Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!topaz.rutgers.edu!witting From: witting@topaz.rutgers.edu (Paul K Willing) Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac Subject: Mac IIcx and A/UX Message-ID: Date: 14 Mar 89 23:21:45 GMT Organization: Rutgers Univ., New Brunswick, N.J. Lines: 44 Hey guys, I hope you can help me out. I've been admiring the Amiga for some time now, but circumstances are pushing me towards the MAC. Well, I refuse to buy a machine as limited as the Plus/SE series, but the MAC IIcx looks great to me. Some questions. What is a multifinder? As near as I can tell it fakes multitasking by suspending processes in memory. Is this all there is to it? If I start compiling a program, and want to start up MacWrite to write a letter while I wait (or maybe I'm uploading someones 40 Meg HD via modem, whatever), will the background task (compiler/terminal) halt and wait? Would the modem bomb? While I was playing w/ a IIx, the machine freaked, to the point I had to turn power off to restore it. While I'm sure this was a bad program (not machines fault) is this common? Amigas have all sorts of rules to live by in order to multitask it programs, could the Macs recent intro of MultiFinder make all sorts of programs useless? I will get a color monitor. How well is color supported? Even if my 256 colors wind up just painting backgrounds, I want it, But I think color is the greatest. IMHO The standard Mac RGB has no composite (RCA type) inputs. Is there a device/interface to allow me to connect a VCR to turn the screen into a TV? I will be pissed if I pay $600 and still have to by a color TV. After all, I wont watch TV and work simultaneously. Not supplying these connectors is silly. Of course, they did us the favor of internalizing all adjustments (incl power!), so this might be a big Pain. And what about A/UX? I heard its a weak implementation, but the Amiga version wasnt supposed to be great either. Anyway, does it access Mac/OS programs, or does it require separate disks. One of my last remaining nits of Macs is the lack of a CLI, since only so much can be done with Icons. Sorry bout the length paul -- "Run, Run, as fast as you can, you cant catch me, Im the gingerbread man" "Lets do some crimes. Yeah, lets get sushi and not pay" 6 6 Witting@topaz.rutgers.edu `--'