From: jmd@cube.handheld.com (Jim De Arras)
Subject: Re: NeXT Cube System For Sale
Organization: Hand Held Products, Inc.
Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1992 02:36:06 GMT

In article <1992Oct6.004459.3564@utstat.uucp> philip@utstat.uucp (Philip  
McDunnough) writes:
> In article <1992Oct5.233457.13611@cube.handheld.com> jmd@cube.handheld.com  
(Jim De Arras) writes:
> 
> [Quotes a message from Glenn Reid which is difficult to ignore...]
> >
> >I'm afraid I tend to agree with Philip.  I do not plan to go 'back' to Mac  
or  
> >OS/2, though I have both platforms.  I will ride out the rest of the show  
with  
> >NeXT, until Pink, or whatever, passes NeXT.
> 
> Hmm...I find it odd speaking at my own demise, so to speak, but I do think
> that there was no statement meant from me re my "for sale" ad!

I derived your position from Glenn Reid's statement, I assumed 'inside'  
information.  I apologize for that assumption.

> >
> >I was not a NeXT nay-sayer (except for the ND board) until 3.0 came out.  I  
now  
> >see the end for NeXT.  Another 2-3 years, max.  One more platform.  Then a  
new  
> >force will take over.
> 
> Well, I simply don't agree with this. I believe the NeXT spirit deserves to 
> exist. The concept of NeXT had attracted some very talented and thoughtful
> people, such as Glenn, and you don't just form a community overnight. This
> is one of the frustrations that I personally have had with NeXT. There are
> some very interesting people involved with the platform. A community has
> slowly emerged. It won't go away that easily. You certainly don't find it
> in the PC and the Mac worlds. They have become too utilitarian, and there's
> a human dimension missing.            
> 
I hope you are correct.  I do believe the 'spirit' of this type of OS will  
survive, it's already being copied.  I do not think NeXT, on their current  
path, will make it, though.
 
> It's a little like losing a few top scientists in a department. You don't  
just
> replace them and find that old spirit intact. I very much suspect that the
> NeXT has much of this. It has also become dominated by a direction which
> will diminish the spirit in the short term, but I see that spirit returning
> in a couple of years.
>  
This is where your and my 'vision' diverge.  Historically, a computer company  
seldom if ever recaptures the spirit that drove them in the beginning.  I can't  
think of an example.  Apple is trying, now, with Newton.  They may break the  
trend.  But I doubt it.

> I now have the 486, and it's very fast, not elegant, runs a great application
> called Scientific Word, but it lacks a soul. I could never be attached to it.
> The Mac is to a lessor extent the same way.
>  
> Anyway, in short,the future is bright for those who hang in there. 

I'm hanging on to the platform.  I 'ride' the leading edge as much as possible,  
and NeXT is still it, for now.

> >
> >I SINCERELY hope I'm wrong.  But pattern recognition is one of my marketable  
> >skills, and I'm seldom wrong on a point like this.
> 
> Well, I've had a lot of disappointments with the Cube, and I do work in
> crystal ball gazing. I suspect you are very wrong.
>  

Again, I do hope you are right.  But I gotten this far in life on my insight,  
and it hasn't failed me, yet.  Anyway, I'm on record, and will gladly eat crow  
whenever it should become appropriate.

> By the way, I have been offered $5kUS for my system. This appears fair. It
> is now simply an issue involving some irrational factors and some pratical
> ones.
>  
> I thank everyone for their "offers". All messages received were polite and
> sincere. The system is now for all intents and purposes no longer available.
>  
> Philip

As always, these are only my opinions.

Jim
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.marketplace