This is RE:-88K-CPU in view mode; [Up]
Date: Sun 22-Jul-1991 03:07:04 From: franco@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Nicolas Franco Cascarano) Subject: RE: 88K CPU My previous posting had more to do with why the sudden need to change platforms? Is it because the current unintended positioning in the market is pushing it to be more high end? See we are given an awsome unix (mach) system, big monitor, etc. And immediatly we assume that the intention of the system is to compeete with the SUNs and Apollo's, Iris'es, etc. If you pause and think about where the idea of NeXT came to light you'll see that the purpose of it was to surpass all the original limitations of the Macintosh (Steve Jobbs WAS a big part of the Macintosh) and probably not a direct contender for these high end workstations. However, one thing is what you plan and another what turns out. The system because of cost, features, and availability to educational facilities, has started up a perception. The computing limits want to be pushed and so on; So there you have it - NeXT suddently needs 88K RISC in order to keep the flames down, because gee I can't run my finite element analysis fast enough. Mere mortals for which this system was intended don't very often do that. The NeXT is a wonderful machine with incredible potential for more "mortal" application in the field of Architecture, Graphic Arts, Business, etc. To increase the power of the system more likely will set it apart from the market it was initially intended for. Have a $10K entry level workstation and you'll see that no cheap software will show up. No Quark, No AutoCAD, etc. And thus neglec the 'bulk' market out there. I hate this to happen. For the true achievement of NeXT would be to have as many of them out there as there are Macs. It would affect computing in a way similar to that of the Mac in the 80's. Give the computer a higher powered sibling or an accelerator card for those empty nubus slots and the picture is suddenly different. Such system would keep MIPS'ters and humans happy (not to mention $-> NeXT Inc.). Then again, if they give me a 60 MIPS workstation for $3.5K, I'll take it no doubt. At that price who cares how many cpu cycles get wasted while I type this posting. - Eventually, CISC or RISC, NeXT will be running at 60-100 MIPS. 69000 cpus will scream so loud that you won't be able to concentrate while you compute. Added bonus would be that everyone would jump on them. I however bet that such system would cost way more than 5K. --NICK give kids a hammer and suddently everything looks like a nail.
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