Path: utzoo!dciem!nttor!contact!zooid!dve From: dve@zooid.UUCP (David Mason) Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms Subject: Windows 3 criticism Message-ID: Date: 16 Sep 90 15:55:49 GMT Organization: here Lines: 37 I am able to agree 100% with what Marshall Buhl said about Windows. One thing people don't consider when criticising Windows is that even though it's been around for a few years, in many ways it is still "immature." Up until version 3.0, not very many people considered using it for their one and only interface. Most people stayed in DOS and ran DOS terminals, DOS word processors, and used DOS file utilities, and only jumped into Windows for their desktop publishing or graphics work. Now with version 3 we are finally able to replace DOS almost completely - though there are still times when I use DOS programs (I haven't found a really good Windows terminal yet, and I admit I jump into DOS to do file functions - File Manager is a pain in the neck if you already know DOS). Because of the effect of the many people who are switching to Windows (including the organization I work for, and I take most credit for the Windows push there) then the gaps will be filled and it will be "fair" to compare Windows to a "mature" environment like DOS or the Mac or Unix. I expect to see in the next year either improvements on the existing comm programs or better ones, better utility programs (something like the File Manager with a command line would be perfect in my opinion), and many other programs. I'm not putting Windows down in any way, but I don't blame people if they occasionally call up the DOS prompt for a few operations. I can't understand people like John Dvorak at all. He seems to be a total opponent to Windows. Do these people not see that Windows is much more effective and powerful than straight DOS? It's true that Windows does have high demands on hardware, but that's the price that must be paid. I think Microsoft is doing an excellant job and they are suffering from Big Company Syndrome - everyone picks on them because they are a big company. If you mak a support call to Microsoft, let them know right away that you know what you are doing and they won't quote you the manual. In addition I have heard that Microsoft is making efforts to improve their support system, and will even be providing support for MS-DOS. I'm not a total Windows fanatic - if something better came along, I'd switch to it, but the fact is that there is nothing that is cheaper, easier to usem and as powerful as Windows. The only thing I dislike about it isn't it's fault - the lousy #$)(*&$# 8-character filenames. Anyone have any ideas if it's possible to fix THAT?