From: msmcknig@unccsun.uncc.edu (Michael S McKnight)
Subject: Re: MAC, PC or Amiga?
Organization: University of NC at Charlotte
Date: Thu, 21 Jan 1993 23:56:52 GMT

In article <gel212.727641426@rigaud> gel212@gel.ulaval.ca (gif19268 Systemes numeriques avances) writes:
[stuff deleted]
>AMIGA
>=====
>
>pros:
>    - The most underestimated operating system and GUI in the world. The
>    GUI is almost as good as the MAC GUI. It is highly flexible and
>    customizable. The OS is not as stable as the MAC OS though. But
>    it is still better than Windows.
>
[more deleted]
>
>    Although I never owned a MAC worked with the MAC and with the
>    NEXT, APOLLO and SUN computers quite a while. So I know what I'm
>    talking about when I compare computers...
>

I see that you have never owned a Mac.  I seriously doubt your knowledge of 
the Macintosh's stability.  I just finished a 5 month co-op with Northern
Telecom supporting a 1500 Macintosh network and if there is one thing I learned
it is that the Mac OS is the most unstable, flakey, non-consistant system I have
ever had to work with.

The Macintosh OS is the only OS that I have ever seen that can completely wipe 
itself out!  You think I'm kidding?  Open the chooser and then do a force-quit
on it (shift-option-command-esc) and see if the Mac will boot.  If it does, you
are lucky.  Which brings me to the MacOS's inconsistancy.  Most of us here have
probably done some programming... ok, usually a program will either work, or
not work (given the same input)... not the MacOS.  Sometimes a problem would
occur and would just be wierd... lets say a user was printing to a printer
connected directly to her mac (non-network printer) and she loads up Word or
something and prints the document... well, it prints but it may take it 20 mins
or so, but if I take it to another identical mac and send it to that macs 
printer it prints fine.  re-install the printing software (part of the OS) and
everything is fine.  well, my point is, a program normally either works or it
doesnt... the issue of fast or slow is not a factor since there was no other
software running (yes, extensions were off).  the point is, it should have just
stopped working period or kept working normally.  lets say a user cannot connect
to the network... everything is set correctly, connection is good, and it was
working before he left for lunch.  reinstall system software and wa-la up and
running again.

Should I mention the helpful error messages that MacOS gives?  Does this one
look familiar:

	Application "Unknown" as quit because of an unexpected
	error.  Type -6524.

Like we know what a type -6524 error is.  Ever started up your Mac in the 
morning and get the ever-so-pleasant "Mac-Melody?"  How about:
	
	The application "System" cannot be opened because it
	is in use or is damaged.

Another thing... Ever had a file or folder you couldnt delete?  Oh yes, they
are sometimes known as HellFolders.  We had a couple of these... no way to 
get rid of it.  System wouldnt recognize it, norton couldnt see it, mactools
couldnt read it, but the finder had no trouble using it.  Oh, you could move
it, copy it, put stuff in it and take stuff out of it... you just couldnt 
erase it.  And no, it was not locked and res-edit wouldnt fix it either.

Shall I get in to the Macs so called multitasking?  Naa, I'll spare ya'll.

My A3000 hasn't crashed but maybe once in the past 3 months and that was with
one of those euro-demos.  I am running OS2.1 and I must say, your claim that
the Mac OS is more stable than the Amiga's has to be one of the most 
uneducated statements I have heard in quite a while.

Don't take this as a personal hit, but its uneducated statements or extreemly
biased statements that keep people so misinformed and confused that its a
wonder anyone can get anything done.  

The Mac does have its features that would be nice to see on the Amiga.  First
and foremost is the system level support of print drivers and a print spooler.
I mean, every application gets the same dialog box at print time and everything
is sent to the spooler by default (if its activated).  Plus, the Mac's print
drivers know how to use the printers... and I mean know how to use them.  For
example, I have an Oki-Laser... the AmigaOS has no clue how to change that
printer to landscape mode or to use the multiple fonts that the printer
contains.

Macs have excellent networking support built in... sure, there are those who
will argue that they can get it for the amiga if they need it and they dont 
want to have to pay extra for it.  Well, AppleTalk uses the Mac's printer-port
and I'm sure that extra software couldnt cost too much... after all, Apple only
charges about $100 for an OS upgrade.

Macs have their points, but as a whole, the Amiga kicks their butt.  The only
problem is the serious application support for the amiga.

_________________________________________________________________________
| Michael McKnight -- msmcknig@unccsun.uncc.edu |    Amiga 3000-25/100  |
|                     msmcknig@mosaic.uncc.edu  |  Insight 386DX-25/105 |
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|      PP-ASEL -- See, I'm not a 100% geek... I fly airplanes too!      |
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