Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!sei.cmu.edu!fs7.ece.cmu.edu!o.gp.cs.cmu.edu!andrew.cmu.edu!sk2f+ From: sk2f+@andrew.cmu.edu (Seth D. Kadesh) Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2 Subject: Re: Apple II hard drives stuff... Message-ID: Date: 29 Apr 91 06:51:30 GMT References: <415@alchemy.UUCP>, <1991Apr29.005248.16713@nntp-server.caltech.edu> Organization: Class of '92, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA Lines: 78 In-Reply-To: <1991Apr29.005248.16713@nntp-server.caltech.edu> Seth has fun quoting everyone: toddpw@nntp-server.caltech.edu (Todd P. Whitesel) writes: > hzink@alchemy.UUCP (Harry K. Zink) writes: > > >I'm sorry, Todd, but even if we had 'real utilities' in ROM (whatever those > >might be), they still won't help me from retrieving my precious data from the > >hard drive (or floppy drive for that matter), if those functions fail. > > Well, a simple disk recoverer would be a good one to slap in ROM. I am not > claiming that you would be able to continue ALL of your work (come on!), but > it is better to be able to continue SOME of it with the aid of the computer > than NONE of it. > > > It has nothing to do with people getting 'smart' and such, but rather with > >looking at the computer as a tool in a *realistic* fashion. > > Looking at the computer as a realistic tool IS the 'getting smart' I am talking > about. The idea is to reduce dependency on disk drives, so the machine boots > right away and installs updates and extensions as the drives spin up (if they > are even there). > > If you are using a laptop exclusively as a terminal, with no charging power > available, there is no point having the hard drive spinning. They do have > low power modes, but you still have the current surge as the drive starts up, > and spins up when it is woken. [some stuff] > What I was getting at was the idea of putting small useful stuff in ROM, > like vt100 emulators, usable text editors, decent calculator and graphing > functions, like notepads, alarm clocks, printing capability, and so on. Anyone out there remember a "revolutionary" (my word) device called the Swyftcard? It was an expansion card that contained a basic Appleworks type program in ROM - a word processor (with an amazing search algorithm), a terminal emulator [note: I could be remembering this stuff incorrectly - it's been a couple of years] It was designed by one of the guys who worked on the Macintosh, but left early on in the development for some reason... [my memory is truly failing me at the moment, and I hesitate to say something totally inaccurate] The point being that this Swyftcard is exactly what Todd is talking about. Well, maybe not exactly.... It didn't catch on, as far as I can tell. Hmmm. That sounds like an argument against it. [bear with me - it's 3 am, and I have to microcode a subset of the Sparc architecture by tomorrow] > > >Remember, computers are not designed for hackers (as you probably are) who ca\ > n > >make dow ith minimum equipment. 98% of the people out there are computer > >morons, and/or they use the machine as a tool, not as a passion. When parts > >break that are essential, the tool stops being useful and becomes wasteful. > > Dammit, my whole point is that computers should be designed so normal people > can also make due with minimal equipment!! The whole system (not just the > hardware and software, but the way they affect how people use computers) > would have to be a lot more robust than it is now, and I don't think the > industry has addressed this adequately yet. > > >So, do me a favor, and don't try to create arguments for the sake of arguing, > >but give reality some leeway in this as well. Hey now. Let's not be nasty. Todd's made a good point, and I happen to agree with him. Ok. I obviously can't be coherent. I just tried (unsuccesfully) to say why I agree with Todd. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow... -seth tHe mAd ScienTisT, and other carnations ----------------------- sk2f@andrew.cmu.edu | everything seems so easy this way but I'm going under tmSatCMU@DRYCAS.BITNET| fast, I'm slipping away, am I so crazy? - Marillion