Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!ncar!ames!pasteur!ucbvax!BRANDEIS.BITNET!SUTTON
From: SUTTON@BRANDEIS.BITNET
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: And the winner is... NOBODY!
Message-ID: <8803211452.AA00266@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU>
Date: 16 Mar 88 15:26:00 GMT
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Organization: The Internet
Lines: 33


         I think that it's time for Barry and Erland and any other
         snobs out there to cool it a bit.  There are a lot of
         different operating systems (and editors) out there and every
         one of them has at least one fanatic enthusiast.  I often get
         very weary of proclamations stating that operating system x,y
         or z is the ultimate system for every one's needs, talents,
         wishes, budgets, etc.  And although the likes of Barry and
         Erland might insist that their arguments are based on purely
         empirical evidence, their choice of words and even the choice
         of subject heading (Barry's choice, I believe) are clearly
         packed with emotion.

         There are strengths and weaknesses in both systems.  The
         general user who just wants to run a data base or graphics
         program might find themselves confounded by the short, often
         cryptic commands and error messages of the UNIX system. The
         knowledgable computer hacker might find VMS to be too verbose
         or too troublesome to customize to their likes.  Operating
         systems are meant to SERVE people and both UNIX and VMS do
         this admirably although in different ways for different
         needs.

         I personally think that the more interesting innovations in
         OS's have come about as a result of the Macintosh PC
         revolution. Everyone seems to be jumping on the windows and
         pull down menus bandwagon from micros to minis to mainframes,
         even VMS and UNIX. I feel that this might well be the place
         where not only these two OS's will meet, but many. I guess if
         that time comes, we'll all be arguing whether a pull down menu
         should pop open with or without a mouse click.

         SUTTON@BRANDEIS.BITNET