Re: OS For IIGS

[Mark Manning/Simulacron I <markem@flash.net>]

Mitchell Spector wrote:
> 
> In article cplater@rattlehead.pass.wayne.edu (Charles A. Plater) writes...
> 
> >KCUF airmaster (airmaster@KCUF.org) wrote:
> 
>     That is Windows 3.1, Windows 95 is not a graphic shell with
> MS-DOS running and operating the computer underneath. I thought
> it unprofessional that InCider/A+, er..I mean MacUser/MacWorld
> printed a letter in this month's issue where someone stated that
> and they were not corrected. Unfortunately most of the magazine
> seems to be filled with snipes about the PC.
> 
> >I'll stick with MacOS, thank you very much (and GS/OS on my Woz ROM 01)
> >and move up to rhapsody when it's released.  If that's not your OS choice,
> >fine, you live with the consequenses.
> 
>     And I'll stick with whatever operating system offers the best
> features, flexibility and technology. If Apple wrote an 80x86 port

After reading this I felt compelled by an unseen force to post something
(although I usually just lurk).

*****Rant On*****

First, the court cases between Microsoft and Apple computer is on-line. 
I've seen them and read them concerning both Windows 3.1 and Windows
95.  In both court cases Apple Computer sued Microsoft over Patent
infringements.  In the first court case ACI _gave_ to Microsoft the
right to use and sublease the MacOS as Microsoft's own GUI OS.  In
return, Microsoft agreed not to release Excel for Windows until five
years later (along with some other things).  In the second court case,
the court found in Microsoft's favor because they had followed the terms
of the agreement from the first court case and Windows 95 was a
substantial improvement on the technology.  Basically, the court found
that Apple had had it's time and now it was time for everyone to be able
to use the technology.

Second, Apple did not invent the GUI OS.  Xerox did at Palo Alto.  Apple
is on record as having paid Xerox to be able to use the GUI interface. 
Also, the word "Macintosh" is actually owned by a stereo manufacturer
company by the same name.  ACI also had to pay them in order to use the
name "Macintosh" for their computer.

Third, both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 boots up MS-DOS first before it
brings up the GUI interface.  If you do not believe this it is simply
proved.  Boot up your machine, tell it to restart in DOS, and then put
in the McAfee virus detection software program into the autoexec.bat
file you will find at the top of your directory.  Reboot the system and
watch McAfee come up and do it's thing.  I've got a copy of the older
McAfee program which does this under DOS and it runs fine every time I
boot up Windows 95 on my wife's machine.  Further, all you have to do
(if you still do not believe this) is to go ask Microsoft.  They will
tell you (if you can get the truth out of them or if you can find
someone who really knows what's going on with Windows 95) that Windows
95 is still nothing more than a GUI put on top of MS-DOS.

Next, neither the Macintosh, nor Windows is really a multitasking OS. 
System 7 was a great improvement over System 6 with the Multifinder. 
But all System 7 did was to really hide where the Multifinder was.  If
you look in the system Folder you will still see a (Multi)Finder. 
Windows is the same way.  Especially since it is based on the MacOS. 
Both of these systems use a timesharing variation to perform their
multitasking.

Last.  If I were to read your statement correctly; ie: the

>     And I'll stick with whatever operating system offers the best
> features, flexibility and technology. If Apple wrote an 80x86 port

then I'd have to direct your attention to Linux.  For the money (its
free or very cheap) it is the best OS around.  You get fvwm-95 which
emulates Windows 95 (free), you get a true multitasking OS (free), you
get a C compiler (free), a C++ compiler (free), a Pascal compiler
(free), a Fortran compiler (free), a COBOL compiler (free), an ADA
compiler (free), Flex, Bison, Apache, Perl, and several other software
programs all for free.  Further, you do not get the funky FAT where the
block size continues to increase the larger your hard drive is (both the
Mac and the PC do this).  You get to have individual accounts, a machine
that doesn't crash because a program crashed (unless you are in root
mode), and you get LOTS of support (sometimes from very rude people -
but they DO still help you).

Last thoughts.  Everyone says their OS is the best.  If this is true
then why are all of the computer manufacturers turning to Unix?  The
Apple //gs has GNO/ME unix, ACI is coming out with Rhapsody (which is
Unix with a GUI), and Microsoft has Windows NT (A Unix based OS with a
GUI).  The reason is simple.  Unix/Linux/BSD/whatever IS the OS of
choice.  For almost twenty years I (and I'm sure MANY others) have
repeatedly asked ACI and Microsoft why they just didn't go to Unix and
provide a GUI overlay.  Well - they are.  So now the question becomes:
Which do you want to do?  Pay ACI or Microsoft hundreds of dollars for
the GUI or get it for free?  Me - I choose free.

*****Rant Off*****

I feel much better.  :-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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