From: fo6r@ellis.uchicago.edu (Eric 'Bird' Fortune)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware
Subject: Re: Ethernet?
Date: 14 Oct 92 22:35:20 GMT
Article-I.D.: midway.1992Oct14.223520.7121
Reply-To: fo6r@midway.uchicago.edu
Distribution: na
Organization: University of Chicago Computing Organizations


In article <1992Oct13.211857.26003@midway.uchicago.edu>
        fo6r@midway.uchicago.edu writes:
>I wish NeXT offered a machine without ethernet.
>Why not sell some NeXTs with a fast FAXmodem/ISDN built in 
>instead of the ethernet card?

In article <1992Oct14.090440.13657@csus.edu>
	eps@cs.sfsu.edu writes

>>Built-in Ethernet is *dirt cheap*.
>>On-board modems are a total lose...

>>NeXTs really aren't marketed as standalone machines.

>>NeXT isn't in the business of selling low-end stations.

>>NeXT consistently loses sales to Sun [because] NeXT doesn't support
>>*multiple* ethernets per machine.

>>NeXT doesn't give a shit about students.

>>*In less enlightened times, they would simply be branded
>>"cretins" and dismissed forthwith.  But we're kinder and gentler
>>and more politically correct, so we'll just send you to your room
>>to play with your Windoze companions and virus accelerators
>>until you're sufficiently mature to participate in polite
>>society.

Well, perhaps I should give up my NeXT and buy several PC's - I see that 
you want to be alone with your NeXT...   

Too bad, my NeXT is here to stay - I find Windoze and "DOS compatible" to 
be more painful than a virulent boil.  

But, there are millions of 'cretins' out there - some are university
professors, others common weasels. Personally, I hate the fact that NeXT's 
are so lonely and that PCs and Macs have so many friends... When trying to
convince profs to buy NeXTs, one of the big selling points is 
the fact that the Ethernet is already installed - and painless to get up 
and running.

For others, like a friend of mine who just graduated law school, the
ethernet is not even a consideration.  He simply likes NeXTstep better than
windows and Mac os.  And there are professional programs on the market
that do everything he needs.  So, he won't be using the two best features
of the NeXT, networking and development.  He will, however, have moved a
NeXT out of the factory.  

On the other hand, I suspect that companies like Stone and Rightbrain are 
going to be deeply offended that my friend will use their software on a 
machine that isn't being used to its potential.

I personally don't think that people should have to pass a UNIX test
to own a NeXT.  Of course, the more UNIX/C they know the happier they will
be.  I have kept track of all of the problems that I have encountered
while administering my NeXT - none of them - with the exception of
installing my modem, required me to do anything that wasn't outlined in
detail in the manuals.  Part of the reason I bought my NeXT was UNIX -
but one can avoid it (for the most part) if necessary.

Oh, and when comparing NeXT's to SUN's, perhaps you should also remember the
obvious. SUNs smoke NeXTs in terms of raw horsepower.  Give me a NeXT
RiSCstation and then we'll compare apples to apples.  Though, I still 
wouldn't give up my NeXT for a SUN - X windows is as pleasant as athelete's
foot.

Lastly, students and NeXTs: The edu discount for NeXTs is impressive (as 
I am sure you must already know).  My new "low end" mono/station
/25mHz/8RAM/200HD with free 3.0 upgrade cost me 3360$ - not a penny more.  
I suspect I could buy more than one 'log' with the >1000$ I saved.  Perhaps
some more RAM might be more appropriate... Plus, plenty of the apps on the archives were developed by students.

I agree that the idea of replacing the ethernet with a modem isn't so hot...
The NeXT is supposed to to be critical to a wide range of missions -
my suggestion is that some missions don't require an ethernet port, 
sometimes a modem connection to the net will more than suffice...

We will all benefit if more NeXTs are sold, even to people who haven't 
quite become "mature enough to participate in polite society"

eric fortune			NeXTstep : 99.9% of the time it just works
fo6r@midway.uchicago.edu	System 7 : still beta
no NeXTmail			Windows  : sucks
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.hardware