From: johnsd2@jec325.its.rpi.edu.its1 (Daniel Norman Johnson)
Subject: Re: Mac multitasking?
Reply-To: johnsd2@jec325.its.rpi.edu.its1
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 21:35:41 GMT

In article 8502@athena.mit.edu, zmonster@athena.mit.edu (Eric M Hermanson) writes:
>In article <Bz2Lpq.9rq@javelin.sim.es.com> mmunson@animal.es.com (Mark Munson) writes:
>
>>OK, let's see how this works.  Explain how object oriented technology solves
>>this upgrade problem:  
>>
>>You've got a monochome display computer that is running a B&W paint program.
>>Suddenly to decide to get color capabilities and a color monitor.  How do
>>you get your current B&W paint program to support color?  Do you have to
>>upgrade your software to take full advantage of the upgrade?
>
>With the Next, all color information is handled by the color panel (object).
>When NeXT upgraded the color panel to include PANTONE color support, ALL
>applications that had a color panel (or variation thereof) in them 
>automatically took advantage of this change.  Since the objects (in this
>case color panel) are bound (read in) at the run time of the program, the
>new color panel object popped up when the user selected "Color.." from 
>the menu.  This new color panel allowed the users to select colors through
>the PANTONE color matching system.  This is another advantage of NeXT.  It
>has PANTONE color support BUILT into the operating system.  ANY program
>may take advantage of it.  On the Mac, only programs that are WRITTEN to 
>have PANTONE color picking have it.  Object oriented technology makes
>programs very modular.  In this way, if a "module" is upgraded, ALL 
>applications benefit.  It is INHERENT in the operating system. 

It is inherint in ANY OS that provides services like that; and MacOS
is one such. To do the same thing you replace or patch the Color Picker
Package.

And it isn't even object oriented. :) This particular benefit is not
really very unique.

Not tha Pantone Color (pardon me if I dont write PANTONE) isn't nice,
but the gist of what you said up there seems to be "NeXTs can update
parts of the OS and have apps inherit improvement at runtime because
its object oriented" (implied [or was it inferred?]): Mac's aren't, so
they can't)

>
>>
>>OK, let's say that you upgraded your OS to handle 8-channel sound sequences
>>and MIDI data.  Would your current spreadsheet, wordprocessor, and database
>>applications be able to take full advantage of the upgrade?  Or would each
>>need to be modified to deal with improvements outside of their intended scope?
>>
>>Just wondering what you think?
>>
>>[MGM]
>
>
>Well, I am not sure why you want your word processor to handle MIDI data, but
>in any event, with NeXT, MIDI is fully supported by the operating system, 
>built in.  NeXT has a built in Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Chip and MIDI
>driver for sound systhesis.  The DSP is a Motorola 56001.  As far as 
>MIDI and object oriented technology, NeXT has developed the Music Kit.  The
>Kit is full of prewritten objects that talk to MIDI devices and synthesize
>music.  If the objects are upgraded, music programs take advantage of the
>upgrade automatically.  The objects are inherent in the NeXT operating
>system.  Very modular, very upgradable.  Designed solidly from the GROUND UP.

(a) You dodged his question, I think. Would your current spreadsheet,
    wordprocessor, or whatnot benefit?

(b) The NeXT was not designed so from teh ground up, as one of its major
    components (Mach) was just not designed for the NeXT; NeXT built
    on a pre-existing foundation. However well they did it it, your
    assertion isn't right. Interestingly, the MacOS ->was<- designed
    from the ground up. (solidly is annother thing); does this help
    it in some way? Compared with the NeXT. In short I find your
    last assertion puzzling.

---
			- Dan Johnson
And God said "Jeeze, this is dull"... and it *WAS* dull. Genesis 0:0

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