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From: haitex@pnet01.cts.com (Wade Bickel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Multi-tasking? A nightmare...
Message-ID: <2177@crash.cts.com>
Date: 21 Dec 87 11:37:31 GMT
Sender: news@crash.cts.com
Organization: People-Net [pnet01], El Cajon, CA
Lines: 64

davidli@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu (Dave Meile) writes:
>
>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.)


          An example of the value of Multi-tasking:

                It took me 4 tries to log on to the local network
              I use to access UseNet.  In beteen attempts I was
              alternating between periods of work on a program I am
              writing and a document which goes with it.
                I am running Benchmark Modula-2's EMACs editor, and
              it is loaded with 9 different buffered files.  I am also
              running "ProWrite" which is loaded with my document
              files (only 1 right now).  And of course, I am running
              Diga, which is the terminal package I am using to connect
              to the net with.

                Were I to be denied Multi-tasking, I would be facing re-
              loading all the files which are sitting in memory right
              now!  It would be nice to use a WP to create responses to
              the postings, unfortunatly the local net would log me off
              too quickly.

                I have a multi-tasking machine on my desk too!  It's called
              an "Amiga".  Why complain.  I figure Muti-Tasking with the
              Amiga vs. no Multi-Tasking with the Atari-ST is like whether
              or not to accept a raise from your boss vs. turning it down.

                                                        Merry Christmas,

                                                                Wade.

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