From: putzolu@toadflax.cs.ucdavis.edu (David Putzolu)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
Subject: Re: Should I buy a NeXT -> Thanks!
Date: 14 Nov 92 02:12:39 GMT
Organization: Department of Computer Science, University of California, Davis

In article <1drb9eINNd9v@mailgzrz.TU-Berlin.DE> carsten@pizza.fb10.tu-berlin.de (Carsten Schultz) writes:
>In article <1992Nov11.130626.1586@fwi.uva.nl> schaper@fwi.uva.nl (Lancelot  
>Schaper) writes:
>..
>> 
>> - I need MIDI ports and the software like Steinberg's Cubase.
>> 
>It is said, that in this respect the Mac or even the Atari ST/TT is a  
>better choice. But of course, if you need a fast machine, Atari is out of  
>the game and the Mac is to expensive.

The Mac is not 'to' [sic] expensive. As I posted just a little while
ago onto C.S.M.A., look at this comparison (based on new prices using
the educational discount at UCD):

>NeXTstation Turbo Color                          $5 266
>w/ 16MB RAM, 250 MB Hard Drive
>(Comes with keyboard and mouse) (Not at UCD)     $  179
>17" NeXT Colour Monitor                          $1 825
>Total with 17" Monitor                           $7 260
 
VS.

Quadra 700, 4MB Ram, No HD                        $3 327
Add 4MB Ram, 1.5MB VRAM                           $  400
Keyboard                                          $  159
Add 240MB Hard Drive                              $  649 
Apple 16" Color Monitor                           $1 144
Total:                                            $5 679

Your requirements were:
> - First of all I like to run graphical apps.
>   I want to make animations, and I need the video I/O ports.
>   I also need the 32 bits color, but that's not the _most_ important thing.

Animations: The Mac has software as good as the NeXT, with more
available video in/out options (but the NeXTDimension probably
beats all of them hands down, IF you feel comfortable with it,
considering many NeXT advocates seem to say it has a dim future.
The Mac as equal quality MIDI solutions.
The Mac has Adobe Illustrator, which another posting claimed was
the best program for DTP.
Color: The Mac has 24 bit color, which most people are satisfied with
in graphical applications.

>- I will use it for lots of DTP work, so I really need the 21'' monitor.
Mac has less, same, or more resolution available than the NeXT,
depending on cost. The Mac also supports multiple monitors while
a NeXTStation does not (but you can get a cube for yet more $ that
does, I believe).

The NeXT has the better UI (IMHO), OS (IMHO), programming environment
(INearlyEverybody'sHO).

Conclusion: NeXT is better in certain areas, the Mac is just or nearly as
good in your application areas. NeXT costs more, smaller installed
base (so less hardware, software options).

"Anti-Viral Software? Nah, I'm careful enough"     ______-==-______
                                       ____-------=----------------=-------____
                 ________________  _ _-    --------________________--------
                (______________(_||_) _______ /
                   /_____/_____            _-
Ex-Capt David Putzolu          \__________-
U.S.S. Yamato
Senior, CS & Psych, U.C.Davis - putzolu@cs.ucdavis.edu - my opinion