Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy
From: dnavas@oracle.uucp (David Navas)
Subject: OS/2 vs. AmigaOS [was Re: Amiga 4000/Atari Falcon]
Organization: Oracle Corporation, Redwood Shores CA
Date: Fri, 28 Aug 1992 16:06:06 GMT
X-Disclaimer: This message was written by an unauthenticated user
              at Oracle Corporation.  The opinions expressed are those
              of the user and not necessarily those of Oracle.

Sigh.
I sat idly by watching meaningless flames pour through my lowly 19.2k
connection.  I did but flinch when reading Jeff's posts -- and re-reading
them, and then re-reading them again -- trying to find some hidden meaning
therein.  I was content to e-mail Mike S. AND Jeff Campbell when both made
what can only be described as "party-line" postings.  I even engaged in useful
banter with the two of them.

What has saddened me is to watch what has been an otherwise lucid poster here
in the murky slime pits of the Internet descend to join the ranks of the
anal-retentive.

In article <1992Aug27.202722.5090@ctr.columbia.edu> jerry@connection.prospect.com (Jerry Shekhel) writes:
>lindblad@klaava.Helsinki.FI (Jarkko Lindblad) writes:
> Never tried it.  Have you?  Didn't think so.
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>>Jerry, I remember how you once said that you _never_ bash Amiga, but
>What?!  Where in the above did I bash the Amiga?

while (!Comprehension)
   Reread()

Jerry, this is the second time where you have been anal like this.  I ignored
it the first time, figuring you had other things on your mind.  I've said
some pretty stupid things here on occasion as well, but twice in as many
weeks?

You are correct in that, in general and out of context, this is not precisely
"bashing the Amiga".  You and I know, however, that this discussion has been
hashed out here before, and there ARE people who have tried it.

One cannot go on one's own experience all the time, or we'd never get out of
bed in the morning!

When mindless banter about the Amiga's capabilities like the above occurs from
someone who knows better, I would definitely call that Amiga bashing.

>Am I missing something?  Did I say somewhere that you couldn't do this on
>an Amiga?  The guy (Mike Haas) asked if I tried this under OS/2, and I said,
>"No.  Have you?"  What's the big deal?

The snide follow-on, which was completely unnecessary at best, and at worst,
misleading to people who haven't been around here as long as the two of us.

>>: It still isn't even close to OS/2 in terms of functionality.

>>One can also say that OS/2 is not even close to AmigaOS in terms of
>>functionality - there are lots of differences in the OSes. OS/2 is

>OK.  In previous articles, I listed OS/2 functionality which AmigaOS doesn't
>have.  Why don't you list some AmigaOS features that are missing from OS/2?

Draggable screens.  [I find these easier to track than MDI-type interfaces]
Built-in voice synthesis.  [Base system :)]
More than four levels of fixed priorities [OS/2 1.3 comment.  Os/2 2.0?]
Built-in support for Genlocks, including border blanking and Genlock
bitplane control. [A-OS 2.0]
Better real-time response.

Does that meet your definition of "some", or need I go on?  We could get into
an interesting discussion in the difference between REXX implementations,
or....  Of course, I'd have to do more reading to be more accurate.  I'm sure
to get flamed on at least one of these.  Sigh, whether tis nobler....

>IMHO, it's not like comparing an apple to an orange; we are, after all,
>comparing two end-user operating systems.

Indeed -- but in distinct response categories, which is an important
difference to many people.  Indeed, OSes are often classified by their
respective response time characteristics.

>BTW, you *did* do the same thing when you brought BridgeBoards and third-party
>VM kludges into the discussion.

Yes, people, be consistent.  Either we allow 3rd party PRODUCTS or not.
BTW, in truth, the Bridgeboard is not a 3rd party product....

Jerry, as you have almost certainly not used VM on the Amiga, I think that
referring to it as "VM kludges", especially when 2.0 is supposed to have
VM hooks in it, also falls under the banner of "Amiga bashing".

>>True - Bridgeboard is much MORE than a PC...
>[Bursting with laughter]  Let's just say I disagree.

That line of argument is just as valid as saying that Windows and DOS programs
benefit from being run under OS/2 2.0.

Of course, I disagree with it as well....


David C. Navas						dnavas@oracle.com
Working for, but not speaking on behalf of, Oracle Corp.
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.advocacy