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From: earleh@dartvax.UUCP (Earle R. Horton)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Mac silliness derided (offensive to some)
Message-ID: <5582@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 20-Jan-87 20:02:46 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.5582
Posted: Tue Jan 20 20:02:46 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 21-Jan-87 22:41:48 EST
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 45
Keywords: useless programs, no thanks!
Disclaimer:  My employer thinks I'm doing something useful right now.


*********Overly sensitive Mac programmers, this is not for you.*********

Last chance to hit that "n" key before the flames start.

Go ahead.  Make my day.

     Let me get one thing straight from the start, I have nothing at all 
against games.  There is, however, something about the general type of
software posted on USENET and, indeed, sold in stores for the Macintosh
that seems to me to be frivolous and inducive to what John Dvorak calls
"user idiocy."  I mean programs that allow you to fiddle with icons,
yet another miniFinder, something to make it sound like a typewriter,
etc. ad nauseam ad infinitum.  I mean, maybe half the stuff is ok, like
terminal programs (hundreds so far), C code that puts up a demo window
and crashes my system when I try to use the zoom box, a desk accessory
calendar that seems to be incompatible with every Mac application ever
written.  At least these are an attempt in the right direction (maybe.)
     How about a program to balance my checkbook?  Hmm?  You know,
something useful like an inventory program I can use to keep track of
my VCR, TV, and vacuum cleaner serial numbers, in case my house gets
robbed and the burglar didn't take the floppies with the Mac.  When
I bought my Macintosh, I was under the impression I was buying a 
COMPUTER, a tool to make my life-style simpler and to aid me in my
work.  I want programs that perform real-life useful functions, get
it?  How about a shareware spreadsheet?
     And documentation, that's another thing.  Most of this stuff comes
as a 6000kByte binhex file, that turns into a 5000kByte PackIt file,
that I have to download (no unpit here).  Then I unpack the thing,
and find that two-thirds of it is a MacWrite file describing the
program.  The final program is about 2 kBytes after I have spent 
the better part of an hour downloading it at 1200 baud.  One program
even came with TWO MacWrite files, one set up for the LaserWriter and
one set up for the ImageWriter!  Assuming the program is worth keeping
and the "shareware" fee is not a week's pay, you have no idea how
much trouble it is to unpack the files, convert the documentation
to "text-only", upload it again, and then force-feed the thing through
"qpr" (we have a QMS here, a real printer.)  I don't even HAVE a 
MacWrite disk, having erased mine on purpose about a week after buying 
the Mac.
     Think of it this way, PackIt II format files were not considered
to be the in thing to use for NET postings because of the shareware
nature of PackIt II.  MacWrite is a COMMERCIAL PRODUCT since it is
no longer bundled with the basic Macintosh.  The implication is 
clear: no PackIt II files >>> no MacWrite files, thank you.
     Gosh, I feel much better now!