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From: brian@umbc4.umbc.edu (Brian Cuthie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: Request for Next to supply OS on cd-rom
Message-ID: <1991Jun20.140223.23302@umbc3.umbc.edu>
Date: 20 Jun 91 14:02:23 GMT
References: <1991Jun20.124105.11139@umbc3.umbc.edu>
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Organization: Univ. of Maryland Baltimore County, Academic Computing Services
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In article <1991Jun20.124105.11139@umbc3.umbc.edu> jack@umbc4.umbc.edu (Jack Suess) writes:
>Hello,
>I am fairly new to the NeXT community, having just purchased my slab a week
>ago so excuse me if this topic has been discussed before.
>
>I would like to propose that next release the full OS developement environment
>on CD-ROM. Since CD-ROM drives can be had <$400 and the mastering cost is
>very low for the media a cd-rom should only add a small amount to the cost.

	(some very good points about why we should have CD-ROM on the NeXT)

>Jack Suess                           UMBC Academic Computing
>Internet: Jack@umbc5.umbc.edu        Standard Disclaimer:
>Bitnet: Jack@umbc                    The opinions expressed above are mine and
>ATT: 301.455.2582                    not my employers.


Jack makes some fine points.  I would like to add the following:

So long as we are on the CD thing, what would be really nice is if NeXT would
release the sources to some of the standard apps that ship with the box.
For example, it would be great to have the source to Digital Librarian.  While
it is a fine app, it could (like many other things) benefit from some 
refinements and tweeking.  It's not clear that NeXT has anything to lose doing
this, since the apps require so much of the NeXTStep environment that they
are easier to re-write than to steal.

With the number of 'programmers' buying NeXTstations right now, wouldn't 
it be neat if NeXT released the source to say, digital librarian, and then
held a contest.  Each entrant would submit an enhanced version of the program
back to NeXT for judging.  NeXT would choose the entry with the best new 
features and cleanest implementation.  The author would be rewarded with a 
nice new color slab.  The rest of us would be rewarded with a new Digital
Librarian with enhanced functionality.

What do you think ?

-brian