🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1c9h81INNccs@master.cs.rose-hulman.edu> bohlkejh@nextwork.rose-hulman.edu writes:
>If NeXT is looking to switch processors why not go with the 88110 as a low end
>processor and then something like the Alpha for its high end processor :-).

Alpha is way too expensive.

88110 is bad news.  I would bet that the 88110 is the last of the 88k.

The R4000 is controlled by SGi.  While NeXT and SGi may be on good
terms now, that could change.

PowerPC is what Apple will be using.  Apple is going to be NeXT's big
competitor (Pink).  NeXT should probably differentiate itself from
Pink as much as possible.

Precision Architecture.  Controlled by HP.

SPARC - Controlled by Sun _and_ it sucks.  What a magic combination.

68060 - Motorola is lagging behind the P5 which will offer similar
performance, and NeXT cant wait.  680x0 has a stigma of sorts attached
to it (which is part of the reason why NeXT hardware never took off).

P5.  Pretty good chip.  Will be cheaper than all the others due to the
sheer volume in which it will sell.  Will run NS486 with little or no
modification.  Will be idetified as a "standard" by the business
community whereas all the other fast processors are much more obscure.


I think P5 is the best and probably only choice for NeXT that makes
sense.  Strategic ports to platforms such as the Iris or Snake would
not be worth the effort.  P5 machines with the same CPU and Graphics
performance as SGi and HP machines can and will be manufactured.  But
NeXT can make NeXTSTEP just scream on a new multiprocessor P5 machine
with relatively little effort since the vast majority of the work has
already been done (and will be completed by March methinks) whereas
putting NeXTSTEP on an Iris or Snake would be a major undertaking.
Additionally, I bet that more P5 machines will be sold within a year
of it's introduction than there are SGi Iris's and HP Snakes in
existance.  Volume is really important for NeXT.


andrew
-- 
andrew@cubetech.com     | "We shall not cease from exploration
Andrew Loewenstern      |  And the end of our exploring
Cube Technologies, Inc. |  Will be to arrive where we started
                        |  And know the place for the first time." -T.S. Eliot