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From: revc@gwsd.UUCP (Bob Van Cleef)
Newsgroups: net.micro
Subject: Re: what's needed for a home pc
Message-ID: <192@gwsd.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Sep-85 11:24:58 EDT
Article-I.D.: gwsd.192
Posted: Fri Sep 27 11:24:58 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 4-Oct-85 05:15:18 EDT
References: <944@qumix.UUCP> <86@intelca.UUCP> <2190@ukma.UUCP> <278@ccivax.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Gateway Computer, San Diego, CA
Lines: 30

One thing that is needed for a true home computer is multi-tasking, multi-user.

Multi-Tasking:

You will never get someone to use their machine for recipes if they have
to disable the environmental monitors to bring up the recipe program.  
No one will be happy using it as a telepone directory if they have to 
abort their personal finance programs just to look up a phone number
or take notes on an incoming call.

Multi-User:

The cook will not go into the den to get a recipe, the student will
not go into the kitchen to check the spelling of a word.  You should
have the ability to scatter terminals throughout the house.  You need
the ability to connect the above mentioned environmental monitors.
And everyone should be able to use it when THEY want to, not when
daddy is done with it.

Bob

ps - In my mind the AT&T Unix PC with its User Agent is the first 
step in this direction.

-- 
Bob Van Cleef			{ihnp4|akgua|decvax|dcdwest|ucbvax}
(619) 457-2701			       ...sdcsvax!gwsd!revc
Gateway Computer Systems	      CompuServe - [71565,533]
4980 Carroll Canyon Road
San Diego, CA 92121


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