garnett@cs.utexas.edu (John William Garnett) (05/26/91)
In article <1991May22.082130.19581@share.UUCP> MBParker@Athena.MIT.Edu writes: >Subject: For all machines, 16-bit color standard, or the option for $375 to later upgrade to 16-bit color > >Reasoning from these close prices a bit further, one might ask, Why doesn't >NeXT provide the inexpensive 16-bit color circuitry as an option or as standard >on all their machines? From the following two list prices: > [some info deleted -- see original article] > >one can infer that the cost of a NeXTstation Color motherboard is only $375 >list dollers more than a NeXTstation Grayscale motherboard. Since the 16-bit >color circuitry is the only difference, we see the circuitry required for color >is relatively inexpensive. > >So I ask, why is NeXT producing Grayscale motherboards at all -- for either the >station or the cube? Since the motherboard color support is not that >expensive, why not build color upgradability into ALL NeXT computers? Or offer >it as an option? I would like to second Mr. Parker's suggestions. NeXT currently does not offer a expandable machine that has inexpensive color support. If you want color on a NeXT, you either have to get a color slab (NeXTstation) or a cube with a NeXTdimension. The slabs have no slots for expandibility (at the very least, this makes it very difficult to ever upgrade to the next latest and greatest CPU (68050 or multi-processor support etc. whatever it might be). And the NeXTdimension appears too expensive for people who aren't doing professional graphics work or scientific visualization or who don't have a lot of money burning a hole in the pocket. Why not offer a motherboard for the cube that has the 16-bit color support builtin? I would pay $375 dollars for such support even if I didn't plan on going with color right away. I may be wrong, but I can see many others doing the same thing. With NeXT's sophisticated factory, it shouldn't be any problem to add support for one more type of motherboard, should it? Furthermore, why not offer a slab that contains support for grayscale and color? (A multi-headed slab would then be a possibility). These sound like good ideas to me. -- John Garnett University of Texas at Austin garnett@cs.utexas.edu Department of Computer Science Austin, Texas
jdehnert@sdcc13.ucsd.edu (James Dehnert) (05/27/91)
I was worried about the expandibility of the NeXTcolor station myself when I began looking at NeXTs. I finaly bought a cube because a) I got in under the wire at the buisnessland fire sale ( thank god i don't have to deal with them anymore!) and 2) It was cheaper than the color station I was looking at. At any rate i asked the local NeXT rep about the expandibility of the NeXT stations because I didn't want to get left behind when the new wave of cpu's came out, and he told me thet he believes when that happens you will be able to do a motherboard swap for about $1000 just like on the cube. It seems to me that one could easily cough up another $500 or whatever, to get color thrown in with that. I know the color may be more than this, all I can say is start saving now! Either way it's not cheap. Someone should also call NeXt up and confirm that stations will be upgradeable, but I have a cube, so I don't have to call 8-). Zeke -- ******************************************************************************** jdehnert@ucsd.edu "The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel" -- William Gibson -- Neuromancer -- Eschew Obfuscation ********************************************************************************