From: viktor@mks.com (Viktor Haag)
Subject: New NeXT user
Organization: Mortice Kern Systems Inc., Waterloo, Ontario, CANADA
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 17:38:15 GMT

Ok -- the subject line is a little misleading.

I don't actually own a NeXT at this point.  However, things in my life
indicate at the moment that I will be a proud owner of a new slab
in 6 to 8 months!  Here's the rub ...

I currently own a 4meg MacPlus, and desperately want to upgrade.  The
two packages I am looking at are the Mac IIsi (or PBook 170), or
the Turbo NextStation.  I have all but decided to buy the NextStation,
*but* I have to also convince my wife! (ah yes!  you see my problem!).

What should I be aware of when trying to make a decision, and trying to
communicate the info to a completely application oriented computer
user (She Who Must be Obeyed) on this issue?

The NeXT package that fits my budget is as follows:

16 Mb RAM, 250 Mb storage, Monochrome Turbo NeXTStation
Laser Printer
Wordperfect
Improv
Adobe Illustrator
Frame (maybe)

The software costs are pretty incidental (as I can purchase them through
a University, and thus pay next to nothing for them, except for Frame
and that's why it is a maybe).

Exactly what bundled software will come with this hardware?  What
limitations will I experience with the 250 Mb, as opposed to the
400 Mb?  What kind of application performance will I get with these
packages compared to the Mac IIsi/PBook 170?

Can I skimp on the printer for now and get a third party inkjet?  Are there
drivers for such animals?  (I know NeXT is PS native, but I could convince
my wife much faster by shaving 800 dollars off the price!).

Is it a reasonable bet that NeXT will be around and supporting this
configuration for a long time?  I want to be able, at this point, to
purchase a system and not worry about it being left behind by NeXT,
at least for the next five years (my wife's timeline for obsolecence
is longer than that -- she is muttering about ten years).

I am not afraid of buying a computer that is not used by every Tom
Dick and Harry, after all -- I paid an extra thousand to get a Mac
Plus when I could have bought IBM/Windows (yechhh).  My wife,
however, is very happy with the Mac, and the Mac interface, so
She Who Must be Obeyed must also be persuaded that she will not encounter
*any* difficulties or stumbling blocks when moving to a computer system
she knows nothing about.  I have assured her that the interface is
very similar to Finder, Windows, and so on, only better.

Is this a reasonable assumption?  How many of you out there know people
who use a NeXT happily (even fanatically), who look all confused at
you when you mention the word UNIX, and ask you whether that has something
to with the cable bill?

Basically, I am willing to move platforms (with enthusiasm), but if
my wife stands firm with MacIntosh, I will happily stand with her.
I have never had complaints with Mac, but I do think that for the money
the NeXT is a better machine (thus this post).

Please reply by email, as I am sure that no-one wants to read the replies
in this group.  Don't be shy about answering only one or two of my
pesky questions!  The more info I have, both positive and negative,
the better able I will be to make a decision (and maybe come on 
board for real).


-- 
Viktor Haag					viktor@mks.com
Mortice Kern Systems				(519) 884-2251
35 King North, Waterloo, Ontario		ext. 16