Xref: utzoo comp.sys.atari.st:6516 comp.sys.amiga:11923
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: <3258@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu>
Date: 21 Dec 87 23:44:24 GMT
References: <2027@bath63.ux63.bath.ac.uk> <2969@cbmvax.UUCP> <3243@umn-cs.cs.umn.edu> <7403@sunybcs.UUCP>
Reply-To: davidli@umn-cs.UUCP (Dave Meile)
Organization: University of Minnesota
Lines: 85
Summary: REAL human beings are, for the most part, linear

In article <7403@sunybcs.UUCP> ugmiker@sybil.UUCP (Michael Reilly) 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).
>	Do you also feel anyone who wants to drive fast should own a 
>ferrari or lambroghini ????? even if they can't afford it??? but instead
>maybe just put high test gas in the old chevy chevette ??????
>

Well, the "power user" will tell you to buy a ferrari if you want to race
other ferrari's.  The old '57 chevy just won't cut it.  However, if you want
to point at all the other '57 chevy cars and say "I can blow 'em out of
the water", fine.  Just don't expect the other '57 chevy owners to agree
that it's necessary.

>"The most important concept in modern operating systems is undoubtably 
>multiprogramming.  By having a number of programs in memory at the same 
>time, the cpu may be shared among them.  This scheme improves the overall
>efficiency of the computer system by getting more work done in less time "
>---from Operating System Concepts, Peterson and Silberschatz
>	for more,  read chapter 4 of the above book....

This quote is for the "power user".  I'm absolutely certain that Peterson
and Silberschatz weren't considering mocrocomputers when they wrote that
book.  Of course, if we followed the computer science model for home
computers, we'd all be programming in ADA or Modula-2, and have degrees
in math to boot. :-)

>>
>>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, While making dinner, lets say a steak, baked potatoe, corn, salad,
>and lima beans (YUCK :-( ).  Do you cook the steak, then eat it, and cook the 
>corn, and then eat it, then cook the potatoe, then eat it,then make the salad 
>and eat it, etc. ect. etc..... ????? NO, You Cook everything at once, except of
>course the salad, I hate cooked salad :-), and then eat everything at once...
>	That is NOT linear, humans are DEFINITELY not linear.

Heh.  Gotcha.  When I make dinner (let's say Coq a Vin, wild rice with herbs,
a nice tossed salad, and chocalate torte...) I do the following:
	1. get out the recipe for each thing
	2. prepare the Coq a Vin
	3. then prepare the wild rice with herbs
	4. then prepare the chocalate torte
	5. then prepare the tossed salad.

I do NOT cook "everything at once", I prepare things in order and let them
cook "off-line" (no CPU processing necessary, it's all I/O) :-)

I do NOT eat "everything at once", a nicely prepared Coq a Vin requires time
to savor the flavor, and I certainly wouldn't stuff a little bit of everything
in at once.

That is pretty much linear.  You are mistaking autonomos actions for "at the
same time" actions.  You may THINK you can watch TV and read your homework
simulataneaously (multi-tasking), but your still going to fail tomorrow's
exam if if you try it.

The human brain focuses on one thing at a time (conscious mind ... the
nervous system automatically deals with lots of other stuff)

>	The classic about walking and chewing gum, is a perfect example.... :-)

Walking and chewing gum are I/O intensive, and require absolutely no CPU
cycles. :-)  It's analagous (mildly) to reading text on your screen while
Music Construction Set plays Bach (possible on both the Amiga and the Atari ST)

>	Well, just remember, the vaxstation is at work, but my AMIGAstation 
>is at my home, right where I get MOST of my work done....
>

Your AMIGA is at home, and you get MOST of your work done on it.  I.E. you're
a power user.  For you, multi-tasking is "wonderful".  I write a lot at home,
and multi-tasking is an unecessary fribjob to accomplish that particular task.

I leave my REAL work (which requires things like UNIX and VMS and TELNET and
all of those neat things) at work.

-- Dave Meile