Path: utzoo!dciem!nttor!contact!zooid!dve From: dve@zooid.UUCP (David Mason) Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms Subject: Re: Another county heard from Message-ID: Date: 22 Aug 90 17:13:11 GMT References: <14679@shlump.nac.dec.com> Organization: here Lines: 73 simon@hpspwr.enet.dec.com (Curiosier and curiosier...) writes: > >to run programs that break all of DOS' restrictions and work in an updated > >and powerful environment then you should buy Windows. > > I am afraid I am also the one who is missing the point. What are "all of > DOS' restrictions" that Windows break? If I have Word Perfect or Lotus, > will it run better under Windows then under DesqView? Or is the > "breaking" is relative only to specifically Windows written software? Unfortunately Microsoft's advertising is not as effective as it should be. When you think of Windows, think of an entirely new operating system (which it isn't according to most people) that does not run DOS software but instead runs currently about 1000 powerful software programs that were designed to be easy to use, to communicate with one another, and use memory past the DOS 640k barrier and to effectively multitask. If you read any comparison of DOS vs. Windows programs you will see that the Windows programs compare very favourably. In addition companies like Lotus and Wordperfect are planning Windows releases of their programs shortly. Although Windows can run DOS programs (fairly effectively on a 386) this is not the main advantage of the product and it should not be reviewed based on it's ability to run DOS products, though I have had very few problems and in my opinion, with my experience, it is easier to use and works better than Desqview. Although since Desqview is just intended as a multitasker, and Windows is an entirely new operating kernal that operates in graphics mode, there is much more overhead involved in Windows so that for certain operations it is slower. > > I think I do. I still have not been able to figure out what Windows has > vs. what other specialized programs and DesqView 386 does not. Windows' > accessory are next to useless comparing to PC TOOLS' DESKTOP; its File > Manager is crippled (in comparison to PC-TOOLS or Norton Commander), it > doesn't even have a file viewer let alone being slow; the Terminal > emulator that can't handle ^H, etc. > > This is not degrading Windows or flaming, it is a real search for the > answer. > Again, Windows was not designed be a program that competed with other utility or shell products. If it was then it would be competing with Automenu, Desqview, Procomm, PCTools, and many other programs and DOS extenders. The terminal, file manager, paint program, and so on are just throw-ins to attract people and provide the basic necessities people will need in order to "switch" to Windows. The main advantages of Windows are, off the top of my head: Consistant interface (which makes each program easy to learn, especially after you learn the first one) Point and click operation (which means that operating a program is involves pointing at what you want to do and clicking) New, powerful software The 640k barrier is broken Support of computing in protected mode Reliable multitasking Graphics interface (what you see is what you get) Friendlier mode of operation (improved error messages, "cuteness",using pictures to represent actions, etc) DDE which means that programs can use each other and act in a very co-operative manner (IE Word can tell Excel to boot up, load a spreadsheet, perform a calculation, and paste the result into a Word document) And so on. Read the Windows box, or pick up a copy, like it or not you will be using it in a couple years, or at the very least you should be familiar with it. Many of the above points are debated hotly by some people, who claim that using a mouse in a graphics environment is a hinderance more than anything else. That is mainly a matter of personal preference, but Windows does supply keyboard equivalents of all commands.