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From: fry@zariski.harvard.edu (David Fry)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.system
Subject: Re: True Multitasking
Message-ID: <5345@husc6.harvard.edu>
Date: 15 Jan 91 23:42:32 GMT
References: <19019@shlump.nac.dec.com> <48122@apple.Apple.COM>
Sender: news@husc6.harvard.edu
Organization: Harvard Math Department
Lines: 23



I love Mac's, I love MultiFinder, and I know the details of 
programming a Mac to approach "true multi-tasking" capabilities.  I 
also use Unix GUI's with the correspondingly delayed user response to 
certain events, and I agree that's very annoying.

As difficult as it may be to re-write the MacOS to allow pre-emptive 
multitasking, it is undeniable that this should be done, and everyone 
at Apple understands this, I think.  Regardless of what CAN be done 
now to approximate the results of "true multi-tasking," there is no 
reason programmers should have to think about this.  When downloading 
files, I have to plan how to use my Mac during that time so that I 
don't kill the download.

I think Apple will come up with a solution to this problem that will 
be worth waiting for.  In the meantime, however, please don't give us 
a snow job about how it's not necessary.  

David Fry                               fry@math.harvard.EDU
Department of Mathematics               fry@huma1.bitnet
Harvard University                      ...!harvard!huma1!fry
Cambridge, MA  02138