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NeXT-FAQ.general: General FAQ


*** Subject: G0. Where can I find additional questions and answers regarding  
the NeXT computer?

Every NeXT machine owner has access to manuals to a
degree.  Network and System Administration (NSA), for
example contains answers to many of the questions asked
to comp.sys.next.  Some of the important man pages are
reproduced in the NSA as appendices. 

User manuals are shipped with every NeXT.  Additional
copies available from NeXT (N6002/N6003/N6014/N6026)
$25.

NeXT Technical documentation.  (How to program in the
NextStep environment)  Order from Addison-Wesley
(1-800-447-2226) 

Title                                     ISBN #/A&W order#   Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------
NeXTstep Reference........................0-201-58136-1/58136 $44.95
NeXT Development Tools....................0-201-58132-9/58132 $26.95
NeXT Operating System Software............0-201-58131-0/58131 $24.95
Sound, Music, and Signal
Processing on a NeXT Computer: Concepts...             /58137 $19.95
Sound, Music, and Signal
Processing on a NeXT Computer: Reference..0-201-58146-9/58146 $39.95

These are packaged ten volumes in two slipcases; the
whole stack is 8-1/2 inches high.  They look just like the
other documents that come with the machine, 8.5x11",
perfect-bound paperbacks. 

	Operating System Software
	NeXTstep Concepts
	NeXTstep Reference, v. 1
	NeXTstep Reference, v. 2
	Development Tools
	Sound, Music, and Signal Processing: Concepts
	Sound, Music, and Signal Processing: Reference
	Writing Loadable Kernel Servers
	Technical Summaries
	Supplemental Documentation

The "Extended" OS release contains online versions of
the "Reference" (but not "Concepts") chapters.

Get NeXT's Concepts and Tutorial sections
electronically from the ftp archives.  These were not
included in the 2.0 distribution but are included in
hardcopy form with the NeXT Technical Documentation. 
This is perhaps the single most important reference for
people wishing to develop software for the NeXT. 

man pages, included with "Extended" release.

BSD unix documentation (MISC, PS1, PS2, SMM, USD).
Available from to USENIX site members.  A lot of this has
been  integrated into the NeXT documentation.  Some of
this is sorely missing.  The SMM Unix System Manager's
Manual is really useful! 

	USENIX Association                          
	2560 Ninth Street, Suite 215               
	Berkeley, CA  94710
	USA
	    +1 510 528 8649
	fax +1 510 548 5738
	office@usenix.org

	PS1 = Programmer's Supplementary Documents, Volume 1
	PS2 = Programmer's Supplementary Documents, Volume 2
	SMM = System Manager's Manual
	USD = User's Supplementary Documents

Adobe documentation.  Available machine-readable by
e-mail from ps-file-server@adobe.com.  Hardcopy
available from Adobe Developer Support Line +1 415
961-4111 for a nominal charge.  NeXT last shipped these as
part of the 1.0a release; hardcopies appeared in 0.9
Technical Documentation, were omitted in 1.0, and have
returned in updated form in _Supplemental
Documentation_ of the 2.0 Tech Docs (which is not
available on-line).

Get NextAnswers for Digital Librarian from one of the
many ftp sites (see below) that have NeXT software. 
NextAnswers is a series of questions and answers that the
NeXT technical support staff has compiled.  They tend to
clarify issues not covered or poorly covered in the
on-line documentation.  Anyone can send bugs  or
suggestions to bug_next@next.com

Get NeXT _Support Bulletin_ from the archives.  It is
meant for support centers. 

Another good source of information is the archives of
previously posted notes from the comp.sys.next
newsgroup.  Note that since the split of comp.sys.next,
it is unclear if anyone is maintaining an archive of all
the groups.

NeXTstep Advantage book is available electronically
from the archive servers: 

	cs.orst.edu:           pub/next/documents/NeXT/
	sonata.cc.purdue.edu:  pub/next/docs/ (still in submissions 
                              directory?)
	etlport.etl.go.jp:     pub/NeXT/documents/NeXTstepAdvantage/

The file name is NeXTstepAdvantage.tar.Z; (its
compressed size is 1.3 megabytes; uncompressed, it's
9.5 megabytes).  It is a good introduction to the NeXT
programming environment.

There is a tutorial on how to use IB on the archive servers
under the file name IB_tutorial.ps.Z which is the
postscript only file and IB_tutorial_Source.tar.Z
which contains example source code for the tutorial.  In
addition NeXT has released an updated tutorial 

It can not be overly emphasized that getting the on-line
documentation from 2.0 extended will help enormously in
researching problems with the aid of digital librarian. 


*** Subject: G1. How may I contact NeXT Computer, Inc.?

NeXT Computer, Inc.
900 Chesapeake Drive
Redwood City, CA 94063
Voice: 800-848-NeXT (Redwood City #)
Voice: (415)-366-0900


NeXT marketing div. of Canon - Japan
Phone: 81-44-549-5295
Fax: 81-44-549-5462

NeXT Europe

Stockholm: 46-7-068-8930
Netherlands: 31-20-653-0333
Denmark: 45-45-41-2200
London:  44-81-565-0005
Italy/Milan: 39-2-95302510
Munich: 49-89-996-5310
Paris: (331) 46-45-1414
Japan: 81-44-549-5555


Note: numbers abroad are listed with the country codes
first.  You will need to dial the international access
number of your long distance carrier before proceeding
to dialing the country code, area code and phone number.


*** Subject: G2. Is there a mail order company that sells NeXT-related  
peripherals? 

	NeXTconnection
	9 Mill Street
	Marlow, NH 03456
	Voice: 1-800-800-NeXT


*** Subject: G3. Is there a NeXT specific magazine?

Yes.  There are also many NeXT specific newsletters, many
of which are available via ftp from the NeXT specific ftp
sites (look in pub/next/newsletters on cs.orst.edu and
pub/next/Newsletters on sonata.cc.purdue.edu -
purdue seems to carry more newsletters on line than
orst.).  Some cost money, others don't. 


Available from purdue:

SCaNeWS - Southern California NeXT Users Group
Newsletter, first issue came out January 1991.  Edited by
Mike Mahoney (manhoney@beach.csulb.edu)

BaNG - Bay Area NeXT Users Group, one item on-line on
Purdue.  Edited by  Joe Barello (Joe_Barello@bang.org)

rmNUG NeWS - Rocky Mountain NeXT Users Group Newsletter,
latest issue  May 1991 (monthly).  Edited by David Bowdish
(73340.2146@compuserve.com).

VNUS Newsletter - Vancouver NeXT Users Group The last
issue  was in Nov 91.  Edited by three people, including the 
Chairman of VNUS, Lawrence Clarke
(lclarke@next1.wimsey.bc.ca).

NeXT Users' Journal, latest issue December/January
1990-1.  Edited by Erica Liebman
(erica@kong.gatech.edu). 


Hardcopy:

NeXT on Campus.  NeXT developments in academia.  Call NeXT
at 1-800-848-NeXT for free subscription info.

NeXTworld.  Published quarterly with monthly ad-free
newsletters ($23.95). NeXTWORLD, 501 Second Street,
San Francisco, CA 94107 415 978 3182 (phone),  415 978 3196
(fax) NeXTworld email address:
ddinucci@nextworld.com

NeXUS.  Published bi-monthly for $36/year. Contact
Alfonso Guerra at {emory|gatech}!nanovx!nexus. 

What's NeXT?  The Boston Computer Society NeXT User group
produces a NeXT newsletter called "What's NeXT?" edited
by Michael Burress 
(pro-angmar!michaelb@alfalfa.com) and Eric Celeste
(efc@athena.mit.edu). The Boston Computer Society, 
One Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA 02139-1562 Phone
617-252-0600, M-F 9:30-5:30 

Nextwatch - published by Skylee Press.  Edited by Arthur
Kyle (ack@skylee.com).  For more information, contact
info@skylee.com.

Bulletin - Gotham Users of NeXT, Inc., latest issue May,
1992 (monthly).  Edited by Robb Allan
(Robb_Allan@gun.com) 


*** Subject: G4a. What are the names of some of the ftp sites that have  
NeXT-related files?

There are too many to list them all, so are here are just a
few. 

NeXT:

	cs.orst.edu
	nova.cc.purdue.edu
	sonata.cc.purdue.edu
    umd5.umd.edu
    fiasko.rz-berlin.mpg.de / 141.14.140.32
	
MIT GNU:

	aeneas.mit.edu

MIT X:

	export.lcs.mit.edu

music:

	princeton.edu


See NextAnswers for more sitenames.


*** Subject: G4b. If I am not on the internet, how can I get to the ftp sites  
via email?

cc.purdue.edu is configured as an email archive server. 
This means you can upload and download files via email. 
Send mail to: archive-server@cc.purdue.edu with the
subject line help and you will get a complete description
of this service.

Submissions:

Mail should be sent to archive-server@cc.purdue.edu
with the subject of 'submission' (no ticks) if a person is
submitting material to the archives.  They need to
include a 1-2 sentence description of the submission,
the OS release the product runs on, and if it is source,
binary, newsletter, etc. 


*** Subject: G5. What is the claimed performance of the 68040-25 MHz NeXT  
machines?

NeXT advertises the 68040-25MHz machines at 15 MIPS and 2
MFLOPS. dlakritz@next.com (David Lakritz) posted SPEC
results for NeXT on comp.benchmark 

	Model:  NeXTstation Color
	Hardware: 25 MHz 68040
	4K+4K integrated cache
	16 MB memory
	400 MB internal scsi disk

	Software: NeXTstep 2.1 OS
	default tuning parameters
	multiuser, normal background load
	no source code changes to benchmarks
	compilers: 
		GNU C 1.36
		Absoft FORTRAN 77 3.1
		Greenhills Fortran-68000 1.8.5 (Grh)

Benchmark       Time       SPECratio    Compiler Flags  
 
001.gcc         96.2            15.41   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
008.espresso    214.5           10.56   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
013.spice2g6    2497.7          9.59    Absoft   -f -O
015.doduc       235.9           7.90    Absoft   -f -O -N1 -h4 -H4
020.nasa7       1709.7          11.75   Absoft   -f -O
022.li          408.4           15.20   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
023.eqntott     113.5           9.70    GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
030.matrix300   426.1           10.62   Grh      -f -OLMA   
042.fpppp       274.1           11.08   Absoft   -f -O -Z   
047.tomcatv     281.8           9.40    Grh      -f -OLMA

SPECint 12.45
SPECfp 9.97			
SPECmark 10.90

	Model: NeXTstation
	Hardware: 25 MHz 68040
	4K+4K integrated cache
	16 MB memory
	330 MB internal scsi disk
 
	Software: NeXTstep 2.1 OS
	default tuning parameters
	multiuser, normal background load
	no source code changes to benchmarks
	compilers:
		GNU C 1.36
		Absoft FORTRAN 77 3.1
		Greenhills Fortran-68000 1.8.5 (Grh)

Benchmark       Time       SPECratio    Compiler   Flags  

001.gcc         103.6           14.31   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
008.espresso    222.8           10.17   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
013.spice2g6    2706.6          8.85    Absoft   -f -O
015.doduc       252.2           7.39    Absoft   -f -O -N1 -h4 -H4
020.nasa7       1875.6          10.71   Absoft   -f -O
022.li          425.3           14.59   GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
023.eqntott     116.5           9.45    GNU      -O -fomit-frame-pointer
030.matrix300 464.3             9.75    Grh      -f -OLMA   
042.fpppp       309.9           9.80    Absoft   -f -O -Z   
047.tomcatv     297.4           8.91    Grh      -f -OLMA
 
SPECint 11.90
SPECfp  9.17			
SPECmark 10.18


*** Subject: G6. What are some good references on Objective C?

Objective-C and other useful Object-oriented
programming references:

Budd, Timothy, _An Introduction to Object-Oriented
Programming_ (Addison-Wesley) [It discusses
Smalltalk, Object Pascal, C++ _and_ Objective-C]

Cox, Brad J., _Object Oriented Programming: An
Evolutionary Approach_ ISBN 0-201-10393-1.
(Addison-Wesley) [Note: 2nd edition - ISBN# is
0-201-54834-8 and has coauthor A.J. Novobilski]

Huizenga, Gerrit, "Slides from a short course on
Objective-C" available via anonymous ftp from
sonata.cc.purdue.edu in
pub/next/docs/ObjC.frame.Z, ObjC.ps.Z, or
OldObjC.wn.tar.Z  

Meyer, Bertrand, _Object-Oriented Software Construction_
(Prentice-Hall).

NeXT Technical Documentation

Pinson and Weiner, _Objective-C:  Object-Oriented
Programming Techniques_ (Addison-Wesley).  350 pages,
ISBN 0 201 50828 1, paperback.

User Reference Manual for Objective-C which is
available from Stepstone Corporation. (203)426-1875. 
Note: There are some differences between Stepstone's
Objective-C and NeXT's. 


*** Subject: G7. How much does the NeXT cost?

A retail price list may be obtained by contacting NeXT at
the number or address mentioned in a previous question. 
Educational prices vary depending upon the university. 
The typical educational discount is between twenty and
thirty percent.  NeXT offers registered developers a
significant discount. 


*** Subject: G8. Where can I buy a NeXT?

From NeXT, Computer Attic (three locations in southern
San Francisco Bay Area), Abacus Inc (San Francisco),
Random Access (Denver), Essex Computers (N.J.),
Farnsworth Computer Centers (Chicago Suburbs), and
Advantage Computers has three locations in Vancouver,
Burnaby, and Victoria (British Columbia). Also
possibly from your university if you are a student,
faculty or staff.  if your university does not offer the
NeXT, you may be able to buy from a "hub" university if the
hub program is available in your state (contact NeXT for
more info). Cambridge Electronics is now selling NeXT
systems. 


*** Subject: G9. How do i become a NeRD?  What does it cost?  What is involved?   
Who do i contact if i am interested? 

NeRD - NeXT Registered Developer

1- Call the 800 number to get a registration form, fill it
out and send it back to NeXT.

2- NeXT will assign an "advocate" from within the company
to review your needs.

3- Register to go to a 5 day developer's camp either in
Pittsburgh or or Redwood City.  Cost is $995  They will
teach you the essential information needed for
developing applications on the NeXT.  Often reported as
an informative and enjoyable experience.

4- Once you have gone through the above, you will get
technical support directly from NeXT via email or phone
(in urgent cases!).  Their support is quite
comprehensive.


*** Subject: G10. How do I start an official NeXT User Group?

To start a NeXT group, just send email to
"user_groups@next.com". 


*** Subject: G11. How do I file a complaint with NeXT?

A number of postings to comp.sys.next indicates that
NeXT really should have a formal channel for complaints. 
Complaints are about machines not arriving, and about
the company.  The current mechanism for doing this is to
call the 800 number and be directed to the correct support
center.  This seems a bit backwards, as it seems a lot
easier to post a gripe to comp.sys.next.  However posting
complaints to comp.sys.next does little other than make
you look like a whiner. So be PATIENT and hang in their
while being channeled to the proper authority. 


*** Subject: G12. Where can I communicate to others interested in doing music  
on the NeXT?

Since NeXT has become for now the platform of choice for
much of the computer music composition and research
community, the newsgroup comp.music is one good place to
find people with information and interest in music on the
NeXT.

There is also a mailing list specifically for NeXT music:

	NeXT Music SIG (nextmusic@silvertone.Princeton.edu)

To subscribe, send email to:

	nextmusic-request@silvertone.Princeton.edu   


*** Subject: G14. What special interest groups exist?

Adobe Illustrator NeXT SIG
	To join, email: jchin@wcraft.wimsey.bc.ca
AFS NeXT SIG
	To join, email: info-afs-next-request@transarc.com
Berkeley Mathematics Software Group
	Email: nb@cs.stanford.edu
Classroom: NeXT Courseware SIG (next-classroom@gac.edu)
	To subscribe: send the following text message to
	MAILSERV@gac.edu --"Subscribe next-classroom <your name>"
Communications/TeleCommunications SIG (nextcomm@marble.com)
	To subscribe: send email to nextcomm-request@marble.com
	Data GROUP NeXT SIG
	To join, email: data_group@dazzl.com
Create Users
	To join email: Create-request@mcs.anl.gov
DataPhile Users
	To join email: DataPhile-request@mcs.anl.gov
Executor SIG
	To join, email: executor-request@ictv.com
Finnish: FUNeXT (Finnish Users of NeXT)
	To join, send email to: mailserver@lists.funet.fi
 	and write in body text:
		HELP
		LIST
		SUB FUNeXT
Frame: FUN (Frame Users Network)
	To join, email: framers-request@drd.com
Frame User Network - New England (FUNNE)
	To join, email:  funne@srbci.mv.com
GIS(Geographical Information Services)SIG (next-gis@deltos.com)
	To subscribe: send email to next-gis-request@deltos.com
Lotus Improv Email User Group
	To join, email: improv-request@bmt.gun.com
Mathematica:Special Interest Group
	To join. email: mathgroup-request@yoda.physics.unc.edu
Medical: NeXTMed SIG (NeXTMed@ulnar.biostr.washington.edu)
	To subscribe: send email to NeXTMed-request@ulnar.biostr.washington.edu 
	
Music: NeXT Music SIG (nextmusic@silvertone.Princeton.edu)
	To subscribe: send email to nextmusic-request@silvertone.Princeton.edu  
	
NeXT Icon Enthusiasts: next-icon@bmt.gun.com
	To subscribe: send e-mail to next-icon-request@bmt.gun.com
NexLAW: Legal NeXT User Group
	To join, email: NexLAW-request@techlaw.com
NeXTManagers (quick & technical answers) (next-managers@stolaf.edu)
	To subscribe: send email to next-managers-request@stolaf.edu
NeXT Q&A's
	To join, email the text:	
	 "SUBSCRIBE NEXT-L <your> <name>"
	to LISTSERV@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU
Network & Security Management for Labs & Large Installations  
(next-lab@cs.ubc.ca)
	To subscribe: send email to next-lab-request@cs.ubc.ca
Programmers:  NeXT Programmers SIG (next-prog@cpac.washington.edu)
	To subscribe: send email to next-prog-request@cpac.washington.edu
Publishing Interest Group
	To join, email: publish-request@chron.com
Japanese: Kanji and Japanese on the NeXT
	To join - Email: next-nihongo-request@pinoko.berkeley.edu
SCIENCE NeXT User Group (SNUG)
	To join, email: snug-requests@whitewater.chem.wisc.edu
United Kingdom SIG
	To join, email: uk-next-users-request@ohm.york.ac.uk
	and next-uk-usergroups-request@asmec.co.uk


*** Subject: G15. Is it true I can get inexpensive 030 cubes from Businessland?

This was true many months ago, but Businessland no longer
has anymore of these machines for sale.  Businessland is
no longer in business. 


*** Subject: G16. How may I let the NeXT user community know of an upcoming  
NeXT-related event?

Please send any announcements of upcoming NeXT-related
events to nextweek@kiwi.swhs.ohio-state.edu  Patrick
Hayes at phayes@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu maintains
the posting service. 

These events will be posted to comp.sys.next in a weekly
"NeXT Week" posting.  Be sure to send your announcement in
plenty of time to have it posted prior to the event.  One to
two weeks in advance would be a good idea. 


*** Subject: G17. What are the guidelines for posting to  
comp.sys.next.announce?

Submissions can be sent to csn-announce@media.mit.edu.

Since postings will be carried across many networks,
commercial announcements may be edited down to reflect
network usage policies.  Program announcements should
contain as much information as possible (which ftp
sites, are sources included, is it
shareware/freeware/commercial...)  Programs made
available via anonymous ftp should not be in submissions
directory.  


*** Subject: G18. Where can I get NeXT paraphernalia?

The Company Store carries NeXT pencils, pens, decals,
t-shirts, mugs, sweatshirts, tote-bags, turtlenecks
and mouse pads.   

	The Company Store
	3073 Corvin Dr.
	Santa Clara, CA 95051
	Voice: 800-288-0443
	Voice: (408) 739-9655
	FAX: (408) 746-2399



--
Editor:
Nathan Janette nathan@laplace.csb.yale.edu


--
Nathan Janette		"I'm a NeXTstep man,
Dept MB&B, Yale Univ	 I'm a NeXTcube guy"
New Haven, CT
nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu (NeXT)