kgnome@concour.cs.concordia.ca (MATIS stephane) (06/14/91)
I regret that I haven't yet finished my price comparison on
the NeXT systems, based on Country of origin. Having survived
my cold, I can tell you a few basic facts.
Canadian prices are 'the same' as the U.S. when compared. UK
BusinessLand Prices seem to have as value, the amrican price,
but in #s! That's a hefty markup...
I was planning a survey next on the type of machines bought by :
- Students, Staff, Other
These three catigories could indicate the amount roughly each
catigory spent.
Of course, I'm most interested in students, like myself.
You see, I was actually planning to buy a NeXTstation Color 16" with
the 8Mb, 105 Mb HD and the Laser. SoftPC would have been a choice
as well.
Then comes this flood of news about the 88xxx family systems...
Well, I have been thinking very hard about the current slabs (trying
to decide what I need and can afford) and so I came up with a few
contentions.
Why doesn't NeXT have a 'compressed' file system. Where each file
is 'auto'compressed at save, and decompressed at load. I'm sure
you could fit quite a lot more on the small HD.
Secondly, how can they justify a 2000$ price difference between the
105MB model and the 400Mb. The Futjitsu drives so talked about on
this same net.news cost rougly 200$ more... for 1.2 Gigabytes of
storage.
Thirdly, the shared library version of Mach is smaller ... Yes it is!
Why not on NeXT, where with all Digital samples & stuff, space is
at premium.
Fourth(ly?), why isn't the slab dual headed. By this I mean having the
Color Station capable of using the 17" Mono monitor, in Mono mode.
This would be a very good, lower cost alternative for buyers.
If you put all four (4) points together, NeXT could simply produce
one machine. With a large drive, 400Mb, and cut down on having to
support all kinds, and produce all kinds of variations.
This saving in production and support could than translate into
a better price (Note: not cheaper per say) system.
Of course, if the 'NeW NeXTs' are like this, I applaud.
Why ?... you ask ... well I didn't feel like spending 10 Grand for
a color NeXTstation, base model with laser. Of course, here in Quebec
we have a total of 15.56% Tax. Thats a sick surcharge if I may say so!
So ... were now? ... I'd like an answer from NeXT. Do I buy a Mono
station with an upgrade later ti color/88xxx or do I need to buy a
Color station... or the Cube is the only upgrade path ... ? or WHAT!??
After already deciding to commit such extravagent money, I'm sad
from the turn of events. 'Cauze I won't buy anything until this dust
settles.
Stephane Matis
Con.U <- They did Me! .... long live Chicago ... home of the Bulls
the Blues
FASA and
the BattleTech Center!