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From: csimmons@hqpyr1.oracle.UUCP (Charles Simmons)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.misc,comp.os.misc,comp.misc,comp.arch
Subject: Re: The NeXT machine has been announced! (long)
Keywords: 256 MB is a lot or not enough
Message-ID: <455@oracle.UUCP>
Date: 18 Oct 88 01:52:52 GMT
References: <360@elan.UUCP> <2070@cloud9.UUCP> <528@fabscal.UUCP> <1152@mmm.UUCP>
Sender: news@oracle.uucp
Reply-To: csimmons@oracle.UUCP (Charles Simmons)
Organization: Oracle Corporation, Belmont CA
Lines: 27

In article <1152@mmm.UUCP> schultz@mmm.UUCP (John C Schultz) writes:
>Case A) - Software Distribution.
>
>It would seem that the best cost/performance ratio would occur if removable
>media were sized to typical distribution software.  I can just see people
>paying $50 media costs for 500 KB of data.  Even large programs such as GNU
>EMACS, TeX, and X11R2 fit on a 45 MB tape with room to spare.  WHAT TAKES 256
>MB to distribute??  It is easy to use 256 MB but not with one distribution. Oh
>I forgot about the complete works of Shakspeare to which I refer at least
>daily :-).
>-- 
>   john c. schultz         schultz@mmm.3m.UUCP          (612) 733-4047

I've been hearing stories about how DEC distributes software.  Basically,
DEC sends you a read-only compact disk that contains all of their
software.  If you want a piece of software on the disk, you call
up an 800 number at DEC, tell them what you want to buy, and they
give you an access code.  You then pop the CD in your system,
and copy the desired software using the access code.  Great stuff.
You don't have to wait around for the software to arrive once you
decide you want to buy it.  Instant Gratification!

So, imagine a software publisher acquiring useful pieces of software
from a number of programming houses, packaging all the software together
on one disk, and distributing the disk...

-- Chuck