Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!jarthur!nntp-server.caltech.edu!toddpw
From: toddpw@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: The GS Axe is Not Falling
Message-ID: <1991Apr18.171854.13367@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Date: 18 Apr 91 17:18:54 GMT
References: <1991Apr8.035012.20436@nntp-server.caltech.edu> <51235@apple.Apple.COM> <1991Apr5.224048.29496@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu> <1991Apr6.102920.22598@nntp-server.caltech.edu> <15744@smoke. <410@alchemy.UUCP>
Organization: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
Lines: 46

hzink@alchemy.UUCP (Harry K. Zink) writes:

> Let's be serious here:  If we assume that 
>the machine you mentioned has drives, we can safely assume that all your 
>important data was on those drives.  If they go down, you can't access the data
>and therefore you can't use it - so what good is the computer to you now 
>(besides offering you a weak argument in your discussion)? [unless you keep 
>backups on audio tape on your //e...)

Harry, you're thinking like an MBA. Computers can do more than suckle from
hard disks if people would get smart and put REAL utilities in ROM. A CLI
and language system is only the start -- why not a barebones communications
program for the built-in serial ports? Apple's trend towards more tools in
ROM is a good one, but those tools are still pretty useless until you boot
the O/S or type something in yourself. (get real -- nobody uses tape anymore.)
The Mac Classic (and the LC too, I think) has a 384k ROM disk with a bare
system on it -- if it can be used for anything real and not just rebooting
from a server then Apple's finally got the right idea.

>I usually enjoy reading most of your stuff on this group, but the prior and the
>above statements in your argument are very weak and, IMHO, useless drivel.  

Is it useless drivel to say that I like being able to use a computer for
something even though the disks are gone? My idea of using a computer is
not limited to sticking a floppy in before I can get anywhere. Often I have
had math questions or graphs I wanted to do that would be inconvenient on
even the new "super"calculators, and whipping out a quick basic program
from scratch fit the bill perfectly. I want to see that kind of support
for all the built in hardware, especially some form of O/S kernel (the
release version as of the ROM burning) that can be updated simply by
mounting (not booting) a disk. We've had gobs of ROM as a practical
reality for a long time, why is is that nobody uses it for anything
worthwhile?? At least Apple's TRYING.

>Obviously, both comments seemed to have been made on your part solely to 
>counter an argument, not to make any relevant intellectual contributions 
>(especially the later one, which seems like a personal problem you seem to have
>with people who are lucky enough to be 'pampered'...)  I personally am glad 
>that there are people who are as pampered, working on exciting new technology. 

Are you deliberately trying to piss me off or do you seriously believe that??

I think you need a vacation or two (or three..)

Todd Whitesel
toddpw @ tybalt.caltech.edu