Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!munnari!murtoa.cs.mu.oz.au!ditmela!diemen!tasis!ben From: ben@tasis.utas.oz (Ben Lian) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Re: Mac pricing and the future of the Mac Message-ID: <874@tasis.utas.oz> Date: 24 Mar 89 14:01:04 GMT References: <12101@reed.UUCP> <864@tasis.utas.oz> <42206779.a590@mag.engin.umich.edu> Organization: Elec Eng & Comp Sci, Uni of Tasmania, Australia Lines: 60 In article <42206779.a590@mag.engin.umich.edu> billkatt@caen.engin.umich.edu (billkatt) writes: >In article <864@tasis.utas.oz> ben@tasis.utas.oz (Ben Lian) writes: >>one last time), then toss out the IIcx for a NeXT when the software for >>it matures in about 1 to 1-1/2 years' time. I'll bet you that NeXT has >>really got Apple worried, eh? Just as commercial companies aim to >>maximise the profit of the shareholders, you should aim to maximise what >>you get out of the good money you pay for a PC. To heck with allegiances >>if another company produces a better machine, and there is good software >>for it as well. >> >>BTW, I don't know if NeXT is going to be able to hold their pricing on >>their machine. The $6,500 announced for their base configuration is >>almost too good to be true. >> >What would you be content with? There is always something better. As for >a company making a better machine, the NeXT isn't it. Besides, there is no >software for it. [Deleted description of problems with NeXT and praise of the Decstation 3100.] >I just don't see how so many people can be duped with the newest media darling, >when what they have does everything they want. As for Apple being scared, I >don't think the NeXT keeps them awake at night. Ah ha! Someone took my bait! And Touche! Point is that it is very to get any objective assessments of new products except through lengthy hands-on use. I read the write-ups in BYTE and MacWorld and thought that the machine was just too good to be true. HOWEVER, assuming that the descriptions of the O/S are accurate, then there may yet be salvation for the machine. We'll just have to wait and see. I suspect that the original enthusiasm for NeXT was caused by the apparently good price/performance ratio. As for being content with the Mac family, I am, by and large, but NOT with their pricing here in Australia. You should see how much we pay for them, even from the Consortium. I am a long time Apple owner, having worked my way through a II+, a IIe, a Fat Mac and now a Mac Plus, and have seen the way Apple's prices have jinked up and down. But then, I guess business is business, and the only thing to do is to grin and bear it. And to repeat what I said in my previous posting, if you are in the market for a new machine and you see better value for money elsewhere, there is no reason to remain loyal to a brand if it doesn't provide what you perceive it should. I've stuck with Apple this far, but they are starting to get a little too expensive. -- bl ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Benjamin Y H Lian ACSnet: ben@tasis.utas.oz Dept. of EE & CS ARPA : ben%tasis.utas.oz.au@uunet.uu.net University of Tasmania BITnet: munnari!tasis.utas.oz!ben@ GPO Box 252C uunet.uu.net (I think) Hobart, Tasmania 7001 UUCP : {enea,hplabs,mcvax,uunet,ukc}! A U S T R A L I A munnari!tasis.utas.oz!ben -----------------------------------------------------------------------