ej0s+@andrew.cmu.edu (Eric Jenkins) (06/13/89)
Here at Carnegie Mellon the computer store has a new selling policy for NeXT cubes; the store will now only sell to departments -- not to individuals like they have done in the past. Their explanation for this shift in policy was that their contract with NeXT requires this. My questions are: Is this shift in policy widespread, or only at CMU? Is Steve Jobs looking for an out from University obligations in order to concentrate on selling to the (admittedly wealthier) business market through BusinessLand? Will this policy change in the near future (perhaps with the release of 1.0) to allow individuals to purchase the cube at university prices? Finally, since I'm already asking questions, when will color and/or whizzy graphics hardware come out for the cube? --Eric Jenkins (Finally saved enough money for a cube and now can't get one).
mm55+@andrew.cmu.edu (Mary E. McCaffrey) (06/14/89)
The policy at Carnegie Mellon regarding sales of NeXT systems to individuals is not based on our contract with NeXT. NeXT permits us to sell to individuals, however, we are currently selling only to departments or faculty members that will be providing their own support. This policy will be in effect at least until the 1.0 release of the NeXT operating system. Either upon release of 1.0 or when Academic Computing announces that its evaluation period for the NeXT system has ended (probably whichever is later), we plan to sell NeXT systems to individuals. I apologize if you received confusing information from the Store, I believe the staff understands the current policy. Mary McCaffrey Asst Dir, Academic Computing