[comp.sys.next] Time to convince a Macophile

jjwcmp@isc.rit.edu (Jeff Wasilko) (03/14/91)

Okay folks, time to put your money where your mouths are:

We run an all Mac shop, and are considering adding a few NeXTs to our
typesetting/design operation. We use Quark XPress, so we will have to
wait until it ships for the NeXT (not anytime this year, I'm told). We
may also start using FrameMaker soon...

While I'm confortable using unix, I'm still a little soft on system
administration, and the finer points of the NeXT.

So, without further ado, the questions:

1. What is the best way to share files with Mac machines? Our curent
file server is a DecStation 3100 running PathWorks. I've heard rumors of
something from DEC that allows a VMS disk to be published as an NFS
service? Would that help us? Any other suggestions?

2. What is the best way to print to existing printers? We have 3 laser
printers of varying sizes and a L300/RIP 4 on a LocalTalk network (the
rest of our machines are on Ethernet, bridged by a FastPath). Serial
connections are out...

3. How easy is the NeXT to set up and maintain by a non-unix guru? We'd
be running unsupported (our computing dept is already overworked, and
won't take on the NeXT. Besides, RIT is heavily entrenched in VMS UGH!)
NFS services are available, as are all other TCP/IP services. I've seen
a few side references to the UserMangler. Is it really that bad?

4. Is 8 megs of RAM enough? We'd be running XPress (obvious an unknown
at this time), Illustrator (is it out?), FrameMaker, and some kind of
simple database (what's out there?).


Thanks in advance. I appreciate your help. Evidently some of the NeXT
flames started in the Mac newsgroups did some good... (-;

Jeff

-- 
| RIT VAX/VMS Systems: |     Jeff Wasilko     |     RIT Ultrix Systems:     |
|BITNET: jjwcmp@ritvax +----------------------+ INET:jjwcmp@ultb.isc.rit.edu|
|INTERNET: jjwcmp@ritvax.rit.edu              |____UUCP:jjwcmp@ultb.UUCP____|
|Ask me about the Desktop Publishing Mailing list -- All platforms welcome. |