Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!pdn!oz!alan
From: alan@oz.nm.paradyne.com (Alan Lovejoy)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Next computer (Re: CISC Silent Spring)
Message-ID: <7341@pdn.paradyne.com>
Date: 6 Feb 90 15:38:06 GMT
References: <8859@portia.Stanford.EDU<
Sender: usenet@pdn.paradyne.com
Reply-To: alan@oz.paradyne.com (Alan Lovejoy)
Organization: AT&T Paradyne, Largo, Florida
Lines: 41

In article <8859@portia.Stanford.EDU< underdog@portia.Stanford.EDU (Dwight Joe) writes:
<My suspicions are confirmed.  The NEXT computer is in trouble.

Agreed.

<NEXT can only be saved if Steve Jobs replaces the 680X0
<with RISC processor like the Sparc chip.  In all compute
<intensive applications, the Sparcstation I beats the NEXT
<timewise.  Worse, NEXT costs MORE than a Sparstation I.

Well, he has lots of choices here.  I don't see why SPARC is to be
preferred, since it's just about the slowest of the RISC architectures.
Perhaps his cozy relationship with IBM will give him access to the
America (ROMPII) processor?  Of course, the completely unsubstantiated
rumors I have heard is that he's intending to go with the 88k.

<Too, the extra gadetry (like the DSP chip) on the NEXT is
<unlikely to be used by engineers doing compute-intensive 
<applications.  The DSP might help out in making
<a realistic video game; otherwise, its deadweight.
<What difference does it make if you can play Beethoven's
<fifth on the NEXT?  

Perhaps his target market is not engineers?  Whatever.  It's clear
that his prices, machine capabilities and marketing strategy are not 
in harmony.

<I know.  Steve's going to upgrade the NEXT to a 68040.
<Even then, the Sparc chip set is faster.

How do you know that?  Have you benchmarked a 68040?  Motorola claims that
the 68040 is faster, especially for floating point.  While Motorola is 
certainly biased, they do have one advantage:  they can run benchmarks
on real 68040's.  Since independent benchmarks are not yet available, perhaps 
it would be best to desist from making unsupported claims?


____"Congress shall have the power to prohibit speech offensive to Congress"____
Alan Lovejoy; alan@pdn; 813-530-2211; AT&T Paradyne: 8550 Ulmerton, Largo, FL.
Disclaimer: I do not speak for AT&T Paradyne.  They do not speak for me. 
Mottos:  << Many are cold, but few are frozen. >>     << Frigido, ergo sum. >>