Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!torsqnt!lethe!yunexus!philip From: philip@yunexus.yorku.ca (Phil McDunnough) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.misc Subject: Re: Low cost Mac's ? Message-ID: <15017@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Date: 12 Sep 90 00:44:28 GMT References: <25541.26DA84DD@stjhmc.fidonet.org> <1385@gold.GVG.TEK.COM> <1990Aug30.194221.29942@phri.nyu.edu> <11219@claris.com> <1990Aug31.021020.7897@phri.nyu.edu> <14588@yunexus.YorkU.CA> Sender: news@yunexus.YorkU.CA Organization: York University, Toronto, Ont. Lines: 33 In article ewright@convex.com (Edward V. Wright) writes: [lot's of stuff relating to CLI's and negative comments re Unix users] I'm not going to get in a battle here. If Apple wants to leave the Mac to the DTP, painting,spreadsheet,etc...users, that is their decision. Do you really believe Apple wants to see the Mac locked out of science? The data analysis program "S" I referred to was an example of how the current OS of the Mac makes it too difficult to move such a program to the Mac. SAS is another example. Your Mathematica reference is amusing. Mathematica needs 8 megs of RAM on the Mac to run properly, and it is not even a high powered symbolic mathematical program. It is great for graphics, but its mathematical libraries are limited in comparison to similar programs on other platforms. Most people I know simply use the Mac as a front end to Mathematica running on a better OS. As for your comment about Unix users making demands on the Mac, I might point out that I have been a Mac user( and still am) for a long time( as well as a very happy GS user, BTW). Apple makes excellent products. There's no need to restrict the computer to niche markets. It has, IMHO , an important role to play in scientific investigation. One thing should be made clear. Multitasking is not a luxury. Those who think it is haven't really made proper use of it. The same goes with piping,etc... What do you think IAC is all about in System 7? Philip McDunnough Professor of Statistics University of Toronto philip@utstat.toronto.edu [my opinions]