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From: tgp@sei.cmu.edu (Tod Pike)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: Another county heard from
Message-ID: <8263@fy.sei.cmu.edu>
Date: 16 Aug 90 22:43:05 GMT
References: <545@mstr.hgc.edu>
Distribution: usa
Organization: Carnegie-Mellon University (Software Engineering Institute), Pgh, PA
Lines: 40

In article <545@mstr.hgc.edu>, nmiller@mstr.hgc.edu (norman miller) writes:
<an article comparing MicroSoft windows 3.0 to a coffee pot>
<I won't include it because it's too long>

Well, let's say that I'm in the market for a new coffee pot.  What I do in
general is read the trade journals, ask people who have used the product, and
if I can, try before I buy.  If I do all of these things, I will have a good
idea about the capabilities and flaws of the product before I try it.

Your metaphor is flawed in the case of windows 3.0, because if windows is so
bad, why isn't there a great hue and cry about it?  Why don't I see every (or
any, even) magazine articles telling me about it's critical flaws?  Why don't
I see retailers, programmers, and users telling me not to buy it?  What I have
seen others say, (and have seen for myself in using windows 3.0) is a pretty
good product that does what is claimed for it.  It has flaws, but if your
expectations are correct you will not be disappointed.  I feel that your problem
is not with windows, but with your expectations.

A couple of points:  I have a 286 box.  Not a burner, but it does the job for
me.  Windows is not slow enough to be annoying to me, and I use a fast
workstation running Xwindows at work.  I'm not sure what you consider unusable,
but windows is definitely usable.  Also, windows DOES multi-task on a 286.  A
case in point...I start up a download with Terminal, and then go off to a DOS
window to run a non-windows program (PC-FILE 3.0 - definitely not a windows
application!).  When I get back, I see that the download has gone right
ahead without pause.  It may not be pre-emptive multitasking, but it does the
same thing.

Anyway, I've gone on long enough.  Suffice to say that I'm satisified with
windows.  If you think that there is a better product, use it.  If you don't
think that Microsoft did a good job, write a better environment.  Let me know
when it's done.

			Tod Pike

-- 
Internet: tgp@sei.cmu.edu
Mail:     Carnegie Mellon University
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