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From: ez000453@deneb
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc,comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Something else you can't do on the Mac
Message-ID: <6386@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu>
Date: 8 Jan 90 01:18:36 GMT
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In article <1891@bucket.UUCP> leonard@bucket.UUCP (Leonard Erickson) writes:
>
><>
>only thing that *anybody* does. This is and always will be wrong.
>Me, I don't do any of the things the Mac is reportedly good at. The few
>that I might want to do in the future aren't *nearly* enough to invest
>*double* the amount I have currently invested in my PC system for something
>that won't suit *my* needs as well. If the Mac works best for you, fine
>just don't insist that it "must" be better for me too!
>-- 
>Leonard Erickson		...!tektronix!reed!percival!bucket!leonard
>CIS: [70465,203]
The chief reason anyone buys a PC these days is because it's cheaper. I don't
include the 286 and higher machines because they cost quite a bit more...even
the clones. Anyway, suppose we compare the Mac Plus to a PC/XT clone...so one
might save up to $500 (or 50%) these days. BUT, I know that the person with
the Mac system is going to blow away the PC system in 99% of the cases. I firmly
believe that this is a generality that applies to all kinds of users (i.e.,
those whose needs are satisfied by this level of computers). That's my viewpoint
and I do use PCs and Macs (mainly because I have to at work).
Anyway, on the issue of reading captured text or ASCII files. IF (and a big IF)
you have something like the SideKick accessory to read your TEXT file, then we
have the equivalent of reading with a DA on the Mac. And yes, there is a free
DA along with the shareware DAs. In general then, I would say that the machines
have about equal capabilities in examining the captured TEXT files. Using type
from the DOS prompt is primitive to say the least and not useful though is
better than nothing. The Mac comes with Teach Text which will read your TEXT
files too (plus I don't have to set directory paths on the Mac!) The only ones
I know who have purchased XTs against my recommendations are those who cannot
afford even the Mac Plus. No problem. I just allow them a little more time
when assignments are given to them.

Now, does someone want a discussion of the PC/ATs and 386 machines versus the
MacII. My support for MacIIs is less solid because it's impossible for me to
recommend such an expensive machine when the power is matched by MS-DOS mchines
and the capabilities are not much greater than the Plus/SEs. OK, flame away!


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o  COLIN ONG              Dept. Land, Air & Water Resources                 o
o  cgong@ucdavis.edu      University of California, Davis CA 95616          o
o  ez000453@deneb.ucdavis.edu                    FULLY DISCLAIMED!          o