Re[2]: Platforms

["Arlen P. Walker" <Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- COM>]

      The day may not be far off when those PCs and Macs we have at home
      will be replaced by newer versions of those machines that are
      equivalent to today's Sparcstation.  Given the trend line in computer
      development, that day is probably less than 10 years away.


With the dramatically falling prices and the PowerPC systems coming, I'd even be
willing to take the zero off that number, Mike. Next Year's PowerPC-based
systems will be in today's SparcStation class for performance, and their prices
are going to be similar to the prices of today's desktop systems. With Linux,
Lynx, NT, MacOS, and AIX systems certainly available (and possibly OS/2,
Taligent, Solaris and NextStep) you'll be able to have the software you're used
to running on it as well. One year is probably pushing it, but three to five may
be too conservative. (Right now the cheapest PowerMac -- the Performa 51xx -- is
less than $1700 for a complete system with 8 chunks of SW thrown in. And the
prices have nowhere to go but down.)


Have fun,
Arlen
Chief Managing Director In Charge, Department of Redundancy Department
DNRC 124

Arlen -dot- P -dot- Walker -at- JCI -dot- Com
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