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From: rps@homxc.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: MicroSoft Windows
Message-ID: <1953@homxc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 24-Feb-87 10:38:50 EST
Article-I.D.: homxc.1953
Posted: Tue Feb 24 10:38:50 1987
Date-Received: Fri, 27-Feb-87 20:38:11 EST
References: <75800026@uiucdcsp>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 66
Summary: A review of 2 months with MS (AT&T) Windows

In article <75800026@uiucdcsp>, vanzandt@uiucdcsp.cs.uiuc.edu writes:
> 
> 
> 	I'm interested in any comments concerning MicroSoft Windows. I
> just picked up a copy of Version 1.03 and it seems interesting. But, the
> documentation is a little shaky of PIF files. Would be interested in 
> stories about what files Windows works with, PIF setups for various files,
> and general comments...
> 

I used MS Windows (actually AT&T's relable of it) for about 2 months.  I
came to the following conclusions:

	1. to use a word processor under windows it either has to be
	graphically oriented, so it can run in a window, or all of 
	windows disapears and has to reload (which is not a quick
	process).  So I used their Windows Write package which is ok
	(a lot like MacWrite) but cumbersome and tedious.  And it
	does not produce very good ascii files (all the lines are 
	256 characters long).  If it was all you would ever use it might
	be all right but it is a pain if you frequently transport documents
	from one word processor to another.  I use PC-Write now.

	2. The card file is a handy way to store phone numbers and such
	but produces a lousy print out.  It tries to print each card as a
	3 X 5 card using graphics on the epson printer.  There is no way to
	just get a list of the data.

	3. Windows really is multitasking and this works very well.  It is
	possible to have several terminal sessions going and a Write open, etc.

	4. Setting up the PIF files is very hard.  I never could get on 
	for the DOS sort utility (this is what was finally the last straw).
	It took me hours (no, days!) to get the microsoft C compiler 4.0
	to run in a window.  This is generally true about any software.  If
	it is poorly behaved software, forget it!  

	5. changing directories is a real pain, in fact most of routine
	windows administrative functions require the use of multiple dialog boxes
	and/or pop-up menus which must be accessed with mouse.  Some then
	require keyboard input.  It is slow and tedious.

	6. I ran windows on a ATT6300+ (in dos mode, no unix) which is
	7.2 x as fast as a IBM PC (according to Peter Norton).  Rarely
	did it seem slow.  On a PC it would probably be intolerable.

In the end I found it just too hard to do what I wanted to.  I was wasting 
too much time trying to get from one directory to another and converting 
the text format of files etc.  

I can summarize:  If your needs could be well served by the narrow and 
inflexible (but easy to learn and pleasing to look at) functioning of the
Macintosh world, and you are not to used to quick, direct commands in DOS,
then you may like MS Windows.  If you are a "power user" in DOS, forget it!
It is just too much of a waste of time.

Russ Sharples
homxc!rps
AT&T Bell Labs
Holmdel, NJ

NOTE:

The diatribe above in NO WAY reflects the opinions of AT&T who sells the 
product being discussed.  These opinions are my own and the results of 
un-scientific and highly irregular analysis methods.