP sold 10,000 new
machines then they will continue to have a good year. However,
I imagine most of those 10,000 are machines that HP would have
sold with another machine anyway. Having this months whizzy CPU
does not make for a revolution or a reason why NeXT will die.

Answer: No.

Mr T