Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ncar!tank!nucsrl!accuvax.nwu.edu!bob
From: bob@accuvax.nwu.edu (Bob Hablutzel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Re: Apple's APDA: G'bye Amateurs & Fans (really defending A.P.P.L.E.)
Message-ID: <10330132@accuvax.nwu.edu>
Date: 11 Feb 89 15:42:56 GMT
References: <1728@cps3xx.UUCP>
Organization: Northwestern U, Evanston IL, USA
Lines: 50

>> I find it interesting that Next is contrasted with APDA in this
>> regard.  Next's tech docs cost $250 for the set.  Admittedly, they
>> seem to consist of a huge amount of info, and may be worth the price.
>> But they are clearly out of the hands of many "amateurs".

>This is interesting.  I recently decided to begin some serious yet 
>amateur programming.  I have tried to economize and always buy the best
>bargains, but I would not skimp if it meant incomplete documentation:

>Macintosh				NeXT

>Inside Mac I, II, IV, V:      $110	Objective C compiler	$free
>LightspeedC 2.15	       $95	Interface builder	$free
>Mac Prog. Secrets (mistake)   $25	Documentation (1000+pp) $250
>Turbo Pascal Prog (tutorial)  $25
>Mactutor (3 issues)	       $12

>		total:       $267				$250

>With the NeXT box, you also end up with an interface builder.  The
>automatic interface builders for the mac cost $100 or so, I believe.
>So the NeXT box is cheaper to program than the macintosh, when you
>think about it.  Furthermore, the interface builder is a double-edged
>sword -- it (a) speeds up UI generation (extremely tedious work), and
>(b) is a great teaching/learning aid for the beginning programmer.


>Everyone knows the macintosh is too expensive to program.  Apple is
>just exploiting this fact.


Shall we make the list complete? We are talking about the beginning programmer,
not the professional, right? So:

	Macintosh				Next

	Mac Plus (or SE)	About $2-3000	Next box	$6500

If we are talking about the random beginning programmer, the Next box isn't
even obtainable. If we are talking about a random student programmer, the
Mac is still cheaper to start on than the Next. If we are talking about a 
professional programmer, the difference in price will be quickly made up by
the greater market potential of the Mac.

Bottom line: Until the Next machine is available to businesses, it ain't
worth it.

Bob 

Bob Hablutzel	Wildwood Software	BOB@NUACC.ACNS.NWU.EDU