Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!ncrlnk!emdeng!hrich
From: hrich@emdeng.Dayton.NCR.COM (George.H.Harry.Rich)
Newsgroups: comp.arch
Subject: Re: Single user vs. shared
Message-ID: <290@emdeng.Dayton.NCR.COM>
Date: 21 Mar 90 14:53:06 GMT
References: <51771@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> <100598@convex.convex.com> <52661@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> <1990Mar18.023523.4034@ultra.com> <52817@lll-winken.LLNL.GOV> <2165@crdos1.crd.ge.COM> <1990Mar20.174931.2202@utzoo.uucp> <1990Mar21.010346.6552@ultra.com> <34853@news.Thin
Reply-To: hrich@emdeng.UUCP (George.H.Harry.Rich)
Organization: NCR, E&M Dayton
Lines: 29

Speaking as a user, I find that there are applications where it's really
important for me to be together with everyone else, and others where I
feel that I can do my best job, if I'm allowed to time upgrades, select
my own software, etc., etc.  My own feeling is that the best approach is
using networked individual systems where the software and data that must be
sychronously updated is maintained on a network server, and the software which
does not need to be in synchronization sits on my workstation.

This has the advantantage that the professional administrator can stick to
dealing with general needs of the organization without messing with
special requirements of individuals, and at the same time saves me the
problem of taking forced changes and upgrades when the organization doesn't
need them.

Of course this is expensive.  But have you looked at the cost of the people
using these systems lately?

I don't think that the argument that most desktops have terribly low
average utilization levels amounts to a hill of beans.  Expensive people
have been kept waiting for inexpensive computers for a decade by
others who have been trying to optimize computer utilization rather than
the overall operational cost and effectiveness of organizations.

Regards,

	Harry Rich

Disclaimer: The ideas expressed here are my own and not necessarilly those
	of my employer (who would be glad to sell you either kind of system).