Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!watmath!att!att!rutgers!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jarthur!wilkins From: wilkins@jarthur.Claremont.EDU (Mark Wilkins) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system Subject: Re: System 7 and Mac Plus/SE 68030 upgrades. Message-ID: <9516@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> Date: 3 Nov 90 20:38:13 GMT References: <9514@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> <1990Nov3.122558.28340@rodan.acs.syr.edu> Organization: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, CA 91711 Lines: 76 In article <1990Nov3.122558.28340@rodan.acs.syr.edu> wwtaroli@rodan.acs.syr.edu (Bill Taroli) writes: >So, I wonder what's up with Apple's code that they decided that any '030 >equipped machine won't support VM. I mean, let's face it; the only problems that >I've encountered on mine involved software that noticed it was running on an SE >and assumed an '000. I suppose that this leaves two reasons for Apple's edict >-- 1) they make hardware assumptions in their code (hard to believe), or 2) >They want to make sure the low end stays that way (VERY plausible!). Actually, according to Tom Dowdy at Apple, it's that they call system calls which are only available on the Mac II. I can understand that they would do this for reasons other than deliberately locking Mac SE or Plus users out of the VM technology. > >This revelation is also funny. The two main reasons people would be updating to >7.0 are TrueType and VM. Pardon my rudeness, but this is unmitigated B.S. I've been running System 7 nonstop for three or four months and almost never have V.M. turned on. Real RAM is cheaper than disk space, anyway, and V.M. makes the cursor jump around unpleasantly. The reason I posted my original message was merely to warn people off from buying these 68030 upgrades and finding them wanting. However, your response demonstrates a distinct lack of thought. The REAL reasons to upgrade to System 7, based on alpha and beta seed software I've worked with and based on what I'd be willing to give up given that experience, are: *** Improved Finder interface (!!! This is REALLY useful stuff, folks!) --- Keyboard shortcuts for selecting files --- multiple control panels open in the Finder layer --- Aliases (REALLY useful for adding things to the Apple menu and in network environments) --- "Find File" integrated into Finder with many search options other than just by file name --- Customizable layout, including spacing, fonts, and many options for list views --- Add your own items to the Apple menu --- "Hide " option so background apps can be invisible. *** Personal FileShare, a distributed AFP disk server. *** The Edition Manager, providing dynamic links between documents *** AppleEvents support, which will make all kinds of neat utilities possible to control your Mac automatically. *** The Help Manager (I don't think many people realize how useful this will be, but by the time System 7 is released most applications will support it.) *** All the little improvements like the ability to display PICT2 files on a B/W mac and making double-clicks on text documents automatically open TeachText if the creator app isn't around and about a billion other things. Finally, of course, there are TrueType and VM, but as you say those things are available now. Say again why you won't be upgrading to System 7? Are you willing to put up with having features of your applications permanently disabled because you're not running the latest system software? More to the point, how many people are still running System 5.0? And what are they doing with their machines? And if you complain about not being able to afford a $35 memory upgrade I'll personally walk to Syracuse and bop you in the nose, Sir! :-) -- Mark Wilkins SpectroComp Software -- ******* "Freedom is a road seldom traveled by the multitude!" ********** *-----------------------------------------------------------------------------* * Mark R. Wilkins wilkins@jarthur.claremont.edu {uunet}!jarthur!wilkins * ****** MARK.WILKINS on AppleLink ****** MWilkins on America Online ******