A NeXT in 1988 was like getting a PC from 1995. The developer tools, os and network stack were like getting something from 2005. Aside the size of the box and monitor, it was a preview of the future. It took the PC industry seven years to come close... but still not quite match the NeXT. Display Postscript and a general purpose DSP (digital signal processor) made for some amazing capabilities (i.e. software driven modem, oscilloscope apps, etc...).