Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!samsung!schizo!rosen From: rosen@tristar.samsung.com (MFHorn) Newsgroups: comp.os.msdos.misc Subject: Unix or DOS (was Re: Where is the long awaited MS DOS 5.0 ?) Message-ID: Date: 28 Dec 90 19:46:27 GMT References: <8550@tekgvs.LABS.TEK.COM> <13523@milton.u.washington.edu> Sender: news@samsung.COM Reply-To: rosen@samsung.com Organization: Samsung Software America, Inc. Lines: 62 In-reply-to: dittrich@milton.u.washington.edu's message of 28 Dec 90 18:41:24 GMT In article <13523@milton.u.washington.edu> dittrich@milton.u.washington.edu (Dave Dittrich) writes: > In article ghenniga@nmsu.edu (Gary Hennigan) writes: > >1. The number of applications available for DOS is overwhelming, a lot > >of which are Freeware and/or Shareware! > > Big deal. Most of them are primitive and not worth the disk space they take > up. They are mostly meant to work alone (rather than act as building blocks > for higher level tools, the way UNIX commands are used). GNU software is > free [...] > > >2. The ease with which a non-experienced user can learn DOS far > >outpaces the same user attempting to learn the sometimes cryptic UNIX. > > The ease of learning is not THAT much better (OK, DOS has TENS of commands, > rather than HUNDREDS, like UNIX. > > But then, when did anyone buy something simply because it was easier to learn > when they expected touse the thing every day of their lives? > > >3. And last but by no means least, from Computer Shopper (October): > > SCO Xenix 386 -- $469 > > MSDOS 4.01 ---- $109 !!!!!!!!!!!!!! > > Just add the price of the C compiler ($328 in Computer Shopper) and SCO > looks more attractive ($469 vs. $438). Besides, with SCO Xenix I can > get X-Windows and a debugger for far less than C 6.00a and SDK. I think you're both forgetting the first question EVERY person that is considering buying a computer HAS to ask: What am I going to use it for? I don't any development on my PC. I play games, dial other computers and putz around with it (as a toy in it's own right). I know *I* haven't seen any Unix version of Railroad Tycoon, Leisure Suit Larry (1, 2 or 3), Pool of Radiance, SimCity, etc., etc. And Procomm Plus is far superior to any communications package I've seen for any version of Unix. And I know of at least 3 UUCP packages for DOS.. If all I had were Unix, I'd almost never use my PC. With DOS, I use it an average of 2 or 3 hours a day. I'm sure the reason most people still haven't upgraded to DOS 4.0{,1} is not JUST that 4.0 was buggy. [BTW, I've been using 4.01 for a year and haven't had a single problem.] > And > with X, I get the ability to use OTHER computers besides just my little 286 > based toy. How many people do you really know that have Ethernet LANs in their home?? Even for businesses, Novell is plenty sufficient for their purposes. Most people just don't _need_ the power and modularity of Unix on their P[ersonal] C[omputer]. Disclaimer: I hate DOS. I think it's as bad a joke as the Intel CPUs it runs on. But the games are great. -- Andy Rosen | rosen@samsung.com | "I got this guitar Samsung Software America | ...!uunet!samsung!rosen | and I learned how One Corporate Drive | (508) 685-7200 | to make it talk" Andover, MA 01810 | | -Thunder Road