Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!stanford.edu!neon.Stanford.EDU!torrie
From: torrie@cs.stanford.edu (Evan Torrie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
Subject: Re: computer buyers
Message-ID: <1991Jun6.165722.17304@neon.Stanford.EDU>
Date: 6 Jun 91 16:57:22 GMT
References: <55445@nigel.ee.udel.edu> <1991Jun4.195937.5973@leland.Stanford.EDU> <1991Jun6.043819.23323@neon.Stanford.EDU> <1991Jun6.055911.24760@leland.Stanford.EDU>
Sender: torrie@neon.Stanford.EDU (Evan James Torrie)
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University, Ca , USA
Lines: 32

bard@jessica.stanford.edu (David Hopper) writes:

>>  It's still possible to have a sophisticated and complex OS.  The trick
>>is making those features usable by as many people as possible.

>I agree completely.  But there are different classes of computers, no?
>Just as there are different levels of aptitude out there in consumerland.

  Yes, and these computers are aimed at different markets.  High-end
markets such as scientific/industrial users are usually prepared to
put up with "more difficult" administration/control, because the
pay-back of using the extra features is worth it.
  I argue that for 99% of the home market, and even a very large
percentage of the small business market, the market doesn't CARE about
the sophisticated/complex OS.  How many Amiga 500 owners even know of
the existence of AREXX, for example?
  This market would probably recognise the benefit of a more
feature-filled OS, but unless those features are as easy to use
as the lesser OSes, they'll go for the lesser OS every time (assuming
of course that applications are equivalent on both. Applications are
far more important for this market than the OS) .

>Dave Hopper      |MUYOM!/// Anthro Creep | NeXT Campus Consultant at Stanford
>                 | __  ///    .   .      | Smackintosh/UNIX Consultant - AIR
                                                                          ^^^

  Not for long, huh?

-- 
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Evan Torrie.  Stanford University, Class of 199?       torrie@cs.stanford.edu   
Fame, fame, fame...  What's it good for?  Ab-so-lute-ly nothing