HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: szatrows@gandalf.rutgers.edu (John Kheit)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: NeXT sighting!
Date: 11 Nov 92 06:51:26 GMT
Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J.

There is a new technology show on the Discovery (cable) chanel called
"nextstep" and its about futuristic things (I wonder if NeXT knows
about this show?).  Anyway they showed the NeXT in the background
during one of their stories.  They had a killer story about futuristic
games being developed at the Industrial Light and Magic (Lucas)
Complex.  They mentioned SGI a few times.

later, John
-- 
NeXT Campus Consultant---Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey |my    %^)
John Kheit/monoChrome  |                                             |fried %-)
173 Westgate Drive     | Audix#5512                                  |brain %>)
Edison, NJ 08820-1163  | kheit@hangout.rutgers.edu,szatrows@gandalf.rutgers.edu
From: ben@bytepb.UUCP (Ben Smith @ BYTE)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: Byte Magazine pans the NeXTstation
Date: 9 Nov 92 22:05:35 GMT

pgriffin@uful07.phys.ufl.edu (Paul A. Griffin) writes:

>You should take a look at this article.  It's the most bizzare product 
>comparison that I've ever seen in Byte.  After reading it, you might
>want to send your comments to the authors, 

Thanks for all the letters, folks. I must admit that when I get
responses just from a single element of our readers, I wonder
what is going on. I expected a much wider audience, but fully see
the significance of your responses. 

I have had a NeXTstation on my desk for many months. It was my
main interface to my network during that time. I have no
reservations in saying that is a very attractive and useable
workstation, particularly if it is connected with other
NeXTstations. But, it does not work in a mixed environment. (Nor
does the Mac or PC, for that matter.) For heterogenous UNIX
computing I prefer something that uses X as a matter of course
and which relies more on standards (such as RFC822 for mail). 

And face it, even though the newer model is faster than the older
one, this is true for everyone else's workstation. Try putting
the NeXTstation up against an R4000 Indigo or a DEC Alpha
workstation.

To the letters that I have received I have been sending the
following response. (Heck, if you can send me mail en masse, I
can have a form letter response, can't I.)

-- my form letter response --

I have received many, many letters and E-mail messages about the
Ultimate Workstation piece that appeared in the November 92 issue of
BYTE. Almost all of the messages with criticism were from folks who
are enthusiasts of the NeXT computer. Their main criticism is that we
did not compare equivalent machines, using a less than optimum
NeXTstation when comparing to much higher performance (and more
expensive) workstations from other manufacturers. You must realize
that we did not compare the NeXT to any fully configured and optimized
workstations from these vendors, either. As was pointed out in the
review, the IBM only exceeded in raw performance; it scored very low
in user interface and was very expensive.

As you must realize, it is impossible to do a "scientific" comparison
of systems that have not only different CPUs, but also different OSs
and user interfaces. The only way to evaluate this spectrum is call
them as we see them, and that is what we did. There is as much
personal opinion in this kind of comparison as there is any
statistics; perhaps even more.

Thanks for your response. Without it, we tend to get cloistered and
myopic. -ben
-- 
\^___^/   ===================================================
 (o o)    Ben Smith / BYTE Magazine    Peterborough, NH (USA) 
  \|/     ben@bytepb.byte.com       ||         ben@ronin.com 
   m      ===================================================
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy,comp.sys.next.misc
From: robinc@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Robert Delucca)
Subject: Re: BYTE article and my response to it
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 10:11:17 GMT


I say, damn the torpedoes and attack! The Byte article was dishonest.
Byte's a lost cause anyway, except for T. Yager. The rest
of them have been committing howlers for some time.

;-)

Robert

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: jfr@RedBrick.COM ()
Subject: Re: NeXT's binaries need a diet, or the solution to NeXT's multiprocessor problem.
Organization: Red Brick Systems, Los Gatos, CA
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 17:59:03 GMT

In article <83161@ut-emx.uucp> ifbb657@cc.utexas.edu (Douglas Floyd) writes:
>[munch desrciption of intermediate binary code distribution with 
> machine dependent compilation at each user's site]

>NeXT will have something no other computer has dreamed of offering :-)

  Its a great idea.  Just not very original (sorry to puncture your
  balloon).  In fact, this issue has been under consideration by
  OSF for some time now and a standard has been proposed.  Its called
  ANDF (architecture-neutral distribution format).  It involves (as
  does your proposal) a common intermediate "binary" format and a
  post-compiler which coverts from the neutral format to the local
  format machine code.  There has been a lot of discussion about
  this topic and I am sure things are progressing (although like
  most standards, it takes an inordinate amount of time).  A vendor
  like NeXT could choose to adopt ANDF for its own operating system
  and look like a hero to its users.  Or it could "roll its own".  
  
  Jon Rosen
From: jimc@tau-ceti.isc-br.com (Jim Cathey)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: NeXT hardware strategy
Date: 10 Nov 92 02:16:26 GMT
Organization: ISC - Bunker Ramo, Spokane, WA

In article <1992Nov7.015422.8729@utstat.uucp> philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough) writes:
>I really don't understand this. What matters is the OS, applications,...and
>not the processor it's running on (assuming it works!). Selling NS 486 for
>a high price just ensures that it and NeXt will remain niche items.

But when it's the niche or the ditch...

What matters to _you_ is the OS, apps, etc.  What matters to them is
to make enough profit over the long run to stay in business.  Right
now, they do it with hardware sales.  The NS486 (which makes me sick to
contemplate) they are testing the water with.

They don't want to be the NeXT Osborne computer, after all.


-- 
+----------------+
! II      CCCCCC !  Jim Cathey
! II  SSSSCC     !  ISC-Bunker Ramo
! II      CC     !  TAF-C8;  Spokane, WA  99220
! IISSSS  CC     !  UUCP: uunet!isc-br!jimc (jimc@isc-br.isc-br.com)
! II      CCCCCC !  (509) 927-5757
+----------------+
			"PC's --- the junk bonds of the computer industry"
From: ifbb657@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Douglas Floyd)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: The Next NextWorld Expo
Date: 5 Nov 92 23:39:54 GMT
Organization: The University of Texas at Austin, Austin TX

In article <1992Nov2.195104.1102@yvax.byu.edu> sean@digaudio.byu.edu writes:
>In article <1992Nov2.194535.2139@netnews.noc.drexel.edu>  writes:
>>How about Philadelphia? We're about half way between Wall Street and  
>D.C..
>>And besides, we've got this brand spankin' new convention center...
>
>
>How about out here in Provo, Utah?  We're in the middle of nowhere...
>just like Gates claims NeXT is.  :)

How about Austin, Texas?  Austin has a brand spanking new convention
center, too, and a great electronics base.  Besides, Perot lives
in Texas :-).



-- 
******* ifbb657@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu (Douglas R. Floyd) ******
            Disclaimer: I speak for myself.

            Please, no NeXTMail at this time.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: burchard@horizon.math.utah.edu (Paul Burchard)
Subject: Re: NeXT edu prices go UP!  AGAIN!
Organization: University of Minnesota
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 07:19:51 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.215032.10638@leland.Stanford.EDU>  
spagiola@frinext.stanford.edu (Stefano Pagiola) writes:
> Yesterday I wrote:
> > Aaargh!  What is NeXT doing?
> > After weeks of discussion of the need for cheaper machines, guess  
> > what?  The price here at Stanford for the cheapest available NeXT  
> > just went UP!
> 
> Well guess what?  I just got the latest price list and price have  
> increased AGAIN!

In this context you may be interested to note the following job annoucement from misc.jobs.offered.  Note the specific, repeated use of the word "low cost workstations" (as opposed to "high-performance workstations").  I will leave it to the c.s.n.a crowd to debate the implications....

+ From: Dan_Smith@NeXT.COM (Dan Smith)
+ Subject: Hardware Design Engineer - NeXT Computer - Redwood City
+ Keywords: hardware, cad, ASIC, pcb
+ Date: 5 Nov 92 20:01:09 GMT
+ Sender: news@NeXT.COM
+ 
+ 
+ Title: Hardware Design Engineer - NeXT Computer - Redwood City
+ 
+ Position:        Hardware Design Engineer
+ Department:      Design Engineering Hiring
+ Manager:         Glen Miranker  (415) 780-4677
+ 
+ Participate in the design of low-cost workstation products
+ including design of complex boards and ASICs. Job will
+ involve working closely with NeXT manufacturing, test
+ engineering, PC board, materials, software, and marketing
+ groups.   Must understand the detailed operation of such
+ products and assist with the transfer of them into
+ manufacturing. The ideal candidate will:
+ 
+      * Participate or lead the design of low-cost
+        workstation products.
+      * Manage all technical issues involved in the design
+        of these products.
+      * Exhibit exemplary system and logic design skills.
+      * Facilitate the resolution of issues between hardware
+        design, software, manufacturing, and test engineering.
+      * Lead product strife testing as well as support
+        manufacturing during design maturity testing.
[rest deleted...]

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Burchard	<burchard@geom.umn.edu>
``I'm still learning how to count backwards from infinity...''
--------------------------------------------------------------------
From: begonia@hardy.u.washington.edu (Rubricant Horticulturist)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: NeXT sighting!
Date: 10 Nov 92 07:38:30 GMT
Article-I.D.: u.1992Nov10.073830.17161
Organization: University of Washington, Seattle

It was a blurry NeXT sighting though.  Our local TV news (KIRO) was
doing a piece on hackers breaking into Boeing computers and some
government office computers.  They were chatting with some guy at
Ballard Computer about security for ones computer.  In the background,
sort of out of focus was a NeXTstation.  Other than that it was a
sensationalist piece on how easy and cheap it was for hackers to get
the necessary equipment to break into peoples computers. 

-- 
Sonja Jo Krenz-Bush, Public Relations
Abstract Software             
e-mail: begonia@abstractsoft.com        NeXTmail accepted with glee
"Another one of the flock following the herd."
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: abell@netcom.com (Steven T. Abell)
Subject: Re: DEC's alpha is "way fast" according to WSJournal
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 08:51:50 GMT

carsten@pizza.fb10.tu-berlin.de (Carsten Schultz) writes:

> In article <1992Nov11.174833.20588@adobe.com> byer@adobe.com (Scott Byer)  
writes:
>> 
>> And 64 bits does give programs a big edge.  And they don't even
>> have to be changed that much to use it.  (Well, not if they were
>> designed right in the first place. ;-)
>> 
> I agree. I think 64 bit processors are underestimated by many people.

Someone will have to explain this one to me, because:

1) Not that many programs use floating point;

2) Bus interfaces are usually designed such that a big ALU and a wide bus
   is useless in string operations, where alignment restrictions can't
   be applied;

3) Portability constraints decrease the utility of a big ALU and a wide bus
   in struct operations, where alignment restrictions *are* applied.

Don't flame, just enlighten, please.

Steve abell@netcom.com
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: stukas@mbolo.cc.nd.edu (Jim Stukas)
Subject: Re: The Next NextWorld Expo
Reply-To: stukas@mbolo.cc.nd.edu (Jim Stukas)
Organization: University of Notre Dame
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 15:05:58 GMT

In article <1992Nov5.112156.4640@prim> dave@prim.demon.co.uk (Dave Griffiths)  
writes:
> In article <1d9knqINN6be@gap.caltech.edu> ernest@pundit.cithep.caltech.edu  
(Ernest Prabhakar) writes:
> >
> >True, San Fran is not easy for Europeans to get to.
>  
> But worth it, IMO. Leaving snow-bound Munich to lie on the beach in
> California in January...
 ... rest of post deleted ...

Not that it makes a difference to most folks planning to go, but don't bother  
bringing your bathing suit to S.F. in January.

Well, maybe if you plan on staying in a hotel with a pool. :-)

Jim
--
Jim Stukas                          (219) 239-8292
User Services                       Bitnet: jstukas@irishvma
Office of University Computing      internet: stukas@mbolo.cc.nd.edu
University of Notre Dame            NeXT mail cheerfully accepted
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: orange@alfred.carleton.ca (Paul Vallee*92115)
Subject: Re: NeXT edu prices go UP!
Organization: Carleton University
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 13:32:23 GMT

In <1992Nov5.165652.15458@u.washington.edu> basiji@stein.u.washington.edu (David Basiji) writes:


>[perceptive analysis of cost/benefits for entry level edu NeXTs deleted]

>NeXT Inc. seems to have forgotten that low- and no-profit machines for edu
>users will generate brand loyalty when these folks get out into the real
>world and have some say in business purchase decisions that generate profits
>for NeXT Inc.

>David Basiji

Low- and no-profit?  I'm sure it doesn't cost NeXT more than 750$ to
make a 'station.  At low profit prices, you could buy an entire
machine for under 2k$.  I believe you are right, that edu discount
prices should be very low, but for some reason NeXT has been (and
still is) trying to recuperate *lots* of overhead such as initial
design on students.  Bad strategy, as far as I'm concerned...


orange@ccs.carleton.ca ------- Paul Vallee ---- 542429@acadvm1.uottawa.ca
------------Home: (613)234-6625 --------- Work: (613)996-3263------------
"Let us be English or let us be French, but above all let us be Canadian"
                                          --- Sir John A. MacDonald, 1891

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: garylang@netcom.com (Gary Lang)
Subject: Re: NeXTWorld Expo East
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 19:41:32 GMT

"If NeXT were to introduce new technology and a public offering of stock at  
the next Expo, where do you think they would get more exposure: New York  
City or San Francisco?"

I don't know. Lots of IPO's are done out here.

New York is not the Center of the Universe any more. In fact no place
is, thanks to technology like the one you're using right now as you
read this.

I could crow that this technoology largely comes from here, but that
wouldn't be very nice, would it?

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: steveh@rtsg.mot.com (Steve M. Hoffman)
Subject: Favorable NeXT article in Chicago Tribune 11-8-92
Organization: Motorola Inc., International Cellular Subscriber Group, GSM.
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 16:04:52 GMT

Sorry for the world distribution but I thought that everybody might
want to run to the library and check it out...

Anyway, in Section 19 of the 11-8-92 Chicago Tribune ('Technology and the
Workplace' is the section) on page 3 is an article entitled "Jobs' Next
project gaining momentum -- OOP technology shows the way."  Thought
some of you might like to check it out.  It's too long for me to sit
and type in, however, if somebody has a scanner and OCR software, perhaps they'd
be good enought to post it for everybody.  Happy reading!
-- 
Steve Hoffman <steveh@rtsg.mot.com>
Motorola Inc. Arlington Heights, IL
All opinions are my own.
Big corporations have none.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy,comp.sys.next.misc
From: csc4213@gsusgi2.gsu.edu (Uncle Remus)
Subject: Re: BYTE article and my response to it
Organization: Georgia State University
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 04:54:45 GMT

robinc@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Robert Delucca) writes:


>I say, damn the torpedoes and attack! The Byte article was dishonest.
>Byte's a lost cause anyway, except for T. Yager. The rest
>of them have been committing howlers for some time.

My favorite one was the ibm/mac/sun/next comparison article. It was majorly
unfair all around and quite stupid as well as short sighted. Do these guys
know unix at all? I write code on a 486, sell computers with a Mac, and 
install medical system on Unix 486's. Use what works, thats what I always
say.

Josh 

-- 

Uncle_Remus - 404-355-0001   "Yeah, I've heard of Internet" - GSU User Services
       "I tried safe sex once, but I couldn't remember the combination" - Me
  "If you're gonna rock the boat, make sure you know who owns the ship" - Me
csc4213@gsusgi2.gsu.edu, Uncle_Remus, The Remulater, Josh, Guttman, Anton_Levey
From: carsten@pizza.fb10.tu-berlin.de (Carsten Schultz)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: NeXT's binaries need a diet, or the solution to NeXT's multiprocessor problem.
Date: 11 Nov 1992 15:10:47 GMT
Organization: ZRZ/TU-Berlin
Distribution: world
Reply-To: carsten@pizza.fb10.tu-berlin.de (Carsten Schultz)
NNTP-Posting-Host: pizza.fb10.tu-berlin.de

In article <Nov.11.01.37.01.1992.26014@gandalf.rutgers.edu>  
szatrows@gandalf.rutgers.edu (John Kheit) writes:
.. When
> you double click on the app for the first time the machine figures out
> what CPU is being used and deletes all of the unecessary binaries in
> the wrapper.

Well this might be a nice option, but not useful for everyone. Please do  
not forget that there might be networks with different CPUed (what a word)  
computers. And I hope, this case will not be too unfrequent, as I still  
hope for a high end NeXT.

Carsten
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
From: jeffo@uiuc.edu (J.B. Nicholson-Owens)
Subject: Re: NeXT's binaries need a diet, or the solution to NeXT's multiprocessor problem.
Reply-To: jeffo@uiuc.edu (J.B. Nicholson-Owens)
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1992 20:25:05 GMT

Tero Nieminen writes
> Probably what they will do is to shi a utility to strip unnecessary
> binaries out.

Sounds like something that would be best done as a part of the Installer.app.   
As you install the application, Installer can (call upon a program to do this  
or do it itself) remove the unnecessary parts of the binary.
-- 
-- Jeff (jeffo@uiuc.edu)
-- NeXTmail welcome
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
From: garyc@lenny.acns.nwu.edu (Gary I. Chang)
Subject: 4MB SIMM for Classic NeXTStation Color
Reply-To: garyc@lenny.acns.nwu.edu
Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 17:14:11 GMT

Hi,

	I need to get more RAMs for my classic NSC non-parity, but got  
pretty confused with SIMM naming convention. The FAQ suggests using the  
following:

"1Mx32	One by thirty-two SIMM, Literally Four Megabit Chips arranged to  
form a 32 bit word.  This is four Megabytes (one million base-two  32 bit  
addresses)".

	Is it saying that there are 32 1M RAM chips mounted in one module?

	Does the '32' referer to the 32-bits address? Or 32 of 1 MegaBits  
Chips? When I open the slab, I saw four out of the eight slots are  
occupied with SIMM modules; Each of them has 8 chips vertically mounted. 
So, they are definitely  4 Mega RAM chips which forms 4 Mega Bytes in each  
module. To be honest, it sounds more like a 4Mx8 SIMM which are used in a  
MonoSlab to me. There is also 72 Pins on each module which is split into  
half, 36 in one side, and 36 to the other.

BTW, is there any good place (mail order) for SIMMs? 
Many thanks,

g

--
+----------------+
| Gary I. Chang	 |
+----------------+   NeXT-Mail: garyc@lenny.acns.nwu.edu
Northwestern Univ.      E-Mail: garyc@eecs.nwu.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
From: eboltz@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Eric Scott Boltz)
Subject: SCSI to Parallel box?
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 15:30:47 GMT

Hi,
Still trying to decide how to connect a color printer without having
to go over serial lines. The ethernet connection is a possibility,
but fairly pricey. Has anyone seen/heard/used a SCSI-to-centronics
box? If so, how do they work?

There is still an outside chance of getting a NeXT color printer - I
should have a sample printout today.

People have commented on the poor output or performance of the Tek
printers, but this doesn't match up with my experience. Perhaps
the NeXT printer is better for some things, but in image processing
thermal wax gives that cartoonish - neon look. If I can find a cheap
enough way to hook it up, we may even go with the Phase IISD dye
sublimation printer.

Thanks to all those who responded both here and via email.

Eric S. Boltz
NIST 853

standard employer disclaimers apply

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
From: eboltz@jhunix.hcf.jhu.edu (Eric Scott Boltz)
Subject: New Keyboard
Organization: HAC - Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1992 20:57:21 GMT

Sorry if someone has discussed this already, but how does one
use command-command-~ on the new keyboard? I only see one
command bar. I suppose you could reassign the help keys...


Eric

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
From: jimu@orthanc.cs.su.oz.au (James Uther)
Subject: Re: New RISC workstations (MIPS R4400)
Reply-To: jimu@orthanc.xa.au.oz.au (James Uther)
Organization: Basser Dept of Computer Science, University of Sydney, Australia
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 1992 01:51:01 GMT
Keywords: RISC

In article <1992Nov5.061437.24266@RedBrick.COM>, jfr@RedBrick.COM () writes:
|>   Dream on.  For my money, there is no way Jobs and crew are going to
|>   go with a processor from a once-almost-bankrupt now-acquired company 
|>   which is a subsidiary of an arch-competitor (SGI).  The risc is way to
|>   high :-) (sorry for the BAD pun) 

I read recently that someone has produced a R4400 clone, so going with the 
R4400 would be as good as going with sparc (except of course that the R4400
is a better chip). Multi-vendor, RISC, etc.
Anyone know anything more?

|>   Jon Rosen

	james
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
From: sherwood@space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford)
Subject: Re: Color Printer Woes
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 19:40:51 GMT


A parallel port or even direct ethernet connection is not all the  
answer to your woes.

We bought a QMS colorscript thermal printer.  So I connected it to the  
IBM RS6000's parallel port.  Printed a file that had embedded a several  
megabyte bitmap.

Twenty minutes later it printed.

So much for fast parallel.  IBM must have a bug in their printer  
driver.

So I moved to a next and hooked it up at 9600 baud.  Same file.
40 minutes.

Got out the manual and upped the comm link to 19,200 baud.  Same file:
20 minutes.

Got a patched version of lpd that would handle 38,400 baud.  Futzed  
about getting the printer to talk at this pace.

Same file. 19 minutes.

Turns out that the printer only has a motorola 68000 in it.  At speeds  
above 19200 baud the rasterizer can't keep up with the data stream. So  
it says, 'Enough! Let me think' and a few seconds later opens up for  
another chunk.

Moral:  If you are going to be handling large files, be sure you test  
the printer with those files.  Too many colour printers are crippled  
with slow cpu's.