WARNING: RANTING COMPUTER NUT...

Fair warning, the following message contains the ratings of a single individual. their computer facilities to PCs... As shown by the above quote, there is a strong anti "PeeCee" bias by many here. While I completely agree that there are significant *problems* with both the hardware and (Windoze) software, I do believe that the more extreme views are off base. Having been involved with computing since 1972, I have worked with nearly all [non-mainframe] systems that are discussed on this board at some point. Many of them had some very interesting, unique (and useful) features that drove computer technology to the next level. I am currently involved in attempting to restore a complete PDP-8 environment myself [with the dream of actually getting a TSS-8 distribution running with TU-56 tape drives. IF the computer industry had remained with a large number of completely different hardware/software environments which required trained operators for even the most basic operations, then computing would not have become a household commodity. Even neglecting price, consider the concept of everyone having a [fill in the machine of your choice] in their home, at school (even at the lower grade levels or preschools!], and in all of the other locations where it is common to find computer access. Standardization of both hardware and software HAD TO HAPPEN, if computers were to become the commodity they are today. IBM/Intel had the technology, manpower, and finances to create a platform that was (reasonably) affordable, and significantly exceeded the capabilities of the current generation of "personal" computers. Bill Gates had the opportunity to develop an operating system [MS-DOS] when Digital Research decided not to agressively persue a new version of CP/M. Once this was the dominant command line O/S, it was only logical that the same company had the best chance to develop a GUI based interface once that technology started to appear Side Note: Many years ago I met Bill Gates and had the chance to speak [along with a fairly large group] with him. Personally I do not like the man's attitude towards many things, but I DO repsect his business sense and drive [leaving the issue of ethics out of the discussion]. So does the PC Hardware Platform have some serious shortcomings? YES Could a machine be build with significant technology advantages over a PC architecture? YES Does Windows have some real technology problems? DEFINITELY Is the current pricing/licensing model out of line? DEPENDS IF YOU ARE A VENDOR OR CUSTOMER <g> Even with these issues, lets face the facts Windows/PC is going to be around [and dominant] in most business and personal environments for a significant period of time, unless something RADICAL happens on the technology level [Bio-Neural-Networks come to mind]. So lets stop the bashing, and just LEARN TO DEAL WITH IT! We should [again my opinion] concentrate on what we can do best. Keep the old technology alive for historical purposes. Prevent items from going to the scrapper whenever possible. If a member finds an item that is aimed at the scrapper, salvage it even if it is not part of their main focus [for later trade/sale/barter], or find someone who can. Share whatever documentation / software we currently have available [a special thanks to Don Robert House is due at this point!], so that all may benefit. I have an uncle who collects/restores old cars [1909 Sears, Stanley Steamer, etc.] each of these cars had some fascinating and innovative features for their day. Although he does complain about many features of the current state of the automotive industry, he never suggests that we should go back to the old way of doing things. Rather the focus is on how things can move forward, addressing current problems and making the best use of new technology. Aside from the Auto/Computer difference I think that our group and his are basically identical. <END OF RANT> Hopefully my next post will be more on a specific topic......