San Francisco Ð With names like Compaq, Dell, NEC, and Epson on the marquee, attendees at the second NeXTWORLD Expo here may feel they arrived at the wrong show. On closer inspection, however, they will find that every PC is running NeXTSTEP.
Marking the debut of NeXT-STEP as a software-only product line, NeXTWORLD Expo will also serve as the coming-out party for the seven PC manufacturers who endorsed NeXTSTEP as an operating system available on their most advanced 80486- and Pentium-based personal computers.
"We think that NeXTSTEP is second to none as a desktop-based object-oriented development environment," said John Paul, Compaq's vice-president of system software.
"Many of our large customers are interested in deploying NeXTSTEP widely on Intel systems, and we want to assure they choose our hardware."
Five companies Ð Epson, NEC, Dell, Data General, and Siemens- Nixdorf Ð will offer fully configured PCs factory installed with NeXTSTEP. Compaq and Hewlett-Packard will certify certain models to run NeXTSTEP. NeXT will also publish a list of other NeXTSTEP-capable systems from major manufacturers.
The hardware partners will offer the NeXTSTEP systems through their own distribution channels, while NeXT takes responsibility for creating demand and steering sales to the PC makers.
For buyers who could previously run NeXTSTEP only on NeXT hardware systems, the lineup of systems means they can choose appropriate NeXTSTEP systems based on performance, price, and vendor relationship. Buyers will enjoy a choice of competitive systems in every category, from high-performance desktops to light-weight notebooks.
In addition to systems from NeXT OEMs, NeXTSTEP will be sold as a shrinkwrapped soft-ware product through NeXT's network of distributors and resellers (see related story, "NeXTSTEP 3.1 release near final"). By matching the software with appropriate Ethernet, disk-control, and sound cards, users can configure NeXTSTEP systems around Intel boxes from other manufacturers.
Beyond the switch from black to white systems, attendees will find a range of software exhibited at NeXTWORLD Expo. NeXT and its third parties will stress NeXTSTEP's advantages as a client-server operating system for developing mission-critical custom applications. Others will focus on traditional NeXT markets for professional publishing, collaborative computing, and end-user productivity.
The Expo was to feature key-note speeches by Steve Jobs and Intel CEO Andy Grove, a slate of developer- and user-conference sessions, an international gathering of NeXT user groups, and new product introductions from dozens of the more than 100 exhibitors on the trade-show floor.