From: smneyln@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov (Michael Neylon)
Subject: Re: @$#^@$%# 2.04!
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 27 Jul 1992 12:42 EST  

In article <1992Jul27.150010.199@hubcap.clemson.edu>, charlet@hubcap.clemson.edu (Charles E "Rick" Taylor IV) writes...
>ahansfor@planet10.wpi.edu (Andrew L. Hansford) writes:
> 
>>>>>>> On Fri, 24 Jul 1992 15:37:48 GMT, charlet@hubcap.clemson.edu (Charles E "Rick" Taylor IV) said:
> 
>>charlet> Right now, it's still pretty darned important.  I just got
>>charlet> 2.04 a couple of days ago - thanks to me being on a waiting
>>charlet> list for a few months.  But what about those who can't
>>charlet> upgrade yet?  I think that it's a bit early for "2.0-only"
>>charlet> major applications.  PD stuff and little utilities, yes.  But
>>charlet> not stuff like WP's.
> 
>>charlet> Now new *machines* we need ... I'm not impressed with the
>>charlet> 3000 ... :)
> 
>>So you want new machines with software that doesn't use the new
>>capabilities?  
> 
>My point is that the OS should be availible to people before all major 
>apps require it.  Right now, 2.04 isn't there for a lot of people who
>*want* to upgrade.
> 
>>The time for 2.0 only apps is here.  Let the machine progress.  2.0 is
>>available. (Well...)  If the 2.0 apps showed up C= may get those ROMS
>>out with more urgency.  We should be insisting on 2.04 functionality
>>from the software vendors not 1.3 compatibility.  This sort of foot
>>dragging keeps the Amiga behind.  
> 
>Tell that to all the people waiting on the list at my Amy dealer ... :)
>I think it's probably time for major apps to have extended features under
>2.0, but not to require them yet ... after all, you point out that the
>low-end US computers still have 1.3, and we don't want people getting 
>turned off to using even the low-end Amigas for "serious" stuff.
>(Hey, I own a 500 w/2.04 (finally! :) ) with 5 megs and an HD.)
> 
>>Don't worry.  Many things should continue to work under 1.3 esp. since
>>the US 500 STILL have 1.3 as do the CDTVs.  Hopefully this will
>>change and 2.04 will be the general standard.
> 
>I'm sure it will ... but not quite yet.
> 
In my case, I still got a 500 with 1.3, and I've extensively used 2.0 on 
a friend's 3000, but I'm still very wary about switching to 2.0 
Besides the money, I really dont think a nonaccerlated 500 w/o a multisync
is a good platform to run 2.0 on.  I'm  conforatable with 1.3, and except
for a few programs (ie maple), I still can run everything...
(yes, I understand that 2.0 is better.  But it is just too slow for
types of activities that I do).

Until the Amigas are all released with the 2.0 ROMs for at least a year,
software developers should release products for both systems.  Since many
of the large packages are developed in C, all that these programmers need
to do is to redefine troublesome commands.  For example, if I need
to make a library, but the call is different under both systems, I create
a dummy function, and use intelligent switching in order to determine
which call to make...this shouldnt be more than a few extra lines of code

As for making only 2.0 specific software, that is insane.  Take a look at
Windows and its products.  Companies like WordPerfect, Lotus, and Excel
start making their products for Windows only (and the current releases at that).
This forces people into buying software/hardware they may not have
wanted, only to run a program they need.  I've met some IBM folk
who HATE Windows with a venegence, and will now refuse to purchase
software from these companies, but they dont feeling like wasting their money
on such like that.  But most IBM users dont care, as long as they have
the most uptodate features, so they purchase all the extra software, and keep
on feeding Microsoft.  Microsoft improves Windows, companies upgrade,
and the cycle keeps on going.

Now if you give ~ a year after complete availability of the new OS, this
will give folks a chance to think about their purchase. Those who want
the software will probably upgrade, and will have sufficient time to 
do so before the ware's availability.  Those that dont not need to
upgrade will be happy.  Those that want the upgrade but not the new OS...
well they're still stuck in the middle.  However, they are assured that
for at least a year, all software will still be available to them, and
maybe in that time they will adjust and want the new OS.

Besides, I wouldnt be surprised if producers like Soft-Logik wont still
release stuff under 1.3 after others have gone system dependant.  As said
before, this is very hard to do, and only lazy group will avoid it, and
claim that the software only works under one system....

Mike Neylon          aka Masem the Great and Almighty Thermo GOD
  // Only the | Univ. of Toledo - Chemical Engineering - Senior
\X/   AMIGA!  |   NASA Lewis Research Center - Summer Intern
\_____________|_____smneyln@ariel.lerc.nasa.gov________________/
       -+ How do YOU spell 'potato'?  How about 'lousy'? +- 
      "Me and Spike are big Malcolm 10 supporters."-J.S.,PLCL
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