CompuServe Messages

Your experience with typesetting equipment prices and the "business case" for return on investment is exactly the same as that for computer equipment. Hobbyists will look at that "loaded" Indy price you quoted of $30K and say "in my dreams only", but those who need to get real work done, may easily be able to justify the price. While Toasters can do 3D rendering, for example, they're very slow (even with GVP's fastest accelerator), compared to workstations. A client will pay a lot for 3D, and the time savings an SGI box can provide can often easily pay back the $30K price. The $3K loaded PC's that are being bought are going to people upgrading from older 286/386 class machines and to new users who've never been in computing. $10K and up machines are going to those with specialized applications where the tool is essential, just like a lathe in a machine tool shop. I know I don't need to tell you this, but I was just trying to put the "high" price of some machines into perspective for all here. As they say, it's all relative. Paul.