Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!uunet!aurs01!roberson From: roberson@aurs01.UUCP (Charles "Chip" Roberson) Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st Subject: Re: Just gripin'... Keywords: gripes software naught Message-ID: <59374@aurs01.UUCP> Date: 4 Dec 90 14:02:39 GMT References: <249@stbimbo.UUCP> <17809@netcom.UUCP> Sender: news@aurs01.UUCP Reply-To: roberson@aurw04.UUCP (Charles "Chip" Roberson) Organization: Alcatel Network Systems, Raleigh NC Lines: 39 In article <17809@netcom.UUCP> seitz@netcom.UUCP (Matthew Seitz) writes: >Recently, Bill Gates, in defending the PC versus NeXT and Mac, said "What is >there that you can do on those machines that can't be done on the PC." I think >the same (almost) applies to the ST. I can't think of anything that can be done >on the PC, or Mac that you can't do on the ST. This issue came up recently with AREN. We are trying to develop an information service for multiple simultaneous users. Currently the service is piecemeal with some on Unix boxes (not ours), some on a PC, some on CIS, and some on an ST. We are trying to decide how to integrate this into on managable entity. Once person really wants to develop the who thing in DOS. I had though briefly about some form of Atari, but quickly dropped the idea since I didn't think we could depend on Atari being there. The problem came down to this. On the PC we had to build all of our Communications, Tasking, and Terminal interfaces from the ground up. On a Unix box we could rely on the OS and its libraries to provide these facilities -- we only needed to worry about the application. PCs and STs don't make very good Unix hosts, though 386en are getting better. A machine built with multi-tasking in mind tends to be cleaner. For our needs a PC or ST just doesn't cut it. A Mac would only be used to layout our newsletter and brochures (but I wouldn't pay Apple for A/UX.) The TT provides Unix, but at what cost. We know that Sun is going to support us and there is a 3rd party verdorship out there. Can the Atari promise that? My ST is a fine smart terminal and a good typesetter with TeX (but it is slooowww). For want of a nail.... -chip * Work: 2912 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh, NC 27609 (919) 850-5011 * (...!mcnc!aurgate!roberson) || (roberson%aurgate@mcnc.org) || * (71500.2056@CompuServe.com) || (Chip.Roberson@f112.n151.z1.fidonet.org) #include