From: dave@doctor.chem.yale.edu (David Maxwell)
Subject: Re: How About a Word Processor with IRIX 4.0.X?
Organization: Yale University, Department of Computer Science, New Haven, CT
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 05:13:48 GMT

From article <1992Apr11.004752.9988@ringer.cs.utsa.edu>, by senseman@lonestar.utsa.edu (David M. Senseman):
> With summertime fast approaching (at least here in Texas), maybe
> someone at SGI should get a couple of talented Stanford graduate
> student interns to write some apps for Workspace, in particular
> a modest Word Processor. I don't mean a heavy duty product like
> Frame, but something that could give you WYSIWYG, a spell checker,
> mouse control, etc. For example, when Microsoft released Windows, 
> it included its "Write" program ... a reasonable little text 
> processor. Write is/was functional, but not a serious competitor to
> "end-high" packages such Word for Windows, WordPerfect for Windows, etc.
> 
> While I'm not about to trade in my 4 Indigos for some NeXT machines,
> I will say that NeXT does "bundle" a nice word processor in with the
> OS (not to mention Mathematica). If SGI wants to position the Indigo
> as a viable desktop machine, then a few apps like a word processor,
> electronic rolodex, appointment calendare, etc -- namely Window
> like apps -- should be included with the OS at no charge. And don't
> tell me that I can get WordPerfect for my Indigos. I have an
> eval copy of WP and I think it's SCANDALOUS to charge people > $500
> for that ascii junk -- even run as a 'gui' WP 5.0 is still ascii. 
> Kinda reminds me of another "top" software firm that got out of
> touch with reality. Anyone old enough to remember VisiCorp and it's
> number one spreadsheet, VisiCalc?
> 
> 
> -- 
>               David Senseman (senseman@lonestar.utsa.edu)

Yes, I agree with Dave.  The Indigo is a wonderful machine, but SGI needs
to look into how they market this computer.  I've been seeing ads everywhere.
They are trying to market the entry Indigo against the higher end PC's, Mac's,
and others.  I wouldn't trade my Indigo for anything, but I would like to
see some changes.

First of all, SGI has to realize that there are individuals who are buying
the indigo.  Everytime I call SGI, they can't understand that I'm not
affiliated with a compny.  It takes a little convicing for them to understand
that I'm a graduate student.  This is not a big deal, but it is a little
annoying.  This brings me to my second point.  Most individuals cannot afford
to pay $1200 for a much needed compiler.  I presume that I haven't been the
only person who spent nearly all of their budget on just the system itself.
I don't regret my decision to buy the indigo, but I wish that SGI would
understand that $1000-2000 for one software package is quite a chunk of money
for a individual.  Maybe they could set up some plan for single users that
would allow purchasing at a much lower price.  Hint! Hint!  I realize that
SGI charges the high amount in order to pay for the development, etc.  I never
have realized, though, why selling 1000 copies at $1000 was any different than
selling 10000 copies at $100.  The only difference I can see is that more users
are benefiting from the lower cost.  Also, it leaves the users with $900 more
to spend on software.  This reminds me of the "lemonade stand" game I used to
play on the old Apple II computer.

I believe that bundling the computer with some much needed software is also
appropriate.  Since the indigo will be used in such a wide range of fields,
maybe allowing the user to select a software package would be nice.  What
does everyone think?

Well, that's my two cent worth!

Dave Maxwell (dave@doctor.chem.yale.edu)

Newsgroups: comp.sys.sgi