bhenning@bhami.vnet.van-bc.UUCP (Bill Henning) (12/26/87)
With regards to the multi-tasking vs. accessories discussion - I have refrained from posting on this topic so far, but I can no longer resist. While Dave Meile's comments in <3280@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> are a response to an article <7413@sunybcs.UUCP> by Joseph M. Piazza, some of his comments apply to other people/sites, ad I wish to address some of them. > your school sell Macintoshes and IBM computers to students and faculty? > Does it sell Amigas? Why not, if a multi-tasking microcomputer is such > hot stuff? Many schools (the one I am attending included) sell IBM's, Mac's, and do not sell Amiga's (at this time). Generally, this is due to the large discounts offered by IBM and Apple. At other times, the people in charge of the microcomputer centers happen to be long-time IBM-PC and Mac user's, and have the typical attitudes fostered by owner's of those machines. At other times, even if there are people on the staff of the microcomputer store who like, nay, even own Amiga's, they cannot convince management to carry it "we already carry Mac's and PC's - who would want anything else? Besides, they do not have enough software, etc.". Please note that practically all of the computer science departaments computers are multi-tasking... Sun's, VAXen, etc., and the mainframes are also multi-tasking. If you can manage to hold a Mac or PC person through a GOOD and thorough demo of an Amiga, they usually come away amazed at what this little box can do - and seriously consider buying one. > Does your Amiga run HyperCard, Joseph? Will your 68020 processor (I assume > all Amiga owners own the "latest" processor for their machines) run Lotus > 1-2-3? Is the Amiga being bought in Fortune 50 companies? What does this > say about upper-management's desire to provide multi-tasking in the office > environment? While Joseph's Amiga may not run HyperCard, until very recently neither did the Mac! Something like HyperCard is likely to come out for the Amiga, if Dave Small (sp?) does not beat everyone to the punch with his Mac emulator! If an Amiga owner were so inclined, there are several programs that are Lotus 1-2-3 compatible to the n'th degree. I am certain that some Amiga's are being bought by Fortune 50 companies - or at least their employee's, and if the employee's buy them, and start loudly wondering around the office why the Mac's, PC's etc. cannot do what their Amiga at home does far better at a fraction of the price? I do not currently have a 68020 in my machine - but I probably have one in the future, as I hate waiting for a computer to finish doing what its busy at - that reminds me - some time ago I was working on a Mac, with a LazerWriter (nice printer) and whenever a document was printing I had plenty of time to go to the caffeteria... - on my Amiga I NEVER have to wait for a printout to finish, nor a compile, nor my news feed - I just push the window (or screen) to the back and keep on working. Incidentally - what does upper-management's desire have to do with anything? They (generally) do not know what multi-tasking is! If they do not know what something is, how can they "desire" to provide it? > Some people. Send replies via email. I may even read 'em. I am sending this via the net, as I am not flaming anyone or anything - I am just answering a "load of embarassing questions" in such a manner that you may read them. The above was not meant as kindling to a new flame war, and before I forget MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR to net.folks... ...Bill -- +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | // UUCP: {ihnp4!alberta!ubc-vision,uunet}!van-bc!bhami!bhenning | | // BITNET: USERCCPM@SFU.BITNET | | \\ // ARPA: William_Henning%sfu@um.cc.umich.edu | | \X/ Please note I prefer UUCP mail as I only check my SFU mail weekly. | | I was just notified by van-bc that non-local mail previously sent to | | bhenning@bhami.vnet.van-bc.UUCP probably did not get through. | | However, bhenning@bhami.van-bc.UUCP should work... | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
erict@flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) (01/02/88)
In article <1646@van-bc.UUCP>, bhenning@bhami.vnet.van-bc.UUCP (Bill Henning) writes: > While Dave Meile's comments in <3280@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> are a response to an > article <7413@sunybcs.UUCP> by Joseph M. Piazza, some of his comments apply > to other people/sites, ad I wish to address some of them. > > [ A bunch of things said ] > > > Does your Amiga run HyperCard, Joseph? Will your 68020 processor (I assume > > all Amiga owners own the "latest" processor for their machines) run Lotus > > 1-2-3? Is the Amiga being bought in Fortune 50 companies? What does this > > say about upper-management's desire to provide multi-tasking in the office > > environment? Waitasec. You've obviously never worked in the real world of business and/or finance. If you are to use the decisions made by primarily old, sexist, alpha males (that went to college when only beady-eyed geeks could spell computer) as a valid opinion on mulititasking, then you really have no business discussing this subject. Your statement was equivalent to "How many Americans actually use solar heat? How can you say solar heat is worth anything if no one even uses it?" The opinions of a bunch of rich, pompous old men that couldn't tell a PC from a dumb terminal (I've seen that happen. really.) should have nothing to do with a discussion on the merits of single vs. multi-tasking. Then again, this whole discussion reminds me of the response I got from people in 82 when I told them I sold Commodore 64's... "My computer's better'n yours cuz..." Most of those discussions had roots in "I made a bad decision, so let me flame on your computer's weaknesses to make my decision look a little better." wheh. flame off. -- J. Eric Townsend ->uunet!nuchat!flatline!erict smail:511Parker#2,Hstn,Tx,77007 Motorola skates on Intel's head! (This is not a '|'.)| I skate. You don't. I disclaim all responsibility for others' ignorances. | Go Away. -:^<
mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) (08/03/89)
Somebody in the ST group stated that multitasking is useless on a home. without trying to start a war I posted that for most Amiga users, Technical as well as non-technical (me) I believe multitasking on a home computer has become second nature. For me, it makes sense to be able to run Dpaint III and say "oops, I forgot to listen to that new Sonix score!" boot up and run Sonix, and say, "oops, I forgot I need to label my disks!", boot up the label program and .....:-)!! Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? -Evan _______________________________________________________________________________ | Evan Jay Mitchell EECS/ERL Industrial Liaison Program | | mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu University of California at Berkeley | | Phone: (415) 643-6687 | | "Think, it ain't illegal...yet!" - George Clinton | |_____________________________________________________________________________|
chrisd@oregon.uoregon.edu (08/03/89)
In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: > Somebody in the ST group stated that multitasking is useless on a home. > without trying to start a war I posted that for most Amiga users, Technical > as well as non-technical (me) I believe multitasking on a home computer has > become second nature. For me, it makes sense to be able to run Dpaint III and > say "oops, I forgot to listen to that new Sonix score!" boot up and run Sonix, > and say, "oops, I forgot I need to label my disks!", boot up the label program > and .....:-)!! > > Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? > > -Evan > _______________________________________________________________________________ > | Evan Jay Mitchell EECS/ERL Industrial Liaison Program | > | mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu University of California at Berkeley | > | Phone: (415) 643-6687 | > | "Think, it ain't illegal...yet!" - George Clinton | > |_____________________________________________________________________________| Yes. Most positively, absolutely. Can't imagine computing without it. :)
raw@mcnc.org (Russell Williams) (08/03/89)
Multitasking is definitely a way of life. It never seems like much when it's there, but I go nuts using the Macs and IBMs at work, because I use it so much for mundane operations. You never miss the air until it's gone. Russell
jtreworgy@eagle.wesleyan.edu (08/03/89)
In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: > Somebody in the ST group stated that multitasking is useless on a home. > without trying to start a war I posted that for most Amiga users, Technical > as well as non-technical (me) I believe multitasking on a home computer has > become second nature. For me, it makes sense to be able to run Dpaint III and > say "oops, I forgot to listen to that new Sonix score!" boot up and run Sonix, > and say, "oops, I forgot I need to label my disks!", boot up the label program > and .....:-)!! > > Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? > > -Evan I have had an Amiga for about 2 years. I have recently had to use Macintoshes at work. It is, to be brief, painful. Even more irritating than the lack of multitasking is the fact that it takes ages to switch between (non-multitasking) windows. It's hard to explain what is so nice about it. Maybe being able to format a disk while I wait for something to download. Maybe being able to copy disks while I do whatever else I want. Maybe it is being able to write a review of a piece of software on the Amiga while actually looking at and using the piece of software. It's not something that you couldn't do with four or five machines. But it sure is convenient. -- James A. Treworgy "You should have seen me with the poker man, jtreworgy@eagle.wesleyan.edu I had a honey and I bet a grand, jtreworgy%eagle@WESLEYAN.BITNET Just in the nick of time I looked at his hand" Box 5033 Wesleyan Station -Paul McCartney Middletown, CT 06475
jyegiguere@lion.waterloo.edu (Eric Giguere) (08/04/89)
In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: >Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? Most definitely. Even when I'm doing something as simple as writing I find multitasking useful. TeX runs wonderfully in the Amiga environment --- one CLI for TeX, one for the Previewer, one for your favorite text editor, one for general CLI stuff. Just yesterday I wanted to download some stuff using VT100. I logged on and was about to start the transfer when I remembered that I had to format a new disk first... no problem, just opened a new CLI with PopCLI and did it without disconnecting. Even those who only use the Workbench are often multitasking, whether they know it or not. Hey, multitasking is amazing. So is the Amiga. Eric Giguere 268 Phillip St #CL-46 For the curious: it's French ("jee-gair") Waterloo, Ontario N2L 6G9 Bitnet : GIGUERE at WATCSG (519) 746-6565 Internet: giguere@aries5.UWaterloo.ca "Nothing but urges from HELL!!"
limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli) (08/04/89)
I find multitasking a bother. I never know what's really going on
inside my Amiga. If you ask me give me a good old 4.77mhz PC and get
innovations away from me.
(Hopefully, the sarcasm is understood. If it won't multitask I don't
use the computer.)
-Tom
--
Tom Limoncelli -- tlimonce@drunivac.Bitnet -- limonce@pilot.njin.net
Drew University -- Box 1060, Madison, NJ -- 201-408-5389
Standard Disclaimer: I am not the mouth-piece of Drew Universitymreisch@hydra.unm.edu (Mique Reisch) (08/04/89)
When on a Unix system I always leave an Emacs living in background and then just pop up the editor when I need it. On my amiga I do the same sort of thing. I leave emacs Iconified (thank God for WICON) and pop it up when needed. I ALWAYS leave a shell Iconified when using a comm program so if some emergency clearing of a DL disk or such is needed... Multi-tasking is the schtuff of life. God I shudder to think of having to use a mech with a one track mind... [ Hello Mique Reisch ] [ my friend mreisch@hydra.unm.edu ] [ are you visible today? MREISCH@BOOTES ]
ffishman@lion.waterloo.edu (Flynn D. Fishman) (08/04/89)
In article <15629@watdragon.waterloo.edu> jyegiguere@lion.waterloo.edu (Eric Giguere) writes: >In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: >>Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? Most of the postings I have seen talk about how the "Amiga User" uses Multi-tasking to perform multiple tasks at the same time, but fail to mention how programmers and programs can take full advantage of multi-tasking behind the scenes. And that is where I feel that the power of multi-tasking lies. The word processor is a prime example of how multi-tasking can be used to increase its power. It is so easy to make a word processors print in the background with multi-tasking (so why don't most Amiga word processors do this) But wouldn't it also be nice if you can submit a document for batch spell checking, that way you do not have to wait for it to agonize over every word but can come back later after it has found all spelling errors. this feature would be expecially nice on a large document with few errors (I have never had any document with a few errors so I would not need this feature :-). And this feature is so easy to have run in the background while you work on a different document. Multi-tasking can also be used to speed up jobs with a lot of I/O and little computation, such as a disk copy program. Why aren't there any copy programs that read the next couple of sectors while it writes what is already read. know what would be neat. A copy program with a window for each disk drive you can start reading into common memory from any drive and than click in another window to start writing that memory to the other disk drives. (On the Amiga a single process may be the best way to copy disks if anyone is interested in why please e-mail me) There are all kinds of nifty things one can do with Multi-Tasking behind the scenes, just look at how well the Amiga's O/S and user interface work. ---- Flynn D. Fishman The man (boy?) with no future and soon no account.
paolucci@snll-arpagw.UUCP (Sam Paolucci) (08/04/89)
In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes:
->Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users?
With what other PC can you run X-Windows on one screen, be downloading
from Usenet using VT100, and have Emacs, TeX, and the previewer all
running at the same time? Does that answer the question?
--
-+= SAM =+-
"the best things in life are free"
ARPA: paolucci@snll-arpagw.llnl.govusenet@cps3xx.UUCP (Usenet file owner) (08/04/89)
In article <15629@watdragon.waterloo.edu> jyegiguere@lion.waterloo.edu (Eric Giguere) writes: >In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: >>Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? > Most definately! Unfourtunatly I am forced to work on messydos clones at work, what a pain! I brought my A1000 into work to show off some neat stuff (mostly DNET to start of with). A couple of people have expressed amazement that a 512k computer can run all of those different windows, + a dos window and an editor besides! I have been trying to convince people around here of the merits of a multitasking pc-type machine. Most are deaf and blind, even when they work with UNIX all the time, it sure is hard to convice people that their life would be easier with an Amiga than with the latest PC clone. REAL NAME: Joe Porkka jap@frith.cl.msu.edu
rademach@tramp.Colorado.EDU (Simon Rademacher) (08/05/89)
In article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) writes: >Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? What? You mean there are computers that don't multi-task? :-) And I thought unix's foreground/background, let's stop the program when it wants input (and maybe to output) was hard to use. I think you get the idea. ======================================= = Simon Rademacher = = rademach%tramp@boulder.colorado.edu =
ez004559@pollux.ucdavis.edu (0040;0000003410;0;250;143;) (08/05/89)
Do we really need to post so many messages on this? Multitasking is great! That's a self-evident truth that needs no further discussion. Anyone who doesn't see it that way is either stupid or incompetent. People actually post that they don't think multitasking is necessary. I figure they're being sarcastic, but I've underestimated people's stupidity before. People who don't multitask probably can't walk and chew gum at the same time. People who preach against multitasking would probably rather be driving a volkswagen rabbit instead of a Ferrari. If you don't like multitasking, go get youself an IBM clone.
bradch@microsoft.UUCP (Bradford Christian ms1) (08/05/89)
Who needs this multi-tasking bother anyway! Here at work, I just use two Compaq 386/20's and an AT. Oh yea, there's the handy hex calculator too. Oops, and here's a terminal I use to connect to Xenix and one of my Compaqs. It's not too much of a bother to reconnect it to differnet Xenix servers. And there's my desk clock. Most people here add a mac or two to the above setup. No, we don't need multi-tasking... ;^) Of course, at home I can't afford $30K worth of equipment, so I have to get by with this whimpy little Amiga. You know, the "toy" computer. Of course, I have a clock and calculator just a mouse click away. And I always forget about that terminal program running host mode in the background. And then there's the fact that I always have Intuition running and a couple of Shells, and my editor, and the developement system in RAM, etc. Multi-tasking just gets in the way. The other day I was debugging a Windows program. It hung, so I rebooted, started the debugger, loaded the program and found out where it hung and had to reboot again to "clean the system." The other day I was debugging an Amiga program. It hung, so I popped-up another CLI, ran the debugger, selected my program, found out what I had a bogus value, changed said value, continued my program, and quit the debugger. Naw, I never use multi-tasking.
limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli) (08/05/89)
With all this talk about how lame multitasking is, and with all this
"PD Vaperware" floating around; I've decided to join the majority :-)
(Check out the way-cool signature d00dz! :-) :-)
Have a good weekend, everyone!
-Tom
--
Tom Limoncelli -- tlimonce@drunivac.Bitnet -- limonce@pilot.njin.net
Drew University -- Box 1060, Madison, NJ -- 201-408-5389
Author of ERP -- The Exec Replacement Project: "We'll get rid of that
bothersome multitasking once and for all!" (Project will start as
soon as I have some free time... really it will! :-) :-) ;-)alh@hprmokg.HP.COM (Al Harrington) (08/08/89)
I was at a friends house the other day looking at her Mac II (a decent machine). I needed to format a disk so I fired it up and move the mouse over to check out some programs. She looked at me and asked me what I was doing. "You mean you can't run another program while doing a simple format???". "Living" on Unix all day (in X11) then going home to my Amiga I kinda forget about things like single tasking computers... +-------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | -Al Harrington /// | | | /// | "Do I look like I'm joking?" | | alh@hprmo.HP.COM \\\/// | | | ..{hplabs,hp-sde}!hprmo!alh \XX/ | - The Joker | +-------------------------------------+------------------------------------+ | My comments in no way reflect the views or opinions of HP | +--------------------------------------------------------------------------+
swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) (08/09/89)
How's this.... Just a few minutes ago I was 1. Restoring my AT bridgeboard's bootable virtual drive that resides on my Amiga's hard drive... 2. WARPing a disk for eventual uploading and.... 3. reading the Net (I had a program called X-RAY running that let me look through Handshake's window so I could keep an eye on the lower left portion of the PC window. This is a great little program that was available on a Compute's Amiga Resources disk. You can place this window on any screen, resize it and flip through any other windows to give you a scrollable view of what's going on.) all at THE SAME TIME. I can't live without it (well, maybe I can, but not for long) -- - Joel E. Swan [ swan@jolnet.UUCP <> PLINK ID: Amiga*joel ] [ "Amigas.... for the rest of us." <> CI$ : 74746,3240 ] [ "...peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:8 ]
daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (Dave Haynie) (08/09/89)
in article <30339@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>, mitchell@janus.berkeley.edu (Evan Mitchell) says: > Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? I think multitasking is natural for most human beings. With few exceptions, most of us can walk and chew gum at the same time. Maybe even spin a yo-yo as well, possibly even while listening to a walkman. Most of the non-computer literate folks I've shown my Amiga would have to be explicitly told why it can't run several programs at once. I once showed my oldest sister how to fire up one of the original Demos from the 1.1 disk. The first thing she did when I handed her the mouse was to fire up several Boxer and Dotty windows. Folks who use single tasking machines and can't think of a use for multitasking are folks who've adjusted their way of thinking to what they expect a computer can do. That's a very dangerous habit. > -Evan -- Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Systems Engineering) "The Crew That Never Rests" {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh PLINK: D-DAVE H BIX: hazy Be careful what you wish for -- you just might get it
suther@novavax.UUCP (Scot M. Sutherland) (08/10/89)
>Somebody in the ST group stated that multitasking is useless on a home. It has been mentioned to me that we teachers would never multi-task. ( I teach Jr. High) :^) >without trying to start a war I posted that for most Amiga users, Technical >as well as non-technical (me) I believe multitasking on a home computer has >become second nature. For me, it makes sense to be able to run Dpaint III and >say "oops, I forgot to listen to that new Sonix score!" boot up and run Sonix, >and say, "oops, I forgot I need to label my disks!", boot up the label program >and .....:-)!! I think that war is raging already. Multitasking for me has become indispensible. In fact I have taken it so much for granted that I sometimes guru my 3 meg A2500 because I get distracted an forget how many tasks I have running. I have not seen this discussed before so I throw it out. Software developers could, and maybe should, take a different attitude in developing for the Amiga than for other machines. Amiga desktop publishing programs don't need a separate text editor when the wise user will use his favorite instead. I thought that Micro Illusions might have stumbled upon the idea that programs can be made in modules for the Amiga, and the modules sold separately in their Photon series. However, I still haven't figured out how to punch Photon Paint into the background so that I can use what I just created with Photon Cell Animator. It makes sense to sell Amiga programs in a series of modules that can be multitasked instead of selling all-in-one packages as is necessary for other computers. >Is multi-tasking second nature for most Amiga users? It certainly is for me. And I think that it would be for most users if they become aware that it can be done. Many people that use other computers don't really understand what I mean when I say multi-tasking. >-Evan Scot--
ins_adjb@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Daniel Jay Barrett) (08/10/89)
Can't live without it.
Yesterday, I was using Kermit to transfer a file from a Macintosh
to our VAX. When the transfer finished, I wanted to compare the file
sizes of the Mac and VAX versions. I couldn't do it without exiting
Kermit, finding the Mac file's icon, and doing an INFO!! I was dying
to push the Kermit window "to the back" and do a "dir".
An expert Mac user next to me said, "Well, you could do it if you
had programs X, Y, and Z installed as desk-accessories." Sigh.
Dan
//////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
| Dan Barrett, Systems Administrator barrett@cs.jhu.edu (128.220.13.4) |
| Dept. of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 |
| E-mail addresses: ARPANET: barrett@cs.jhu.edu |
| BITNET: ins_adjb@jhuvms.bitnet |
| UUCP: ins_adjb@jhunix.UUCP noog |
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////////ins_adjb@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU (Daniel Jay Barrett) (08/11/89)
In article <1426@novavax.UUCP> suther@novavax.UUCP (Scot M. Sutherland) writes: >I thought that Micro Illusions might have stumbled upon the idea >that programs can be made in modules for the Amiga, and the >modules sold separately in their Photon series. However, I still >haven't figured out how to punch Photon Paint into the background >so that I can use what I just created with Photon Cell Animator. Well, they really have gotten a lot of things right with their new package, MUSIC-X. It has some really beautiful multitasking. You can do all the usual mundane things like change the titles of sequences, save sequences to disk, change various settings, etc, all while the music is playing, without interrupting the timing of the music. There is also an "official" method for making separate module programs and using them from MUSIC-X. Dan //////////////////////////////////////\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ | Dan Barrett, Systems Administrator barrett@cs.jhu.edu (128.220.13.4) | | Dept. of Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218 | | E-mail addresses: ARPANET: barrett@cs.jhu.edu | | BITNET: ins_adjb@jhuvms.bitnet | | UUCP: ins_adjb@jhunix.UUCP noog | \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\/////////////////////////////////////
limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli) (08/15/89)
In article <1284@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) writes: > 3. reading the Net (I had a program called X-RAY running that let me > look through Handshake's window so I could keep an eye on the > lower left portion of the PC window. This is a great little program > that was available on a Compute's Amiga Resources disk. You can place > this window on any screen, resize it and flip through any other windows > to give you a scrollable view of what's going on.) Now THAT's what I'd like to see in 1.4. If multitasking and multiple screens blow away most users, a utility like that would really be a killer. Is it PD or how does Compute! manage their copyrights? Can it be posted? -Tom -- Tom Limoncelli -- tlimonce@drunivac.Bitnet -- limonce@pilot.njin.net Drew University -- Box 1060, Madison, NJ -- 201-408-5389 Standard Disclaimer: I am not the mouth-piece of Drew University Yow! Only 24 hours until I leave for vacation! Excusing me for being so enthusiastic!
shf@well.UUCP (Stuart H. Ferguson) (08/16/89)
+-- jtreworgy@eagle.wesleyan.edu writes: | I have had an Amiga for about 2 years. I have recently had to use Macintoshes | at work. It is, to be brief, painful. Even more irritating than the lack of | multitasking is the fact that it takes ages to switch between | (non-multitasking) windows. It's hard to explain what is so nice about it. Hell -- my Sun 3/50 at work multitasks like a sonofagun, but it takes *AGES* to switch windows compared to my Amiga. On the Amiga, as soon as I've clicked, I've switched (possibily even gone to another screen -- but that's another discussion). On the Sun, I switch -- wait, wait, wait -- Ah, the border's dark, I can type now. Probably an Amiga with Virtual Memory would be the same. Ah well. -- Stuart Ferguson (shf@well.UUCP) Action by HAVOC (ferguson@metaphor.com)
blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) (08/17/89)
From article <Aug.14.22.46.24.1989.29839@pilot.njin.net>, by limonce@pilot.njin.net (Tom Limoncelli): > In article <1284@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US> swan@jolnet.ORPK.IL.US (Joel Swan) writes: >> 3. reading the Net (I had a program called X-RAY running that let me >> look through Handshake's window so I could keep an eye on the >> lower left portion of the PC window. This is a great little program >> that was available on a Compute's Amiga Resources disk. You can place >> this window on any screen, resize it and flip through any other windows >> to give you a scrollable view of what's going on.) > > Now THAT's what I'd like to see in 1.4. If multitasking and multiple > screens blow away most users, a utility like that would really be a > killer. Is it PD or how does Compute! manage their copyrights? Can > it be posted? Compute probably forbids redistribution, but there was a PD/shareware program that does the same thing that I saw about a year ago. I've forgotten what it was called, but I think I got it from People Link. Compute's version sounds more advanced if it can flip the x-ray view through different screens, and scroll the view into the other screen. As I remember, the one I had only showed the screen immediatly behind the WB screen, and you could size & move the x-ray window, but not scroll its contents. This isn't much to go on, but there is something out there that's redistributable. -- Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland 580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108 Here: utah-cs!esunix!blgardne {ucbvax,allegra,decvax}!decwrl!esunix!blgardne There: uunet!iconsys!caeco!i-core!worsel!blaine (My Amiga running uucp) "Nobody will ever need more than 64K." "Nobody needs multitasking on a PC."
charles@hpcvca.CV.HP.COM (Charles Brown) (08/18/89)
> Hell -- my Sun 3/50 at work multitasks like a sonofagun, but it > takes *AGES* to switch windows compared to my Amiga. On the Amiga, > as soon as I've clicked, I've switched (possibily even gone to > another screen -- but that's another discussion). On the Sun, I > switch -- wait, wait, wait -- Ah, the border's dark, I can type now. > Probably an Amiga with Virtual Memory would be the same. Ah well. > -- > Stuart Ferguson (shf@well.UUCP) It would be the same, but not in the way you are thinking. Sun (DPVM) Amiga (no DPVM) Amiga (with DPVM)* All software fits into FAST FAST FAST physical RAM Doesn't fit into physical RAM SLOW Does not run at all! SLOW ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note * The Amiga does not have DPVM (Demand Paged Virtual Memory) so this last case is hypothetical. Please carefully study this chart before deciding whether DPVM makes sense in a small computer. Which would you rather have, "SLOW" or "Does not run at all"? -- Charles Brown charles@cv.hp.com or charles%hpcvca@hplabs.hp.com or hplabs!hpcvca!charles or "Hey you!" Not representing my employer.
hrlaser@sactoh0.UUCP (Harv R. Laser) (08/20/89)
In article <1442@esunix.UUCP> blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) writes: > >Compute probably forbids redistribution, but there was a PD/shareware >program that does the same thing that I saw about a year ago. I've >forgotten what it was called, but I think I got it from People Link. > Unless they've changed their policy, Compute's family of magazines forbids public redistribution of anything they publish, whether a "type it in" program in the magazine or a binary on one of their disks. I remember way back when running the Commodore 8-bit club on Plink when folks would type in Basic programs from Compute or Compute's Gazette and upload them and we had to reject them because of Compute's policy. Other current magazines aren't as restrictive. For instance anything on the AmigoTimes disks or from JumpDisk can be redistributed. In some cases (such as AMnews) programs are sold to them with a restricted distribution period specified (in some cases a month or two) after which the program is fair game for uploading/passing around. A good policy is "when in doubt, contact the particular magazine and ask." The little program similar to Compute's "X-Ray" that you're thinking of is probably "HOLE." We still have it on Plink in our data library and no doubt it's on some Fish Disk but not having Fred's catalog handy I couldn't tell you which one. -- | Harv Laser | SAC-UNIX, Sacramento, Ca. | | Plink: CBM*HARV | UUCP=...pacbell!sactoh0 | | "The human brain is the only computer made of meat" |
blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) (08/21/89)
From article <1736@sactoh0.UUCP>, by hrlaser@sactoh0.UUCP (Harv R. Laser): > In article <1442@esunix.UUCP> blgardne@esunix.UUCP (Blaine Gardner) writes: >>Compute probably forbids redistribution, but there was a PD/shareware >>program that does the same thing that I saw about a year ago. I've >>forgotten what it was called, but I think I got it from People Link. > The little program similar to Compute's "X-Ray" that you're > thinking of is probably "HOLE." We still have it on Plink in our > data library and no doubt it's on some Fish Disk but not having > Fred's catalog handy I couldn't tell you which one. I just took a look through the Fish database, and "Hole" isn't on any of the Fish Disks. Perhaps someone could send it to Bob Page for the moderated groups? -- Blaine Gardner @ Evans & Sutherland 580 Arapeen Drive, SLC, Utah 84108 Here: utah-cs!esunix!blgardne {ucbvax,allegra,decvax}!decwrl!esunix!blgardne There: uunet!iconsys!caeco!i-core!worsel!blaine (My Amiga running uucp) "Nobody will ever need more than 64K." "Nobody needs multitasking on a PC."