On Wednesday, May 11, 1988 at 3:09:00 PM UTC+2, JAY FERGUSON wrote:

I just can't let Christopher have the last word... I have worked on Exploerers, Symbolics, Suns and MicroVaxs but have found no machine
that comes close to the Xerox. Why? Well, I will grant you it is not
the performance of the hardware. I would like to point out that I have
not had any major performance problems solving complex problems. We
would all like to have a 100 mips on our desk. Most performance
problems within AI and symbolic processing are due to poor design
and architecture of the solution!

The characteristics that make the Xerox great is the environment. NO
other environment approaches the integration of useful programming
tools or as well a thought out interactive environment. I constantly
observe engineers spending 5 to 20 times as long building systems
in other environments as it would take in Interlisp.

When you look at the price, $20-25k last time I checked, it is still
the most economical environment to do serious AI. The 1186 hardware
is incredibly dependable and you will not find better service
anywhere! You can't even buy the new Micro-Explorer in a reasonable configuration for less than than $25k!

I have given Xerox the highest recommendation that I can - I bought
one for myself. One of the best investments that I have ever made.

Jay Ferguson

p.s. If anyone out in net land wants to sell thier 1186's for
parts I would be glad to hear from you. I have had mine
for almost three years and it has only recently started
to show signs of age.

Hi,

Have any 1186's left??? I would love to have one!

--Ralph

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