Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ubvax!ardent!kmw
From: kmw@ardent.UUCP (Ken Wallich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: NeXT press release (very long but interesting)
Message-ID: <635@ardent.UUCP>
Date: 13 Oct 88 22:40:55 GMT
References: <5423@juniper.uucp> <72886@sun.uucp>
Reply-To: kmw@ardent.UUCP (Ken Wallich)
Organization: Ardent Computer
Lines: 42

In article <72886@sun.uucp> swilson@sun.UUCP (Scott Wilson) writes:
>>   The other VLSI chip, the Optical Storage Processor, controls the
>>256 Megabyte Optical Disk, making possible this new storage technology
>>The Optical Disk combines the vast storage capacities, removability
>>and reliability of laser technology with the fast access and full
>>read/write/erase capabilities of Winchester (magnetic) technology.
>
>Hmm, this looks suspicious to me.  Note that the the terms "vast
>storage capacities", "removability", and "reliability" are used to
>describe laser technology while "full read/write/erase" capabilites
>are associated with Winchester (magnetic) technology.  Does this mean
>that it is nothing more than CD-ROM and an old-fashioned hard disk
>packaged together?  

I find it odd that you interpret the phrase this way.  I see only one device
mentioned, a 256 Meg Optical Disc, it's features are that it has
lots of storage on a reliable, removable optical disc, which is also
fast and allows you to read/write/erase, just like the 'ol magnetic discs
everyone else is so fond of, and that everyone currently associates with
read/write/erase.  Nothing suspicious to me.  If you are distrustful
of the optical stuff, you can buy one of two traditional magnetic discs
to go along with it, but they are not standard.

One omission I noticed was that there was no mention of serial ports, or
an integral modem.  I guess I have to hook it up via ethernet to a box that 
*does* have serial ports (like perhaps, a Mac? :-) if I want to hook up my 
Telebits to it?  Also there were no specs given on how 'fast' the optical 
drive is.  I've heard rumors of a 28ms average access time, which is ok, 
but not all that quick, and no mention of transfer rates, etc.  It would 
be a waste to not have a screeming drive on a 4mb/sec SCSI.

Anyone else notice that there was no mention of what the RETAIL price would
be?  Granted, it is cheaper than a MacII for students (who won't be seeing
any of them any time soon), but how about for 'the rest of us'?  Anyone know
what the depth of the grayscale is?  8bit? 24bit?  And a two button mouse,
how quaint.  Perfectly suited for Xwindows, when it's ported.  Sounds like
a cute box, can't wait to see how it performs on the street.

-- 
Ken Wallich 			 	
Ardent Computer Corp		kmw@ardent.com
Sunnyvale, California, USA      "chance is the fools name for fate"