🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <7658@apple.Apple.Com> dwb@apple.UUCP (David W. Berry) writes:
>In article <3609@bloom-beacon.MIT.EDU> chekmate@athena.mit.edu (Adam Kao) writes:
>>David admits there are areas where Multifinder is less than
>>multitasking.  I know of no areas where multitasking is less
>>convenient than Multifinder.
>	Sigh, misquoted again.  And out of context even.  What
>I said was that MultiFinder still had some known areas where it
>could be improved.  Not that it was less than multitasking.

I apologize for misinterpreting your posting.

>							     As
>a matter of fact it is fully and completely multitasking, non-
>premptive, but multitasking all the same.
				:
				:
>			In the case of "multitasking" we'll
>assume you mean either NeWS, SunView, or X (any version you
>choose)

You and I must have very different understandings of the term
"multitasking."  I would like to use this definition:

       "In a true multitasking system, tasks can run independently.
	They can also communicate with and interrupt each other."
		-- Caia Grisar, MIT Information Services.

I do not understand how a system can be non-preemptive multitasking.
Also, this may be just a slip of the tongue (finger?) on your part,
but NeWS, SunView, and X are all _windowing_systems_.  For example, it
makes no sense to discuss the "multitasking" of X because X is merely
a set of programs that interface to mouse, keyboard, and screen.
Multitasking has to be implemented in the operating system, in this
case Unix.  This is partly why I feel MultiFinder is not multitasking;
it was not written as part of the OS, it was added later.

>			It (MultiFinder) presents a single, easily
>learned, consistent interface across all applications.  That's
>something that SunView and X can't provide and NeWS has yet to
>prove that it will provide.

Again, your points have nothing to do with multitasking.  Multitasking
is about _multiple_tasks_, not user interfaces.

>	A comparison of simplicity between multitasking and MultiFinder
>is relatively useless because multitasking is an operating system concept
>featured within MultiFinder.  

Surely you're not saying multitasking is a subset of MultiFinder?
Please explain.  If you really are saying that MultiFinder "is fully
and completely multitasking" you're on pretty shaky ground.
Multitasking systems preempt.  Multitasking systems run tasks
independently.  Multitasking systems are simpler to implement and
interface with.

>			       To compare apples with apples, let's compare
>windowing systems.

That was not the intent of my original posting.  If that's what YOU
want to discuss, why are you following-up?
As I understand it, MultiFinder is not a windowing system. MultiFinder
is an addition to the operating system.

>		    All other things equal, which they basically are,
						  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>consistency makes the Macintosh interface and MultiFinder simpler to
>learn and use than X, NeWS, or SunView.

I really can't let this go by.  Would you mind supporting that statement?

>>What's that?  Mac software?  Who cares about Mac software?
>>
>>Adam
>>
>>disclaimer:  MIT lets me use their equipment because I pay them
>>$12,500 a year.
>	Well, Adam, eventually you'll make it out into the real world
>and discover that there are several million people who want a system
>that's easy to use, presents a consistent user interface and does
>what Mac software does and Unix doesn't.  Unix is wonderful for
>universities, some businesses and maybe even workstations, but it's
>just too big and too complex for 95% of the worlds population.

Don't patronize me.  I have my opinions and I enjoy discussing them.
Your comment precludes any discussion between us; you imply my
opinions have no value because I am a student.  If I agreed with you
you would not make the same comment.  And why do you assume I have
no real world experience?  Have you never heard of people working for
a few years before returning to college to complete their degree?

Nor do I understand your comments about Unix.  I never claimed Unix
was the world's salvation.  I never mentioned Unix at all.

I acknowledge the reality of several million Mac users (my last
posting).  But you still have not addressed my main point:

As a tool for switching between tasks, MultiFinder has absolutely no
advantage over multitasking.  And at least one disadvantage (which you
have granted me).

>
>	David W. Berry
>	dwb@well.uucp dwb@Delphi
>	dwb@apple.com 973-5168@408.MaBell
>Disclaimer: Apple doesn't even know I have an opinion and certainly
>	wouldn't want if they did.

Adam

"Question Authority!"  "Says who?"