🚀 go-pugleaf

C'mon, Mac IIs are great...

AS TERMINALS.  I'm using one right now to access a NeXT using
NCSA Telnet.  I can throw up lots of windows, display graphics,
loads o' fun.  All it took was an added-price Ethernet card
(since that's not standard equipment as it is on the NeXT).  It
even runs under MultiFinder, but I can't run TN3270 at the same
time because I don't have MacTCP--decent TCP/IP isn't included
with the Mac like it is on the NeXT.  Ok, I could use A/UX,
but that's even more expensive, and for the most part doesn't
have software that makes use of the graphics (or the mouse!).

Of course, this Mac II, and all its siblings are already paid
for.  Why are they here?  Well, someone decided that they would
be good for document processing.  The LaserWriters come with 35
built-in fonts.  Even the "clone" PostScript printers come with
35 built-in fonts.  The NeXT even has the width tables for these
already supplied.  The NeXT has this great marketing philosophy--
all the things people NEED are in EVERY cube--Ethernet, TCP/IP,
real multitasking, 35 fonts... WAIT--the fonts are MISSING!!!
There are only FIVE usable fonts--the four "Blue Book" fonts and
Ohlfs.  The nifty Display PostScript and NeXT 400 dpi Laser
Printer are USELESS for what I need, because all the other places
that produce documents ASSUME that those 35 fonts are universally
available.  An amazing lapse on NeXT's part not to include all
the outline fonts.  Are we supposed to buy those from Adobe?
They can't be that penny-pinching, there are hundreds of fonts in
the Adobe catalog, and they'll make big bucks off all the serious
publishing users.  I'm just looking for MINIMAL DTP capability.

Suppose the basic NeXT offering improves to cover the current
deficiences that are forcing us to use Macintoshes.  What should
we do with the Macs then?  How about a NextStep windowserver for
the Mac II???  (We already have X-Windows!)  The M0115 keyboard
is almost identical, there's a mouse, a color display that can be
put in 4-level gray mode.  This would make the NeXTs we have that
much more accessible--and acceptable--and convince the powers-
that-be to loosen up on their pursestrings to allow us to buy
lots more.  They don't question Macintosh purchases, but we have
to "justify" NeXTs.  If cost alone were the criterion, the NeXT
would have no trouble...

					-=EPS=-