🚀 go-pugleaf

andrew@cubetech.com wrote:
: 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.

Why?  The processor isn't what makes the NeXT a NeXT, it's NeXTSTEP!  If you
could strap a PowerPC into a 'station chassis, including all the specialized
I/O, DMA and DSP, then that shouldn't matter.  "PowerPC is what Apple will be
using." is a pretty lame excuse, IMO.  If Motorola couldn't be counted on to
remain neutral, well then that's another story... but I don't see that
happening.  And who knows, if NeXT DOES go towards PowerPC, then there's the
chance that all those IBM/Apple people that have their new PowerPCs will run
NeXTSTEP on it.  Yay, more POTENTIAL sales for NeXT.  Potential sales varies
proportionally to potential software.

: ...
: 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 identified 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
: existence.  Volume is really important for NeXT.

Amen (or other religious blessing :-).  But what I'd really like to see is
a computer manufacturer that has the balls to stick all the essential
processor/coprocessor and interfacing onto an upgradable daughterboard.  I
don't know about anyone else, but the only thing I would really wish I could
change on my NeXTstation non-Turbo is the CPU to upgrade it's clock speed.
Well, that and stick in serial ports that can do 57600 baud, but that's only
because I do an awful lot of UUCP feeding (~10 hours worth at 9600; ~5 hours
at 14.4K; both ports!)

But NeXT doesn't have a way to just replace my 25MHz with a 33MHz.  For that
matter, NO ONE makes an accelerator for the NeXT outside of the multiboard
Etherneted cubes made by someone I don't remember.

-- 
Dan Berry			bugs%atlantis@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca
==============================> bugs@atlantis.uucp  =========================
"On a first date, watch how your date treats the waiter, the bartender,
	and so on.  That's how she'll be treating YOU after three months."