Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!ames!oliveb!amiga!cbmvax!daveh
From: daveh@cbmvax.UUCP (Dave Haynie)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: OS/2 vs AmigaDOS
Message-ID: <6730@cbmvax.UUCP>
Date: 2 May 89 05:43:02 GMT
References: <6728@cbmvax.UUCP>
Organization: Commodore Technology, West Chester, PA
Lines: 24

in article <6728@cbmvax.UUCP>, jesup@cbmvax.UUCP (Randell Jesup) says:
> Keywords: Operating Systems, Religion WRT computers

> In article <5625@microsoft.UUCP> w-glenns@microsoft.UUCP (Glenn Steffler) writes:
>>More intelligent OS's like Windows (r) load only those sections of a programs
>>code from disk when the program is initially executed...

> 	The exact same capability exists in AmigaDos: overlays.  They aren't
> used a lot (it's (a little) extra work), but they are there and work fine.

Which points out a fundamental difference between the machine environments:
most Amigas have enough memory to fit everything in, even several programs'
worth, with space to spare.  Add ons to MS-DOS, like Windows, are trying to
squeeze too much into too little space.  Kinda like GEOS on the C64.  Overlays
are a primitive solution to the memory problem; they've been around since
CP/M, and they work, but require extra effort on the part of the programmer,
and aren't really efficient.  Shared libraries and virtual memory are more
sophisticated approaches to the problem.  OS/2 and UNIX have virtual memory;
I predict Amiga's with MMU's will have it before the end of the year.

-- 
Dave Haynie  "The 32 Bit Guy"     Commodore-Amiga  "The Crew That Never Rests"
   {uunet|pyramid|rutgers}!cbmvax!daveh      PLINK: D-DAVE H     BIX: hazy
              Amiga -- It's not just a job, it's an obsession