Re: // ProSel or Salv. Supreme?

[jp1@aol.com (JP1)]

In article <gwLBuc2w165w@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca>,
denisf@ersys.edmonton.ab.ca (Denis Fafard) writes:

>>  I would suggest getting ProSel 16.  It is a far superior product in my

>> estimation. It has included a complete set of utilities, accessories, 
>>command line, launcher, ....  I've never gone back to using the finder 
>>myself!

Since Denis included a 'in my estimation' caveat, his conclusion is
unassailable.  Even without said caveat, the opinion may be 'correct' in
an absolute sense.

Having been on the inside of development, test, and support of the
Salvation software line, I know where many of the bodies are buried.  As
well, having once been singled out by ProSel's {extraordinarily talented}
author for 'economic retaliation', I'm not always inclined to speak of
ProSel in glowing terms.

The Salvation line was designed to provide a "familiar, IIgs GUI "
interface (Hmmm...  GUI interface sounds like the Department of Redundancy
Department.) for the utilities.  This it does--ProSel does not.  

The interface does not correlate directly with any of either package's
abilities to perform their intended functions. 

There's one point in a discussion of the merits of one vs. those of the
other where I _do_ think that interface is an issue: manual editing of
files, folders, and volumes at the byte level...which may include manual
repair, snagging of text or other characters that otherwise aren't readily
'snag-able', and general snooping around.  
Deliverance's 'editing' operation, which allows virtually unlimited access
to multiple files, folders, and volumes--simultaneously and in separate,
modeless windows, with full cut/paste function in and among any open
windows--allows one to do easily things that are _very_ hard to do with
ProSel's editor.  The expert user may be fully able to make any byte-level
changes within the ProSel editor's 'text-like' environment, but those
below the expert level can easily get lost.  (There's another edge to
Deliverance's sword, of course--it makes it almost trivial for a novice to
do serious damage to files, folders, and volumes.)

For one rather narrow area of work--manual byte manipulation--I'll take
Deliverance _any_ time.

On the issue of 'ability to repair' in a more or less automatic mode,
Deliverance and ProSel each have their strengths and weakensses, IMO.  I
keep both at the ready. I've seen many too many screwed up environments
that neither one could repair alone, but between the two, successful
repair was highly probable.

John P.