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From: anthonjw@clutx.clarkson.edu (Jason W. Anthony)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Where does UNIX fit in a graphically-based computer world?
Message-ID: <1990Sep5.202652.700@sun.soe.clarkson.edu>
Date: 5 Sep 90 20:26:52 GMT
Sender: news@sun.soe.clarkson.edu
Organization: Clarkson University, Potsdam, NY
Lines: 35


I recently unwillingly got invloved in a Mac vs IBM argument, and I left
with an interesting question in mind... The person I was discussing this
with said "the world is going UNIX" and the IBM was more UNIX like.  Now,
I feel the world is going toward a graphically-based approach to computing
(Mac, Sun, NeXT, Windows 3.0 and OS/2), so I didn't think much of the
argument.  But, I began to wonder how UNIX would fit into such a
world....

It would seem UNIX would be in direct opposition to a "GUI" (Graphical
User Interface) world since it is completely character-based and also
very cryptic.  However, we do see UNIX appearing on many mainframes,
workstations, and even as A/UX on the Mac, which doesn't seem to be
very popular (price being one reason).  UNIX also I think is considered
the (or one of the) most "powerful" operating systems in existance.

So, if the world is indeed going GUI, will UNIX fade away, or will
there try to be some kind of combination of the two?  Also, why
have we seen very little GUI in the mainframe world?  It seems
vector-based graphics and/or smarter terminals could make that
possible.  Or is GUI simply a personal computer thing?

I would be interested in hearing what people have to say about this.
I'm sorry if this group would seem inappropriate to some, but I am
interested in people who use the Mac and who use or have used UNIX,
since they would see the fruits of both.

Thanx!

__________________________________________________________________         
Jason W. Anthony         anthonjw@clutx.clarkson.edu      ////  /|         
Computer Engineering                                       /   / |         
Clarkson University, Potsdam N.Y.                       / /   /--|         
____________________________________________________   ///.  /   |.