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From: wagner@utcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Initial Opinion of Amiga
Message-ID: <1986Nov22.091937.251@utcs.uucp>
Date: Sat, 22-Nov-86 09:19:37 EST
Article-I.D.: utcs.1986Nov22.091937.251
Posted: Sat Nov 22 09:19:37 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 22-Nov-86 09:36:34 EST
References: <8611200749.AA08587@cory.Berkeley.EDU>
Reply-To: wagner@utcs.UUCP (Michael Wagner)
Organization: University of Toronto Computing Services, general purpose UNIX
Lines: 45
Checksum: 29190


Well, we seem now to be graduating from dumping on Jon Forrest to
asking ourselves why we dumped so hard on him.  Since this isn't
net.psych (whatever that's called after the re-org!), I'll keep it
short.

Most of what Jon Forrest said has been discussed here on this
newsgroup before.  We all found out about it, and in calmer, more
rational discussion, we agreed that these were problems.  We all
heard each other, and it's even possible that Commodore heard us.

Those failings of the Amiga took a long time
to understand, and to some extent, learn to live with.  As Matt says,
some of us tried to solve those problems in our own ways.

Then along comes Jon (wasn't there a song like that?).  He leads with
his chin.  He says (effectively - I'm not quoting directly):
	I got this thing on loan.  I have no vested interest in defending
	my purchase.  I haven't bothered to read the manuals.  I started in
	on the interface that looked like the one I'm used to, and it isn't
	at all like the one I'm used to once you get into it.  I didn't like
	it.  The amiga, viewed at this distance and in that manner, isn't
	all that hot.
Well, you know what?  He's right.  Viewed in this curious way, the amiga
isn't all that hot.  Part of it is his fault for not being a little more
thorough.  Part of it is the amiga's fault, for not helping the user who
comes in through that door a little (well, maybe I should say the fault
of the amiga documentation).

But why did we jump on him.  We were mad because the insights that took us
months (because we were motivated to find work-arounds) took him two weeks.
But that is the nature of the difference between being an owner and not
being an owner.  That's why magazines get people to review things that
aren't their own.  You see more clearly.  Pride of purchase doesn't get
in the way.  

Don't jump.  Think.  Mostly, we agreed with him (except when he couldn't
find the delete command...but he was sorry for that part afterwards).
Why attack someone for saying things you want to say?

Hmmm...guess this got long anyways.  Oh, well.

Michael (wagner@utcs or ..f.i.n.d..y.o.u.r..w.a.y..t.o..!utzoo!utcs!wagner)
P.S.  Maybe this means that Commodore should provide a tutorial for people
coming in via previous experience in line-mode interfaces.