From: rpomeroy@aunext1.amd.com (Ron Pomeroy x(Coop))
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: End of NeXT
Date: 22 Dec 92 22:39:52 GMT
Reply-To: rpomeroy@aunext1.amd.com
Distribution: usa
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.; Austin, Texas

In article <72148@cup.portal.com> kent_stuart_smith@cup.portal.com writes:
>>Interesting to read the NeXT news again, I've been away from it as I sold my 
>>Colorstation last year (Back to the Mac-sorry).  Anyway, a friend of mine who
>>should know (he used to be at NeXT) said that Jobs delayed the NS '486 intro 
>>not because of technical glitches, but because he fears the effect on hard-
>>ware sales.  The code is already done.
               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
               The code for 2.1 is done...not 3.0!
	The real reason NS486's ship date is slipping is because their 	
	customers insisted that they support a greater variety of display and 
	sound hardware...now their bustin' ass to write drivers (actually I 
	think they're writing some sort of DriverKit for reuse) for 
	every swingin' graphics board they can.
 
>Apparently Grove(from Intel) came
>>to convince Jobs to start shipping the product, and twice Jobs ended up 
>>cancelling his meetings with him.  I don't think this bodes well for NeXT,
>>as I feel there has been a real decrease in media attention the company has 
>>gotten in the last year.  
	
	Media attention doesn't pay the bills...customers do!  NS486 *will* 
	increase the installed NeXTSTEP user base...period...and thats what 
	matters.  Besides,  NeXTSTEP3.0 is getting some great press these 
	days!  NeXT may not (arguably) be getting the AMOUNT of attention they
	used to, but the articles are much more positive.  You need to catch 
	up dude!  I've never felt more certain that I made the right decision
	to stick with NeXT. Have you noticed:

		1) Pencom is tripling their NeXT staff
		2) There is a lengthy thread on the net about the 
		   shortage of NeXT programmers
		3) All the server and database deals NeXT is making.
		4) Numerous 1000+ orders for NS486
		5) All the universities which KEEP BUYING NeXTs to teach
		   freshmen calculus and engineering courses.
	  

>The real enemy is Microsoft (for Apple too).  It
>>is sad, but true that people have brand loyalty in computers.  It seems that
>>the vast majority of users will buy inferior products, just because they know
>> the 'name' of IBM, DOS, or Microsoft. I fear that when Windows NT is 
>>introduced, there will be a big push for that product that will obliterate
>>NS '486,as well as Mac networking. It won't matter that Windows NT is a secon
>>d rate product- it will be a huge success just because Microsoft is behind it
>>Its much like Ford Motor Co. in the early part of the century.  I fear that
>>NeXT will be be eventually bought by the Japanese.

	Bahaahahahhahahhahahahahahhaahaha!!!!!!!

>>They may be able to 
>>eventually use NS in a successful fight with Microsoft in the future. I also 
>>fear that Jobs won't be able to hold out forever- remember, he's lost a lot
>> of his fortune in NeXT, as well as his credibility in the computer world. It
>> took me back to see the cheap prices of NeXT machines offered by Spherical

	And why do you think so many of these machines are for sale?  I'll give
	you a clue...Its not because they are going to quit using NeXTs...They
	bought faster NeXTs!  The fact that I can now buy a used NeXT for 
	less than two grand is actually very encouraging.

>>(even though they are used).  Watch out for the prices, though when NeXT is a
>>wholly owned Japanese company...

	Not!	

(This isn't intended to be flamage...I'm just an incurable optimist)

--
Ronald Pomeroy		[Objective-Cruntime: [Smalltalk runtime]];
Advanced Micro Devices	[self dream-on];
CAM Applications Group
rpomeroy@aunext1.amd.com (NeXTmail preferred)