NeXT announces four new 68040 products

Business Wire

September 18, 1990

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NeXT Computer Inc., of Redwood City, Tuesday announced a family of new computer products, as well as Release 2.0 of its system software.

Specifically, the company introduced four products based on Motorola's 68040 microprocessor: NeXTstation, a more powerful and compact NeXT computer that costs less than $5,000; NeXTstation Color, a 16-bit, PostScript color version of NeXTstation; NeXTcube, an expandable NeXT computer with extremely flexible configuration options that can be used as a network server or high-end desktop computer; and NeXTdimension, a high-end, 32-bit PostScript color solution.

In separate announcements, a number of third-party developers introduced new software applications and peripheral products for the NeXT platform.

All the products feature the characteristics that define all NeXT computers, including Release 2.0 of the NeXTstep graphical user interface and development environment, UNIX-based operating system, NeXT's multimedia electronic mail system, digital signal processing chip, Display PostScript, an internal 2.88 MB floppy disk drive and 105 MB hard disk drive, built-in Ethernet and TCP/IP networking, and MegaPixel Display (color or monochrome).

Release 2.0 of the system software has added support for software fax, color, DOS floppy disk, international versions, the 68040 microprocessor and twisted pair Ethernet. Applications written for Release 1.0 run unmodified on Release 2.0, only faster. Price and Availability

The following chart lists the suggested retail prices and expected availability of the four new NeXT products, in their base configurations: NeXTstation system $4,995 November 1990 NeXTcube system $7,995 November 1990 NeXTstation Color system $7,995 Q1 1991 NeXTdimension board $3,995 Q1 1991

All NeXT products are available directly from NeXT or through Businessland in North America. Availability of the new products in the United Kingdom through Businessland UK and in Asia through Canon Inc. will closely follow the U.S. ship dates. NeXT products are also available through selected government and vertical-application VARs (value-added resellers); contact NeXT for specific information.

Higher education and developer customers can continue to purchase NeXT computers directly from NeXT or through higher education resellers at reduced prices; contact NeXT for specific information.

NeXT Computer creates, manufactures and sells innovative and affordable ``interpersonal'' computer systems designed to support the new ways people are working together.

NOTE TO EDITORS: NeXT, NeXTstation, NeXTcube, NeXTdimension, NeXTmail, NeXTbus and Digital Librarian are trademarks, and the NeXT logo and NeXTstep are registered trademarks of NeXT Computer Inc. All other brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT: Allison Thomas Associates Allison Thomas, 818/981-1520 (Sherman Oaks) Emily Brower, 415/780-3786 (San Francisco)

Copyright (c) 1990, Business Wire

September 18, 1990

Two years ago, we introduced the original NeXT™ Computer—a revolutionary combination of power and ease of use. We thank you for being our first customers.

We have had the chance to talk to many of you. We've asked what we could do better. And we've listened.

Today, we unveiled four new NeXT products—products your feedback helped us shape. Products we think you'll love:

• NeXTstation™—a faster, more affordable NeXT computer
• NeXTstation Color—a full color version of the NeXTstation
• NeXTcube™—a faster version of the original cube with more storage options
• NeXTdimension—a state-of-the-art color board with acceleration

We also demonstrated NeXTstep 2.0—an even more responsive, more intuitive version of our system software that has many new features, such as fax capabilities. Many of our partners participated in our intro, demonstrating new applications such as WordPerfect®, Adobe Illustrator™, Ashton-Tate PowerStep™, and Lotus Improv™.

I am excited to share these advancements with you and to tell you about some of the ways you can upgrade your NeXT Computer to take advantage of our latest technology. In this folder, you'll find a brochure and datasheet that describe our new products. You'll also find information about our upgrade program.

Lotus will send a free copy of their revolutionary spreadsheet Improv to anyone who purchases an upgrade for their NeXT Computer.

Thank you for joining us early on in our journey. The best is yet to come.

Best regards,

Steve Jobs
President

P.S. We'd like to send you our Fall Software and Peripherals catalog, so please call us1-800-848-NeXT. If you'd like a complimentary copy of NeXTWorld™ magazine, please fill out the card provided.