Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!batcomputer!munnari.oz.au!ariel!ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au!u3364521
From: u3364521@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au (Lou Cavallo)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: Amiga OS *IS* state of the art
Message-ID: <1991Mar30.181349.1773@ucsvc.ucs.unimelb.edu.au>
Date: 30 Mar 91 08:13:49 GMT
References: <1003@cbmger.UUCP> <7827@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU> <8806@gollum.twg.com>
Organization: I.A.E.S.R., Melbourne University
Lines: 60

G'day,

> In comp.sys.amiga.advocacy David S. Herron (david@twg.com ) writes:

>> In comp.sys.amiga.advocacy Dan Barrett (barrett@jhunix.HCF.JHU.EDU ) writes:
   [...]
>>	For example, it doesn't have:
>>		-	Virtual memory
>>		-	Memory protection
>>		-	Resource tracking
>>		-	Multi-user capabilities

> Yes, BUT -- these features are not NECESSARY.  Further in order
> to have them you pay a performance penalty which, apparently,
> Commodore is unwilling to pay.  Yes each would be very nice to have.
> 
> To have virtual memory:  Obviously most Amiga's don't have MMU's, a
> [...]
> To add memory protection:  Again this requires an MMU.  Same comments
> [...]
> Resource tracking: Well.. obviously the kernel needs to be keeping
> [...]

  Thanks for the technical tips on the difficulties here.  My only comment
  is that I _think_ many do expect CBM to add these features in when there
  is a perceived market demand ... i.e.  this is a question of when rather
  than if.

> Multi-User capabilities:  ***WHY***???  This is a single user
> 	machine, why do you want others to use it?!?  'sides,
> 	there's some PD-ware about which will do that.. UUCP
> 	for instance.

  I think the justification should be "for network use in educational and
  business environments" *with* the caveat that the home user shouldn't be
  stuck with having to pay the price of code and resource bloat in the OS.

  I feel that PD-ware is not enough for business/educational environments.

> Again from what I understand/hear-from-the-inside/etc it is
> a very conscious decision to not have those capabilities.

  I'm persuaded by that point of view also... but I wonder and wish to ask
  whether features like multi-user abilities and virtual memory can be de-
  signed to be turned on optionally by the user willing to and equipped to
  take advantage of them?

  Any comments here?

yours truly,
Lou Cavallo.

PS: I have a pet theory that multi-user and distributed computing features
    could play a key role in multi-media groupware e.g. a creative arts or
    video production group setup where artists and technicians could work
    together "live" on Amiga multimedia production.

    Should (or even can) CBM innovate in OS support for this sort of thing
    or should other companies get the lime-light for this type of innovat-
    ion?  { Truly an advocacy type of question, no? :-) }