I will take a stab:
>>1) Is it do-able to substitute the BeOS for the underlying Mach? If so, would this
>>provide a significant performance benefit on a PowerPC platform?
Mach is a low-level OS layer (micro kernel) that handles the messaging
of objects and other resource managament functions. Since Next is tied
closely with it, its hard for me to imagine how you can easily switch
to the BeOS without significant porting. Warning - I don't know much
about the BeOS!!!
>>2) Conversely, given NeXT's non-PPC origins, does APPL now have the basis for
>>an OS to run on Pentium machines. What, if anything, might such an OS have to
>>offer over NT? Or, could that system run Window apps with superior, or at least
>>comparable, performance levels.
Next's OS ships on Intel ,Sun, and Next H/W. It allows developers to create
better integrated applications because the OS is fully OO. Applications
look similar, feel similar and much of what you learn from building/
running one app is applicable to other apps developed using this OS.
(Since Next has ported to several environments they should be able to
port it quickly to PPC). As applications get more complex and integrated,
development times increase exponentially. The OS allows developers to
partition the apps into more managable pieces resulting in shorter
developement times. As far as perfomance - too early to tell.
>>3) Given that AAPL had NT on its OS short list, can you enlighten on their *not*
>>going the "safe" route? Ditto Java/SUNW.
Do you want parity or superiority?
>>4) To put the question broadly, what is the potential of NeXT? Where can it take
>>AAPL?
If AAPL can get developer support for this OS then apple could have the
highest quality apps on it's OS over the long term.
The short term drawbacks:
1) the learning curve for this technology by developers is relative high
2) the transition will take time. Do they have the time?
There is no question that AAPL will have the superior technology. The
big question is how fast can they make the switch and how good is
AAPL at marketing? Most of us who have used Next technology understand
that the quality of technology is a relatively small part of bringing
in sales.
I do plan to buy AAPL before the Expo in Jan. I'm expecting a bounce
when the analyst see how far Next is ahead in the Web and OS
technology.
Some of the posters on this thread are big on
multi-tasking, multi-threading, multiple processors, virtual memory,
etc. Although Next has these things, these benefits are old and
unexciting. The OS's real advantage goes well beyond this.
Dave |
