🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Dec21.035010.127@utstat.toronto.edu> philip@utstat.toronto.edu  
(Philip McDunnough) writes:
> [ ]
> People write to the platform which covers the whole spectrum. Removing the
> DSP, which will probably happen, is yet another mistake in a long list of
> NeXT errors. 

NeXT originally woo'd a lot of people with the ideal of raising the common  
denominator.  Yet they have systematically lowered it (from their original  
lofty position).  Removing the DSP would continue that pattern.  Moving to the  
486 is lowering it as well.  I'm afraid we haven't seen the beginning of how  
far down it will go.  The money guys are in charge at NeXT.  If Steve Jobs is  
the guy with the vision, maybe he should start a new company. :) I would,  
however, be less inclined to take his line with hook and sinker.

> [ ]
>  
> Just one last note. Unix, NS, etc...is not going to capture any significant
> market of the 486 users. They will go with OS/2 or Windows (). The advantages
> just aren't that overwhelming to give up what people are already familiar 
> with.

OS/2 probably won't go far either, for the same reason.  I agree with your  
point about NS, especially when you figure in its higher price.  NeXT I suspect  
is relying on its object technology and ability to run native-Intel software to  
attract those replacing old systems and newcomers who are afraid to purchase  
non-mainstream hardware.  I may be dense, but I don't see the 'compelling'  
argument for the existence of a big market.  All the talking heads are googoo  
over object-oriented OS's.  NeXT (and we) have a big job selling it as a  
cost/benefit win.

> In any case, NeXT will be too busy answering questions as to why the OS 
> doesn't work with peripheral x on the PC. I can just see it now. QEMM, NS 
> version certified.

You wonder why so many talented Microsoft people can't come up with better  
software.  The reason is that they spend a huge proportion of their time trying  
to be backwards compatible with old microprocessors, and because they try to  
support UMPTEEN GILLION different hardware configurations.  The former won't be  
a problem for NeXT (they seem to put much less emphasis on backwards  
compatibility than Microsoft does, and I grudgingly admire that because  
Microsoft has held back the industry for years by pursuing it so stubbornly). 

But the latter will challenge NeXT, big time.  Inevitably it will challenge NS  
developers too.

-- 
Doug Kent
slugg@mouthers.wa.com