🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <4005@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> wrs@pupthy.PRINCETON.EDU (William R. Somsky) writes:
>In article <449@oracle.UUCP> csimmons@oracle.UUCP (Charles Simmons) writes:
>> So far I've heard three objections to the design of te NeXT machine,
>> and I'm wondering just how valid the objections are.  The first objection
>> is that the machine doesn't have a floppy drive for software distribution.
>> ...
>> It seems to me that the people who raise these objections aren't considering
>> the type of environment that the NeXT machine was designed to run in.
>> Certainly, these would be valid criticims if the NeXT machine was
>> designed to be a standalone PC.  However, the NeXT machine comes
>> equipped with Ethernet capability, and most people will want to attach
>> their machine to a network. ...
>
>Well, I had had the feeling that the NeXT machine was supposed to be
>designed so that the STUDENTS could own them.  (I got this impression
>from Jobs himself when he made a stop here in Princeton some time ago
>(~1 year?).  They arranged a lunch for him with about 20 students so
>he could meet with us and get our input.  I was one of two grad students
>there.)
>...
>That also brings up another point, the $6500 price tag, *academic*.
>...
>If the students are going to own these, they'll have them in their dorm
>rooms, and they almost definitely WILL be run as standalone PC's.  I know
>of one campus (Iowa State University) that has wired their dorm rooms with
>a second phone line for future data communications use, and there are probably
>more, but I doubt that ANYONE in the near future will be wiring their dorms
>with full ethernet capability, file servers and extra tape/disk drives for
>loading data.  In a DEPARTMENTAL context, I can see the use of these machines
>in a fully networked environment, but then it'll be the professors who have
>the individual machines, possibly a FEW grad students (but not likely), and
>a couple machines for general undergrad use.  But that's not terribly
>different from the way things are now with undergrad access to campus
>machines, and quite different from what I thought Jobs had been wanting
>to push: EACH student having their OWN machine.
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>William R. Somsky                          Physics Dept ; Princeton Univ

Two items:  First, I have to agree that $6500 is too much for a
student.  I suspect that initially, the NeXT machine will primarily be
sold to schools for use in computer science, math, and other
science departments, as well as for use in public terminal clusters.

The second issue deals with the environment in which the box will be
used.  William Somsky argues that the machine would tend to be used
as a standalone PC.  I argue that the machine would be used as a
networked workstation.  Now, obviously, if we concede that the price
tag on the box is too high to sell the box to substantial numbers of
individuals, then it becomes highly likely that the machine will be
primarily used in networked environements.

But I want to attempt more of a philosophical argument.  So, assume
we are talking about a box with the capabilities of the NeXT machine,
but with a $2000 price tag.

My first point is that most commentators on the machine have been
thinking of the machine as a standalone PC.  In particular, commentators
complain about the lack of a floppy disk drive for software distribution.
Clearly, if we examine the NeXT machine using the mindframe with which
we would approach a Macintosh, then the lack of a floppy drive is
a major problem.

But I believe that Steve Jobs has a little more vision
than this.  Jobs realizes that networked environments are becoming
increasingly common and increasingly important.  So he designed a machine
that would easily integrate into existing networks.  Further, Jobs
realizes that machines that can interact with a network are more
useful than machines that stand by themselves.  In a networked
environment, both data sharing and resource sharing (printers, tape
drives, compute servers) are simplified.  Additionally, in a networked
environment which contains file servers and dedicated operators
to perform backups, users don't need to worry about backing up their
own data.

Many colleges (especially those colleges which are at the forefront
of computing) have realized the importance of networked environments,
and are implementing networked environments.  For example, Dartmouth
College has wired most of its dormatories and fraternities with AppleTalk
to create a campus-wide network.  Portions of the network are implemented
using Ethernet.  File servers are being implemented at strategic locations
on campus to allow data to be close to the users of the data.  (Putting
a file server in every dorm would probably be a little excessive.)
In this type of environment, it becomes possible to view a Macintosh
as a networked workstation rather than a standalone PC.

To summarize, in terms of visions of the future, I see Jobs as
encouraging us to stop looking at entry level computers as standalone PCs,
and begin thinking of them as networked workstations.  I believe that
colleges, as they realize the importance of a networked environment,
will wire their dorms with Ethernet, or better yet, fiber optics.

Obviously, this vision of the future won't become reality until
the NeXT machine becomes quite a bit less expensive, colleges develop
an understanding of the importance of networked machines, and fiber
optic technology becomes more accessible.

-- Chuck