Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!apple!daveo From: daveo@Apple.COM (David M. O'Rourke) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: What can't it do? Loss of... Keywords: Multi-Finder, multitasking, Finder Message-ID: <42913@apple.Apple.COM> Date: 12 Jul 90 17:09:29 GMT References: <82023@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu> <2619@network.ucsd.edu> Organization: Apple Computer Inc, Cupertino, CA Lines: 35 pbiron@weber.ucsd.edu (Paul Biron) writes: >It's even more of a misnomer than you think. >When you switch between applications with Multi-Finder, the >application you WERE using goes to sleep. This is almost true. If you're using an older piece of software that doesn't call waitnextevent then it'll go to sleep. However properly written software under Multifinder does recieve time in the background and the process will be sched. >To be truely multi-tasking, an operating system must allow >multiple processes (or applications) to be running AT THE >SAME TIME (well, actually they each get a time slice). MultiFinder does this, see above. >The closest thing to true multitasking I've seen on a Mac >is the print spooler. In all the OS books I've read they have said that multitasking is a mech. for scheduling the processor. MultiFinder is a true multitaksing system, it is not a pre-emptive multitasking system. But even the "true multitasking" phrase is a misnomer, to have "true multitasking" requires you have a processor for each task. :-) Hope this helps. BTW: Flames, comments, arguments regarding MultiFinder being a co-operative MultiTasking system rather than a preemptive system will be ignored. This group, and the rest of the net have hashed out that discussion numerous times and any further discussion is pointless. The above information was provided to correct an incorrect statment, not to start a new OS discussion regarding MF's multitasking choice. -- daveo@apple.com David M. O'Rourke _______________________________________________________________________________ I do not speak for Apple in *ANY* official capacity.