HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: sherwood@fenris.space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford)
Subject: Re: NeXTstep 3.0
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 16:47:09 GMT

Allen B writes
> 
> Considering our semester starts on the 24th, the 3.0
> release is really too late for me whenever it is.  I got  
the
> impression from early news of 3.0 that I'd have it up and
> running by now.  The date kept slipping and so did my  
chance
> of using it any time soon.  
> 
> A big "Boo!  Hiss!" to missing a summer release date.  I  
now
> either have to close our lab or wait 'til October to get  
the
> job done right.  I'm sure other Universities have similar
> situations. 
> 
> If NeXT is still aiming at higher education, they're not
> hitting it very well.  Our machines should be stable and
> consistent all semester long.  Making me do an upgrade
> once a semester is underway is not a way to be my friend. 
> 
> I'm not opposed to coming in weekends and working late
> nights to get machines upgraded and tested.  I'd just
> rather do it between sessions and not when 440 users are
> expecting to use our 24 hour lab.   
> 
> Allen B (Not the best NeXTperson to piss off)

(Perhaps the next-best person to....)

I know that Next has been working hard to make sure this  
release is bug-free software (oxymoron?) but having watched  
numerous VMS, AIX, Ultrix, DOS (Ugh) Windows (Ugh  
factorial) come down the pipe, let me say this:  Don't  
commit too deeply.

Were I in Allen's shoes I'd upgrade 1 machine in each lab  
to 3.0, and wait and see what happens.


On the flip side, I too am eagerly awaiting the release.   
But it will b installed on only 1 machine for two months  
before I consider putting it on the rest.
From: khera@cs.duke.edu (Vivek Khera)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: Do you want free objects from FSF?
Date: 19 Aug 92 13:12:32 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.next.misc
Organization: Duke University CS Dept., Durham, NC
In-reply-to: gsk@world.std.com's message of 19 Aug 92 11:23:55 GMT
X-Md4-Signature: 12c1302353cb0fa84bbbcc29e6c14109

I'd be happy with an Object class, so I can at least start writing my
own stuff using gcc.  Currently, gcc doesn't even have the base class
that is needed for dispatching messages.  I think that should be the
first effort.  Maybe we can convince NeXT it would be in their best
interest to release their base class so that Obj-C will become more
popular and be available on many platforms immediately.

Of course, I think that the base Object class should be totally
unencumbered by the GPL, like the rest of the gcc runtime support
library.  That way, if you write your own Object library, the
resulting binary image will not fall under the GPL unless you want it
that way.  Of course, the object library should be under the same
terms as libg++ or GNU libc.
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Vivek Khera, Gradual Student/Systems Guy  Department of Computer Science
Internet:   khera@cs.duke.edu             Box 90129
            (MIME mail accepted)          Durham, NC 27708-0129 (919)660-6528
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: Hal.Varian@umich.edu
Subject: Re:  |STAT (was: statistics for NeXT: summary)
Keywords: statistics
Reply-To: Hal.Varian@umich.edu
Organization: University of Michigan Math Dept
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 02:24:07 GMT

In article <1992Aug17.211729.18917@lsa.umich.edu> I wrote:

> I asked Gary Perlman if would be OK to post the executables
> and doc files to |STAT and he said OK.  So these are now on
> sonata.cc.purdue.edu in statPerlman.tar.Z.  This file
> also contains the information about the (very small) changes  
> needed to compile the source on the NeXT.

Opps.  I compiled these files under NS3.0, and they don't work  
under 2.x due to the different shared libraries.  The  
executables for 2.0 (without the docs) are in statPerlman2.tar.Z  
on sonata.cc.purdue.edu. 

Sorry for the mistake.

--
Hal.Varian@umich.edu    Hal Varian
voice: 313-764-2364     Dept of Economics
fax:   313-764-2364     Univ of Michigan
                        Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1220
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: sears@tree.egr.uh.edu (Paul S. Sears)
Subject: Re: NeXTstep 3.0
Reply-To: sears@tree.egr.uh.edu
Organization: University of Houston
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 22:25:53 GMT

In article <1992Aug18.164709.17243@kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca>  
sherwood@fenris.space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford) writes:
=>Allen B writes
=>> 
=>> Considering our semester starts on the 24th, the 3.0
=>> release is really too late for me whenever it is.  I got  
=>the
=>> impression from early news of 3.0 that I'd have it up and
=>> running by now.  The date kept slipping and so did my  
=>chance
=>> of using it any time soon.  
=>> 
=>> A big "Boo!  Hiss!" to missing a summer release date.  I  
=>now
=>> either have to close our lab or wait 'til October to get  
=>the
=>> job done right.  I'm sure other Universities have similar
=>> situations. 
=>> 
=>> If NeXT is still aiming at higher education, they're not
=>> hitting it very well.  Our machines should be stable and
=>> consistent all semester long.  Making me do an upgrade
=>> once a semester is underway is not a way to be my friend. 
=>> 
=>> I'm not opposed to coming in weekends and working late
=>> nights to get machines upgraded and tested.  I'd just
=>> rather do it between sessions and not when 440 users are
=>> expecting to use our 24 hour lab.   
=>> 
=>> Allen B (Not the best NeXTperson to piss off)
=>
=>(Perhaps the next-best person to....)
=>
=>I know that Next has been working hard to make sure this  
=>release is bug-free software (oxymoron?) but having watched  
=>numerous VMS, AIX, Ultrix, DOS (Ugh) Windows (Ugh  
=>factorial) come down the pipe, let me say this:  Don't  
=>commit too deeply.
=>
=>Were I in Allen's shoes I'd upgrade 1 machine in each lab  
=>to 3.0, and wait and see what happens.
=>
=>
=>On the flip side, I too am eagerly awaiting the release.   
=>But it will b installed on only 1 machine for two months  
=>before I consider putting it on the rest.

We are one of the Beta sites for 3.0 and since we got the first prerelease, we  
have been running 18 NeXTs on 3.0 and our other 50 or so are still on 2.1/2.2.    
What was fun is that our cluster has 2 servers, one is 2.1 and one is 3.0...   
Oh the joys.....

We are going to do a complete upgrade to 3.0 prerelease 2 if we don't get the  
final disk by the time our semester starts....  Then we will have to upgrade  
again once we get the final release.  This will only be a pain for me, but we  
need to have all users on some version 3.0 before the semester starts or we  
would end up confusing the hell out of them (Ooo, ahhh)...
--
Paul S. Sears                *  sears@uh.edu (NeXT Mail OK)
The University of Houston    *  suggestions@tree.egr.uh.edu (NeXT
Engineering Computing Center *  comments, complaints, questions)
NeXT System Administration   *  DoD#1967 '83 NightHawk 650SC 
          >>> SSI Diving Certification #755020059 <<<
"Programming is like sex: One mistake and you support it a lifetime."
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: thomsen@spf.trw.com (Mark Thomsen)
Subject: Re: NeXT Sales figures
Organization: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA
Date: Thu, 20 Aug 92 18:51:34 GMT

Dave Griffiths writes
> Have NeXT released any sales figures recently? When was the last quarter
> for which unit shipments were published? How many machines were sold in 91?
> 
> No guesstimates please - I'm looking for official figures. 

NeXT does not make the figures public and rarely comments on estimates made
by others. IDC has made estimates through 1991 that have been posted here.

If you need the figures for business purposes (like convincing someone
towards funding NeXT purchases or NeXT software development) then you might
make an official request through your local NeXT contact - and expect that
you should keep the numbers confidential.

Mark R. Thomsen
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: jmd@cube.handheld.com (Jim De Arras)
Subject: Re: Stability of Next as a company
Organization: Hand Held Products, Inc.
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 23:33:11 GMT

In article <1992Aug22.203141.956@wolves.uucp> lance@wolves.durham.nc.us (Lance  
Brown) writes:
> Hello,
> 
> I would like to get some opinions on how stable NeXT is as a company.  I
> have been an avid fan of the NeXT boxes since they came out and am strongly
> considering buying one for personal use at home.
> 
> I also have friends who are impressed with these machines, but feel that
> the company is just NOT going to last and they will end up with an orphaned
> machine if they buy NeXT boxes.
> 
> What do you think of the long term stability of the company?
> 
> Lance

I see no problem in NeXT surviving for the next 2-3 years.  Beyond that, I see  
no reason for their failure, but I don't have the needed crystal ball to  
predict the market.  In any event, there will be enough population at that  
point to provide inertial for a few more years, i.e. to the point that anything  
you buy today will be compared to a door stop by then.  

And, as I always promote, buy a computer for what it will do for you today.   
Computers are NOT an investment item for the future.  No matter WHAT you buy  
today, there will be something better next year, or sooner. As the owner of  
various deadend systems, i.e. some S-100 systems, a Computer Automation Naked  
Mini 4/10, an Osborne 01, a MAC IIfx, and a NeXTdimension, I know what I'm  
talking about here! 

Jim De Arras
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: mgrmdk@nextwork.rose-hulman.edu
Subject: ED Disks
Organization: Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 17:29:58 GMT


Hi all,
	Just a piece of information that might be of interest.  I was just  
down at our local bookstore and found out that Verbatim now sells ED disks  
for a considerably lower price than previously found.  Here they are just  
a little over $4 each.  Much better than the $6.50 each that i had found  
before.  They are starting to come into the affordable range.

Mike Kohlmeier
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: phaedrus@leland.Stanford.EDU (Avery Wang)
Subject: Renderman *.rib example files?  FTP site?
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305 USA
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 18:37:32 GMT

Does anyone know of an FTP site with examples of Renderman scenes?  I'd like 
to try rendering some scenes on my poor 2 MFLOP NeXT.

	Avery Wang
	Institut fuer Neuroinformatik
	Ruhr-Universitaet Bochum
	ND 03/32, Postfach 10 21 48
	W-4630 Bochum 1
	Germany

	Tel: +49-234-700-7994 (office)
	            -7094-210 (Fax)
	email: awang@isl.stanford.edu
	       avery@neuroinformatik.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
From: rfr@honeoye.bst.rochester.edu (Richard Raubertas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: Statistical Packages for NeXT?
Summary: S-plus now shipping!
Date: 13 Aug 92 18:00:47 GMT
Organization: University of Rochester (Rochester, NY)

In article <1992Aug12.173040.2778@athena.mit.edu> ljva@athena.mit.edu (L. James Valverde A. Jr.) writes:
>
>A couple of months ago, there were a few postings on the subject of statistical
>analysis packages for the NeXT. I recall that at the time, there was some mention
>of S+ being ported over to the NeXT environment. Does anyone have any information
>they can share about this. Any other info. concerning stat. packages for the NeXT
>would also be appreciated.

S-plus for NeXT is now shipping--my copy just came.  
Graphics require an X windows system (e.g., XNeXT, co-Xist, Cub'X,
etc.).  According to the marketing person I talked to, if there
is enough demand, StatSci will produce a NeXTSTEP version.

For info:  mktg@statsci.com   206-283-8802

Rich Raubertas
rfr@bst.rochester.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: rraucci@well.sf.ca.us (Richard Raucci)
Subject: Re: Anyone have opinions on NeXT 17" and 21" color monitors?
Organization: Whole Earth 'Lectronic Link
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 14:56:20 GMT


Help!  I'm trying to connect a NextStation Color to an RGB monitor.  Ques-
tions:

	1. What's the cable pinouts from the NextStation?

	2. Is a 9-pin dsub monitor connection possible?

It's an Amiga 1084 monitor.  Possible, not possible?

Richard
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: sherwood@fenris.space.ualberta.ca (Sherwood Botsford)
Subject: Re: 2 bit TIFF -> Bezier ??
Organization: University Of Alberta, Edmonton Canada
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 1992 21:29:43 GMT

One of the things that may help in this is the pbmplus set of utilities.

While they have nothing to make the conversion itself, running the image  
through pnmedge will make it far easier to trace.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: madler@cco.caltech.edu (Mark Adler)
Subject: New release of Zip and Unzip
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Date: Sat, 22 Aug 1992 07:28:21 GMT


I have uploaded the source and executables for the new release of
Zip 1.9 and Unzip 5.0 to cs.orst.edu and nova.cc.purdue.edu, both
in the pub/next/submissions directory.  The files are:

     unzip50.tar.Z		unzip source
     zip19.zip			zip source
     zip19-next.tar.Z		above compiled under 2.1 (zip & unzip)

This new release has countless new features over the old release, but
some highlights are better compression using the new PKZIP "deflate"
method and the ability to use zip and funzip as filters in place of
compress and zcat.

Mark Adler
madler@tybalt.caltech.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: mslade@netcom.com (Michael Slade)
Subject: Re: 2 bit TIFF -> Bezier ??
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 92 21:41:27 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 

jgg@proforma.com (J. G. Gregory) writes:

>In article <1992Aug11.215852.8477@nmsu.edu> rscott@spock.NMSU.Edu (Joseph Good)  
>writes:
>>
>>is there a program out there that can transform a Black and White TIFF image  
>>into a Bezier image?  I've converted it into EPS, but it just did the same old  
>>bitmap (as far as I know).  I'm wanting to have it "get rid of the edges" so  
>to  
>>speak...  smooth things out.
>>

>Yes. Its called Adobe Illustrator.  (Some other programs can to do it as well,  
>but Illustrator is the only one I know of for the NeXT.) The conversion you  
>want is non-trivial, and is best used in a interactive editing type enviroment,  
>where you can "fix up" the computers best guesses at edge detection.

>--J Gregory
Adobe also has a great app on PC & Mac (I wish they'd port to NeXT) called
Streamline.  It is a more advanced version of the autotracing available
in Illustrator.
-- Michael Slade, Datavision

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: bbs@neb (BBS System 801-967-8072)
Subject: Laser Printer Probs
Organization: Nebula BBS - Salt Lake City Utah, USA
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 21:51:28 GMT

Hello, world.
 
My trusty 400 dpi laser printer is choking on envelopes. The manual feed
will take in the envelope about 1/3 of the way, then tell me that the
pap0er is jammed. Cass feed paper still works well. The printer is 2
months out of warranty.
 
Reply to magnusson!kris, as I don't get to check this group regularly
any more. Thanks.
 
Kris Magnusson
Pres., SLNUG
-----
Posted by BBS User: Kris Magnusson
Xref: sparky comp.sys.next.misc:18757 comp.soft-sys.nextstep:2
From: kdb@work5 (Kurt Bollacker)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc,comp.soft-sys.nextstep
Subject: What do we lose with NeXTStep 3.0?
Date: 18 Aug 92 16:01:17 GMT
Followup-To: comp.sys.next.misc
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4

I've read lots of opinions about NeXTStep 3.0 on the net and even sent 
away for the data sheet on 3.0, so I think I know good deal of what will
be enhanced and added from 2.x.  However, what will we lose when upgrading
to 3.0.  According to NeXT we will lost the DSP development tools, the music
kit, and maybe some other demos.  Any guesses as to whether these will work
if transferred to a 3.0 environment?  Are there any less abovious things
that we might be losing.  Calls to NeXT have not been very helpful.
Inquiring minds want to know.

Kurt D. Bollacker
Duke University Medical Center
kdb@dukebar.mc.duke.edu
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: mitroo@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Varun Mitroo)
Subject: New objects available on sonata
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 17:13:37 GMT

I have just submitted a demo program using two objects I have written to
sonata.cc.purdue.edu.  It is located in the /pub/next/submissions directory.

-rw-r--r--  1 ftp      ftpd        1101 Aug 21 17:03 ImageScrollView1.0.README
-rw-r--r--  1 ftp      ftpd     1172411 Aug 21 17:03 ImageScrollView1.0.tar.Z

Here's the readme file:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ImageScrollView1.0.tar.Z contains a demo program that uses two objects I have
developed, ImageScrollView and MiniView.  I have simply removed the source
code and object documentation  These objects greatly fascilitate looking at
large images such as scanned documents and faxes.

These objects will appear in NeXT's ObjectWare catalog which should be
available soon or is already available.  I thought people may be interested
in seeing an example of what will be available through the catalog.

These objects were developed under 2.1, and also work with 3.0 beta.  However,
in 3.0, there is an odd problem - the slider in the scaling panel disappears.
I will fix this problem after 3.0 is officially released.  If developers
working with 3.0 have already encountered something similar, I would appreciate
any info.

Finally, the package also contains two sample images, an XRay and a fax (saved
in TIFF form) that can be displayed in the Example program.  Hope you find
these objects interesting, and feel free to send me any comments or
suggestions.

Varun Mitroo
mitroo@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu

Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: pluther@percy.rain.com (Pat Luther)
Subject: Re: NeXT 400 dpi laser printer & envelopes
Organization: Percy's mach, Portland, OR
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 1992 07:17:37 GMT

rscott@spock.NMSU.Edu (Joseph Good) writes:


>is it possible to put an envelope through the manual paper feed in the NeXT  
>laser printer?  Anybody out there tried it?

Yep, I do it all the time.
You can also put them in the autofeed tray if you've got a bunch of them,
it has little slidey things inside it to accomodate things like that.
It sometimes jams up, though, but then the computer tells you so in 
so it's still faster than feeding them one by one....


-- 
Pat Luther: Lex's Evil Twin
picard!pat@percy.rain.com <-- NeXTmail OK.
pluther@percy.rain.com (sometimes quicker)
luther@uop.edu (slowest of all...)
From: sam_s@NeXT.com (Sam Streeper)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: What do we lose with NeXTStep 3.0?
Date: 19 Aug 92 01:36:20 GMT
Reply-To: sam_s@NeXT.com

In article <4634@news.duke.edu> kdb@work5 (Kurt Bollacker) writes:
> According to NeXT we will lost the DSP development tools, the music
> kit, and maybe some other demos.  Any guesses as to whether these will work
> if transferred to a 3.0 environment?  Are there any less abovious things
> that we might be losing?

The set of demos is somewhat different, so you might want to save your
old favorites.  Apps that use the Music kit will work fine, but it won't
be easy (if even possible) to compile a 3.0 app that uses the music kit.
(At least until CCRMA releases a new music kit, and I don't know
anything about that...)

You might also save the old Interface Builder.  The new one is better, but
it writes nibs as file packages.  I tend to use SegHoarker (great app!)
to muck with nibs, but you can't insert 3.0 nibs back into 2.0
app segments.  (So keep the old one if you're going to muck with old apps)

-sam

--
Opinions expressed herein are not those of my employer.  They're not even
mine.  They're probably wrong besides.  How did they get in here, anyway?
From: tgingric@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Tyler S Gingrich)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
Subject: Re: NeXTstep 3.0
Date: 21 Aug 92 19:41:03 GMT
Organization: The Ohio State University

In article <1992Aug18.204351.178605@lexmark.com> songer@lexmark.com (Christopher Songer) writes:
>nathan@laplace.biology.yale.edu writes:
>>
>>Given the choice, I would have had NeXT make separate
>>(later) releases of the new packages (dbkit, 3D stuff,
>>etc) and just work on getting the stable base release out
>>on time. 
>>
>
>I'd have to agree with this. My current assumption is that 3.0 is likely
>to be pretty unstable -- I think I'm going to wait for 3.1. If this does
>in fact come to pass (I'd like to be wrong) then Next seems to be making 
>a habit of this. (I'm sure everyone recalls how stable 2.0 was :) Next
>has great software, but the base has to be stable for it to be usable.
>

I'd have to completely disagree with the "assumption" that 3.0 is likely
to be pretty unstable.  I've been an active beta-tester during the test
phases.  PR1 was useable (but buggy), PR2 was VERY useable -- other companies
release software with more bugs than PR2 has.  I haven't seen the "GOLD" 
release yet but it should be REALLY sweet!!

I consider 3.0 to be "Pretty Stable" -- the upgrade process is easy & the 
new stuff is just too cool!


Tyler Gingrich
tyler@sch.com
(513)579-0455 x312

"I ache - therefore I am.  Or in my case, I am - therefore I ache." Marvin (DA)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: kho@hubble.fokus.gmd.de (Klaus Hofrichter)
Subject: Wanted: Serial Port Expander
Keywords: Serial Port Expander 
Organization: GMD-Fokus
Date: Mon, 17 Aug 1992 06:30:22 GMT

Folks,

anyone out there with some experience about additional serial ports for  
NeXT? I have heard about a piece of hardware with four ports. Can some  
kind soul send me the manufactors address or some other information?

Thank you in advance, 
Klaus

*******************************************************************
GMD Fokus (German National Research Institute for Computer Science)
Klaus Hofrichter             (Academic NeXT developer since 3.1990)
Hardenbergplatz 2
D-1000 Berlin 12
E-Mail X.400 			hofrichter@fokus.berlin.gmd.dbp.de
E-Mail SMTP			kho@fokus.gmd.de
Voice +49 30 254 99 211
Fax   +49 30 254 99 202
*******************************************************************
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc
From: steve@writer.yorku.ca (Steve Azmier)
Subject: Re: Printing on Macs and NeXTs
Organization: Computer Assisted Writing Centre, York University, Toronto, Canada
Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1992 18:05:33 GMT


>I have actually printed full-page images(which look better then from the
>NeXT printer) on a IIg on Ethernet (and an Ethernet Mac) and have it pop out
>of the IIg before it comes out of a 16MB NeXT.. Of course, printing to
>the IIg (ANYONE printing to the IIg) doesn't slow anyone down at all, like
>it would when printed to a NeXTprinter.

Just curious...how much does the IIg cost?  Please factor in the
maintenance contract.  I'm interested to see a price comparison with
the NeXT laser.

Steve

+---------------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
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+-------------------------------------------+-+ 4700 Keele Street             |
| "Do something right the first time and    | Computer-Assisted Writing Centre|
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Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.misc