Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!cbmvax!daveh
From: daveh@cbmvax.commodore.com (Dave Haynie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Info on new low-end Mac
Message-ID: <13465@cbmvax.commodore.com>
Date: 27 Jul 90 01:51:18 GMT
References: <13736@oolong.la.locus.com>
Reply-To: daveh@cbmvax (Dave Haynie)
Distribution: usa
Organization: Commodore, West Chester, PA
Lines: 64

In article <13736@oolong.la.locus.com> spear@locus.com (Brad Spear) writes:
>In article (murfle) daveh@cbmvax (Dave Haynie) wrote:
>>In article <...> philip@utstat.uucp (Philip McDunnough) writes:

>>But those software layers only hook Macs to Macs, don't they.  And you'll
>>need a NuBus Ethernet card to run at Ethernet speeds.  

>This doesn't really change the argument much, but I've seen a couple of
>letters now that say the same thing.  

The original letter seemed to be trying to imply that Localtalk, the built-in
Mac lan port, whatever you call it, would be willing to run at Ethernet 
speeds, rather than the 250k baud or so they actually handle.  True, you 
do get the network support with the Mac.  Amiga has defined standard network
support too, though this is a much more recent development.

>And there is an Ethernet card for the Mac-SE.  I seem to recall that it 
>isn't a NuBus -- but this is nit-picking. Maybe the SE can't keep up at 
>standard Ethernet speeds for more than short bursts?

The SE doesn't have a NuBus port, but the internal slot, which is basically
the raw 68000 bus, goes plenty fast for Ethernet support.  Basically, while
Ethernet is a reasonably fast network (round about 10megabits/second), it's
hardly a problem for the computer, given proper buffering; hard disks go
several times faster.

>The need for NFS is a personal choice, it isn't *necessary*.

Until you get used to it, then it is.  Much in the same way a 68030 machine
isn't *necessary*.  But give one to someone who's used to a 68000 system
for about a month, then try to get it back.  I lived without NFS for 28 years,
but now I get downright nervous if I don't see that "VAX" icon up on my system
here.

>And AppleTalk does support file as well as printer sharing.  Just how well
>is a matter of opinion. :->  

Sure it supports it.  I could also share files via SLIP and NFS and 19,200 
baud, I suppose.  But there are limits to human endurance.  Ethernet is 
usually nice, Arcnet (read Novell) is passable, but I can't endure Mac 
speeds.  But even plug and chug printer sharing has it's merits; after all,
that port must have cost Apple all of $8.00 or so to put into ever Mac.

>Is it really slower than, say, FTP over TCP/IP and Ethernet?

Never having used the software layers over Ethernet, I can't say.  In terms
of data rates, Ethernet is about 40 times faster than LocalTalk.

>'direct' service like NFS will have problems between machine architectures.
>I've worked on two such products, for UNIX <-> MS-DOS.  What a pain.

Amiga and UNIX system Ethernet fabulously.  Of course, they have similar
naming conventions for files (only difference being UNIX cares about case,
Amiga preserves it but doesn't care), similar text conventions (both use
line feeds), etc.  I ftp from MS-DOS machines occasionally (can't go to them,
since there's no server around), and that takes care of most of the uglies;
I wouldn't really want NFS there.

>Brad Spear				Locus Computing Corporation

-- 
Dave Haynie Commodore-Amiga (Amiga 3000) "The Crew That Never Rests"
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