Verbum Article Page 3

MediaStation, by Imagine, Inc., is a cataloging and retrieval program that has developed into the first real multimedia product for the NeXT. It's a desktop presentation program that in some ways is a hybrid of HyperCard and MacroMind Director; it creates truly interactive presentations.

MediaStation can be used to create self running demonstrations or can require the user to click on buttons to make the next event occur. The interface of the current version is fairly pedestrian, and building a presentation can be a frustrating process. Many features found in Mac presentation packages are missing from MediaStation, as is CD-quality sound. In short, MediaStation makes one thirst for a future revision (which is due out in October).

Other kinds of software now available for the Cube include Wingz from Informix, a port of the Macintosh spreadsheet and 3-D charting software. Lotus is rumored to be bringing out an even better product soon, created specifically for the NeXT platform.

Third party hardware options include several flatbed scanners. The Abaton Scan 300/GS is equivalent to a similar product for Mac and PC platforms. The HSD Scan-X 600 is a higher-quality line-art and grayscale scanner. The Scan-X 1600 is nearly identical but scans grayscale images to 800 dpi and line art to an amazing 1600 dpi. Using this product gives you a new appreciation for NeXT's electronic mail and optical disk.

Metaresearch's Digital Eye allows hookup of video sources to the Cube, with frame-grabs every 2 seconds or so. Digital Ears, by the same company, allows recording of CD-quality sound sampled at the standard 44.1 kHz.

Reality Strikes

The NeXT computer is really a workstation (oriented toward networking) and is not aimed at individual consumer sales. The Macintosh finally made it to the big-time by individuals sneaking it in the back door of corporations. That won't happen for NeXT, because Cubes are too costly for individuals. A grayscale system with 330 MB hard disk and laser printer runs around $20,000. At that price it's not a machine for the casual computer user; it's a power tool for power users.

The only way the NeXT computer can become an industry standard -- and therefore a practical purchase -- is for its sales to take off so that the "installed base" will be large enough to attract developers who can create the next generation of software, which will have to be far more useful than previous generations.

Initial sales sluggishness is the same for all new computers, mainly from lack of software. Since the Cube was finished (in October 1989), it's sales have been "good, but not off the charts" or "less than stellar," depending on whether you ask NeXT or Businessland (sole distributor of NeXT to businesses). Translated into plain English, sales have been poor.

NeXT is working hard to fix the situation. The coming 68040 processor should fix the speed problem; color will be added by the year-end (though it will probably raise the cost and possibly lower performance); and the NeXT software base continues to expand. These factors, in addition to the Cube's inherent advantages, should make it far more salable. Once there are enough machines in users' hands to exceed critical mass, the Cube's future will be assured.