Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!lakesys!yossie
From: yossie@lakesys.lakesys.com (Peter Thomas)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: System 7 question
Keywords: MultiFinder
Message-ID: <1453@lakesys.lakesys.com>
Date: 22 Dec 89 20:44:43 GMT
References: <10734@claris.com> <578@sunfs3.camex.uucp> <1353@unocss..unl.edu> <17880@umn-cs.CS.UMN.EDU>
Reply-To: yossie@lakesys.UUCP (Yossie Silverman)
Organization: Lake Systems - Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Lines: 22

Blast from the Past ---

Hey, this will probably be old news to some, but there is TRUE multi-tasking
on a Mac.  Its called MultiMac and it will only run on a 128 or 512 machine.
Its a pity, too, 'cause all the people complaining about MultiFinder would
probably have been very happy if they had MultiMac!  It was an application,
just like Switcher, Servent, and MultiFinder.  Once run it looks sort of
like MultiFinder except that the Multifinder/Switcher ICON is replaced by an
Apple.  Clicking there pulled down a menu of applications.  Now, the nice
part was that MultiMac was "true" multi-tasking.  I.e. it timesliced!  You
could assign priorities to each running application and MultiMac would give
each his just dues.  Window management was like the MultiFinder/Servant
veriaty, not the Switcher single screen method.  I remember with gr8 fondness
doing compilation and download and finder work all at the same time, and I
do mean the *SAME* time.  I could see packets being registered in Kermit
while the compilation was going on and the Finder window kept on showing
less space.  Mind you, NONE of these application had ANY idea that it was
running under MultiMac.  I heard say that the way it worked was by jumping
directely into ROM for many things.  So, it was a hack, but it was a
VERY SEXY HACK!

- Yossie