Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!convex!ernst
From: ernst@convex.com (Daniel Ernst)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: running DOS pgm on Mac?
Keywords: DOS, software, Mac
Message-ID: <102948@convex.convex.com>
Date: 11 Jun 90 14:26:56 GMT
References: <2185@csm9a.UUCP> <978@ashton.UUCP> <417@newave.UUCP>
Sender: news@convex.com
Lines: 36

>This might be a stupid question, but why bother?  You can go
>to Radio Shack and buy a DOS machine for $299 and not have to
>worry about all of the problems you might other wise run into
>trying to make one screwball machine pretend to be another
>screwball computer, not to mention the possible speed differences
>and the problem of keeping all of the pieces running on compatible
>versions of software.  I'm sure that any software or board solution
>is going to cost more than the corresponding PC hardware.  There
>are pleanty of low cost DOS compatible machines that are reliable.

>I must have missed something here...   8-)

>-john-
I can think of several reasons to use a program like SoftPC on a Mac instead of
buying a Radio Shack DOS machine:

First;  SoftPC can be purchased for $299.00.

Second; SoftPC emulates an XT with CGA color capabilities.  Since I have a
        MAC II with color this worked out nicely.  Buying a Color monitor for
        the Radio Shack would certainly increase the price above $299.00

Third;  SoftPC can run under multifinder.  This is nice because I can have
        word processors and other applications running.  Its nice to cut and
        paste from the DOS applications (running under SoftPC) to and from
        MAC applications.  This capability saved bucks because I did not have
        to purchase a word processor for the DOS machine.

Fourth; Takes up less desk space.

There are disadvantages as well but I will not list them (unless someone wants
to hear them).

Dan Ernst
SQA
Convex Computer Corporation