From: bmehlman@trirex.com(Ben Mehlman)
Subject: Re:  NeXTStep 486 Drivers (was: 'I wish I was')  Reality Check
Reply-To: bmehlman@trirex.com
Organization: Trirex Systems Inc.
Distribution: usa
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 00:04:44 GMT

In article <dillon.0o3k@overload.Berkeley.CA.US>  
dillon@overload.Berkeley.CA.US (Matthew Dillon) writes:
> >In article <sxjcb-210992104208@sxjcb.uacn.alaska.edu>  
sxjcb@orca.alaska.edu (Jay C. Beavers) writes:
> >>In article <66229@cup.portal.com>, Eco_-_Development@cup.portal.com  
wrote:
> >>
> >> Next wouldn't have to write hundreds of video drivers or disk device  
drivers
> >> or fax or etc. etc. etc...  there exists standard chipsets and  
methods for
> >> accomplishing these ends.  Next has decided to support VESA for its  
video
> >> drivers,  taking care of 99% of all video cards out there,  there is  
a
> >> high level spec for talking to SCSI controllers (newer) out there,   
most fax
> >> boards are based on the same chip set,  etc.
> >
> >This just simply isn't true.  VESA video spec does not acheive '99%'
> >compatibility.  Most boards don't support VESA, many that do use MS-Dos
> 
>     I agree, whoever made that statement has no inkling of the massive
>     compatibility problems PC software suppliers make and face.  ALL
>     existing standards have major cavets to them and are massively
>     incompatible even within their own domain.
> 

***************** Mild Flaming Beyond This Point ************************

So what exactly are you two suggesting??  Sounds to me like you would  
prefer that the NeXTStep/486 developers should simply kill themselves and  
avoid the inevitable pain of failure.

Software runs on hardware, and somewhere down the line, the two have to  
interface!  So NO, there probably won't be a decent driver for your  
'akachaki' brand SVGA adapter for quite some time.  And NO, you aren't  
going to get full fidelity audio on a 7 KHz, 8 bit audio card.

What you WILL get from NS/486 is nothing more or less than what you get  
from genuine NeXT hardware, IF you provide PC hardware that offers similar  
performance to that of the NeXT hardware.  And YES, you will most likely  
be limited in your choice of audio and video standards, especially if you  
want your system to perform as well as a NeXTStation does.

Judging from NeXTs software performance so far, I feel safe saying that  
there will be enough hardware compatibility in the early releases to  
satisfy most users, and the 3rd party drivers will not be long in  
coming...

Realize also that NeXT is most likely not all that interested (at least  
initially) in Joe Windows who bought his tin system on the corner.  They  
are interested in businesses that are looking for top quality, well  
supported software to support their operations.  Most big businesses don't  
just throw any old card into their systems.

Also realize that video and sound cards are relatively cheap, and can be  
replaced.  Indeed Windows 3.1 prompted many users to upgrade their audio  
and video.  I'm sure those who want top performance from NS/486 will do  
the same.

Also realize that the NeXTStation is still available.  No-one is forcing  
you to run NS on a PC.  I for one am extremely happy with the performance  
of my black hardware.
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    \|/        Ben Mehlman                      Indigo..
   ^   ^       Trirex Systems Inc      
   #   #       bmehlman@trirex.com                   Indigoing..
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