Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!husc6!encore!gloom!cory
From: cory@gloom.UUCP (Cory Kempf)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: NeXT secrets
Summary: an answer or two?
Message-ID: <157@gloom.UUCP>
Date: 17 Oct 88 16:32:40 GMT
References: <15478@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>
Sender: news@husc6.harvard.edu
Organization: Alloy Computer Products, Framingham, Mass.
Lines: 59

In article <15478@agate.BERKELEY.EDU>, 128a-3aj@e260-3b.berkeley.edu (Jonathan Dubman) writes:
> There's no comp.sys.next yet, so this goes here.

I don't suppose that you get the alt net?  they have alt.next...
 
> 4.  Color.  The San Jose Mercury News had an article entitled "Maybe next
>     year."  I realize it was impractical right now, but it is obviously the
>     way of the future.  By the way, does PostScript/Display PostScript
>     have any hooks for color?

I have seen a demo of Display Postscript (MacWorld SF, 88) on a variety
of platforms (uVax, PS/2, MacII, Sun).  It looked pretty good.  I wonder
about it's practicle speed (as opposed to the cute demo).  Also, will it
become a standard?  If so, it would make developing portable graphics app's 
much easier!   Oh yes, before I forget, it was in colour on everything
but the PS/2. 

> 6.  Mac software.  Let's be realistic; I don't care how great the user-
>     interface is, the Mac user-interface is darned good and there's tons of
>     software for it.  I think of turning my nose down at the PC-compatibility
>     question when the Mac came out, complaining "Who would want to run PC
>     software?", which I still believe, but the Mac is a different story.
>     The software is good.  I am sure the machine COULD run Mac software.
>     If an Atari ST can run Mac software (I actually saw it!) then this can.
>     I can only see it benefitting from the capability.  The question is, what
>     does Apple think on that issue?  Do they feel threatened by the machine?

Ok, let us be realistic... porting from one brand of unix to another is
fairly simple.  In a recent job search, there were several companies that
I interviewed with that were in the process of porting to the UNIX 
workstation market from either MS-DOS or Mac.  Including two well known
spreadsheet/database manufacturers.  Also, Foxbase (a dbase clone) has 
been on UNIX (well, xenix) for quite a while.  For that matter, look at
all of the software that comes with UNIX, as well as all of the software
that is posted to the net. (NB: look at the 'sources archives).
 
> And, finally, the big question:
> 
> 8. Who do they REALLY intend to sell this machine to?  Come on- Steve Jobs
>    does not set his sights low.  And to be honest, the higher education market
>    just doesn't strike me as that big with the current bureaucracy.  I just
>    can't see students shelling out eight grand for a computer, especially with
>    today's college prices.  [...]

I don't know about you, but I am planning on going back to school for a 
semester (or at least long enough to purchase the beaste).

for that matter, several schools are making the purchase of a computer part
of the tuition.  I can see schools bundling a NeXT in with the tuition for
a BS program.

Practically, I want to get my hands on one for a few hours (days?) to 
test drive it.  I mean you don't blow $10K ($20K? $30K? etc?) on a car
without at least a test drive.  Is it really as good as it looks?

-- 
Cory Kempf
UUCP: {decvax, bu-cs}!encore!gloom!cory
revised reality... available at a dealer near you.