Le Club Macintosh de MontrƯal Publication: InterFace Issue: June 1992 Author: John Markle Series: None Title: S.O.S. NeXT ------------------------------------ S.O.S. NeXT John Vincent Markle Last summer, an aquaintance kept asking me about this NeXT computer on which I was spending so much spare time. Each of my responses drew a blank stare, until I hit upon the perfect metaphor for this machine, the Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Once I had said that the NeXT was my Harley, he understood everything, since he himself owns a Harley roadster. He understood not only the exhilaration of the ride, but as well the sweat and drudgery involved in the constant tuning and souping up. NeXT machines run NeXTSTEP, which has a light side and a serious side. The light side of NeXTSTEP consists of a state-of-the-art operating system, with which all users must deal in order to run their applications. The serious side of NeXTSTEP consists of tools for building networks and applications, which users can ignore if they so wish. However, most of the corporate buyers of the NeXT machine are using this serious side to build new, custom applications and/or integrated work environments. My point is that not only does NeXTSTEP provide the best ride in town, but you can use it to tune your machine to your heart's content. Because so many users are improving their NeXT machines through programming, I believe this will lead to some significant breakthroughs in computer technology. (One can draw an analogy with the automotive industry, where many of the major innovations originated with independent mechanics who worked alone in their garages and then exchanged ideas on the racetrack.) The portability of objects under NeXTSTEP effectively opens an object commodity market, and so we are witnessing a phenomenon which has not yet materialized with any of the other computers on the market. There are a lot of people driving Hondas and Suzukis out there, but most of them don't own a wrench; on the other hand, any respectable Harley owner knows how to tear his machine down and then put it back together. Similarily, you don't need a wrench to drive most computers, but if tinkering is your inclination, then NeXTSTEP is the way to go. The Club already has two NeXT SIGs, one on the NeXT itself (the ride), and one on programming under NeXTSTEP (the tuning). What is missing is the racetrack, a place where one can compete in a friendly fashion as well as exchange ideas. Hence, we are starting a third SIG, S.O.S. NeXT, modelled after the Club's popular S.O.S. Mac SIG. All members are cordially invited to attend these bilingual sessions, and to bring their problems and solutions. Members of the Club's executive will act as animators, and we hope to create a lively environment. [Interface, June 1992]