On 1999-05-31 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <Boanne> said:
>Yes, I do remember the "learning curve" sales pitch... I'd like
>to know where they got their statistics that DOS took the
>longest to learn, wouldn't you? Probably came from Mac....
If I recall correctly, I *did* encounter this sales ploy where someone
wanted to interest me in an Apple computer. In those days, the idea seemed
to be that "what's easy is best, but it's expensive". Now, it seems we're
hearing, "the best is free, but it isn't easy".
>}- the computer popular and easy to use, certain marketers have
>}- created distorted expectations for new computer users ...
>}- A change for better learning habits won't occur until then.
>I completely agree with these two statements, and I don't
>think they're doing us any favors! Just like I mentioned in the
>post about my father trying to learn Windows95... If they can't
>learn it in 10 or 15 minutes they think it's "too hard" or
>"only for nerds" and give up! How can this be good?
This is the sad result of those who promote "instant gratification" and the
ambiguous "you deserve this" attitudes in the advertisement business. The
first falsehood fosters greed and impulsiveness, which are necessary
elements leading to sales; the second attempts to inflate the customers ego
-- unconditionally. So... here's the tactic: "You deserve this Apple
computer, because it's the best -- and just think of the instant
gratification you'll get when you start moving the mouse..." And now: "You
deserve a break from all those Microsoft bullies and their buggy software...
sure, the best isn't easy, but think of the instant gratification you'll get
when you delete Windows and are free with Linux..."
>}- Well, what was the OS outgrowth that resulted from the UNIX
>}- years...?
>}- I think you know. Full circle...? ;-)
>Actually I don't know any of the details or have anything but
>instinct to go on... I have always had a sneaking suspicion
>that DOS's mother or grandmother was Unix, but I haven't been
>able to find any real and detailed information on this. I had
>always heard DOS was a stone rip-off (by Bill Gates) of CP/M,
>but have never been able to get any information on where CP/M
>came from or how it developed....
>But I hope you are right and we do come full circle :)
Who or what began these original OSes isn't as noticeable in the final
analysis as the chronology of their development. Simply put, we seem to
have had a CLI (UNIX) OS from which attempts were made through the
DOS-like OSes to popularize it on a less complicated scale for average
users. It wasn't a bad idea, but it wasn't catching on quickly enough to
satisfy the industry. Then came the GUIs (overlapping the period of the
CLIs somewhat) to further hasten the impatience of those desiring more
control and profits -- at the expense of quality and good computing
development and practices. In reaction to this, the CLI interface has
experienced a new boom with Linux, but even that is quickly becoming
overshadowed with its X-Window GUI; its developers, in my opinion, seem to
be overly concerned with winning the frustrated Windows camp by making it
more and more like a GUI: much stabler and secure, yes, but still terribly
bloated and much more complicated for beginners than DOS -- and this is not
in the best interests of efficient, intuitive computing development and
learning.
But DOS remains. You can do just about anything with it. You can make it
simple, or you can make it highly sophisticated. There's oodles of free
applications for it on the Internet waiting to be downloaded. There's lots
of room for it to be enhanced by developers. There's the BASIC programming
language that works easily with it and is a great learning experience for
beginners who are interested. You can use it on tiny machines or large
machines.
That's why I'm just guessing that, when inCLIned <g> individuals begin to
desire something less "heavy-duty" than Linux (or UNIX), they'll come full
circle to DOS again and rediscover its potential and simple pleasures.
Jerry
Internet Montana
-*- Better to be a square than somebody that's running in circles!
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