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From: shwake@raysnec.UUCP (Ray Shwake)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc
Subject: Re: Where does UNIX fit in a graphically-based computer world?
Message-ID: <61@raysnec.UUCP>
Date: 7 Sep 90 14:37:05 GMT
References: <1990Sep5.202652.700@sun.soe.clarkson.edu>
Organization: IRS/CI - Technical Solutions Branch
Lines: 17

anthonjw@clutx.clarkson.edu (Jason W. Anthony) writes:

>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.

I'm afraid I must challenge your basic premise. UNIX has an undeniable
character-based heritage, dating back to the teletype days, but has
proven extensible in the extremis in any number of areas, including -
but not limited to - networking, security, real-time AND user interfacing.
For a number of workstation vendors (e.g. Sun, HP/Apollo, NeXT, SGI, DEC)
UNIX is the basis of their bread-and-butter offerings, and users on each
of these communicate through a GUI. Apple's offering is just more proof
that it CAN be done. Time to move beyond cliche and misconception.