Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!tektronix!reed!kamath
From: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple
Subject: Re: Danger of IIgs+ (Oooh, gotta jump on the bandwagon!)
Message-ID: <9509@reed.UUCP>
Date: 10 Jun 88 18:31:16 GMT
References: <8806052321.aa19345@SMOKE.BRL.ARPA> <10316@cisunx.UUCP>
Reply-To: kamath@reed.UUCP (Sean Kamath)
Organization: Reed College, Portland OR
Lines: 50

It seems to me that the original post was a satire.

But anyway (:-)):

A) *ANY* machine can be a hobby machine.  You should *see* some of tha hacks
on old 128K macs I've seen.  That's not really the point.

B) The GS, especially with it's "maclike interface" is much more geared
towards the novice user.  However, it has been shown that while the learning
curve on macs (and their like) is very steep at first, it tapers of *very*
rapidly.  The IBM, on the other hand, can take years to get to know.  But
when you start being a "power" user (Ug!), you find it get's easier and
easier, not harder and harder, to become more advanced. 

C) The future will undoubtably hold more "friendly" interfaces.  Also, the
wall between user and programmer will get higher, not lower.  Power, while
increased, will be wasted.  Do you see then counting byte on a mac?  No.
You just say "You need more memory to run this desk accessory." Sure, the GS
has got a faster clock speed.  But it's bogged down with trying to imitate a
mac! "memory is cheap", my friend says.  And it is.  Power is cheap, too.
The computer industry is coming out of the daring days of invention.  It's a
business now.  A real business.  Just like cars.  Think about is.

D) For all you power users out there!  Let's try not to cast so much scorn
on our fellow computer users.  Believe me, I really get enough of "You still
using *TEN YEAR OLD* architecture?  Why don't you get a mac ][?".  I don't
need to hear things like "You use *DOS 3.3*?  You ninny."  Trust me, I have
my reasons.  So you post from a VMS machine?  Ha!  I know I have done my
fair share of this sort of thing, but I've tapered off lately, coming to
greatr enlightenment, so to speak.  Just remember, no matter how great a
*user* you are, there's the person who *wrote* the program.  And if you are
a great *programmer*, there's the guy (or group) that *designed* the
computer you program on.  I could go on, but the point is, there's almost
always someone who's more "powerful" than you.  I consider myself a "good"
programmer, in that I feel I am competent, but I'm nothing compared to some
folks I know.  I may have contempt for "mere users", but I try not to bandy
it about too much.  I know I can figure out how to use just about any
program on the market, but to use it as well as some folks (who don't have a
clue about programming) it might take me a few years.

Ok, so it's long.  I'm sorry.  But come on, folks!  Can we get back to
talking about the computers?


Sean Kamath
-- 
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