Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.st:6490 comp.sys.amiga:11839
Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!uwvax!umn-d-ub!umn-cs!davidli
From: davidli@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Dave Meile)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Multi-tasking? A nightmare...
Message-ID: <3243@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu>
Date: 20 Dec 87 19:15:34 GMT
References: <2027@bath63.ux63.bath.ac.uk> <2969@cbmvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidli@umn-cs.UUCP (Dave Meile)
Organization: University of Minnesota
Lines: 54

In article <2969@cbmvax.UUCP> hedley@cbmvax.UUCP (Hedley Davis) writes:
>> [deleted stuff...]
>>
>	Examples are easy.
>
>	You are writing a letter. You wish to import some text, but
>	cannot remember the filename exactly. No problem, just do
>	a directory from a CLI. In the letter, you are explaining
>	something which involves a simple calcuation ( like 
>	the total cost of this would be ). Damn !! Where's the
>	calculator ? No problem, just use the calculator tool.
>
>	The point is , in addition to what the power-users can do with
>	multitasking, the average user can save time and effort because
>	of the flexibility of the operating enviroment. With
>	non-multitasking systems which attempt to give you a set of
>	always available tools, you are extremely limited with what you
>	can do while in an application. With Multitasking, you can
>
>Hedley

Of course, you don't need multi-tasking to do either of the above jobs.
A desk acessory does quite nicely (whether you're using an ST, Macintosh,
PC or Amiga).

The "average user" would be satisfied with a desk accessory, while the
"power user" will want multi-tasking.  The "power user" will ALWAYS want
as much as possible in the machine being used.  (Which is why I think
the "power user" should own a Sun or Apollo or VAX workstation and
forget the piddling PC market).

Now, for the "Why I don't want a multi-tasking system".  (Of course, I have
access to HUGE multi-user, multi-tasking systems at work...)

I find that I get to do many little things around the house while I'm in
a terminal session.  I can catch up on my reading, prepare dinner, change
record albums, everything except un-ARC files I'm downloading (which is
about the only thing I'd do if I owned a multi-tasking system).

If I absolutely have to locate a file, I use the capabilities of my terminal
program's file selector to locate the thing and then go on doing whatever
I have to do.  Of course, I can also use the CLI desk accessory that I have
up and running, too.

Face it, most of us are (for the most part) linear beings.  For single,
home systems multi-tasking is a less than useful for what we bought a
computer for ... writing information down, filing that information,
retrieving the information and playing games.  :-)

-- Dave Meile

(yes, I know I'm cross-posting this ... some of my best friends own
 Amigas, Macintoshes, IBM machines and Atari STs.  They are all less
 powerful than the VAXstation 2000 sitting on my desk at work.)