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Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 11:35:46 -0700
From: Thomas Webb <tawebb AT earthlink DOT net>
Organization: WordWonder.Com
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To: opendos AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: DOS v. Windooozz
References: <Pine DOT 3 DOT 89 DOT 10102182208 DOT A27964-0100000 AT pb DOT seflin DOT org>
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Reply-To: opendos AT delorie DOT com

Windoze was the natural result of a need to "dumb down" computer use so
that mere mortals could get the benefits. We have Apple and MicroSoft to
thank for the massive growth in the microcomputer industry. Without the
"consumerization" of the technology, we would still be running CP/M on
$8000 8-bit machines. (I was there, and believe me, those were not the
"good old days")

If you want better tools, they are out there in the form of all the
flavors of unix, DR-DOS and the like. The reason Windoze has a virtual
lock on the world is that it is ->MARKETED<- big time and is
shrinkwrapped in an attractive package. Windoze is a perfect example of
the victory of style and cosmetics over content, but it and systems like
it will live forever because most of the buying population buys style
and content, not substance. Personally, I can't afford the time spent in
keeping MicroSoft stuff running cleanly. I use Linux/Xwindows with
StarOffice and it is bulletproof on an old Pentium 133. DR-DOS and
Arachne are a great combination for 486 and older machines, and Arachne
gives you a gui desktop for launching other DOS applications. We are
using DR-DOS and Arachne as the default platform for computers we run
through the recycling operation, and have had excellent luck with it.

The sense I am getting from this thread is that there are a lot of
people running Windoze that are dabbling in DOS, but staying firmly
entrenched in Windoze. My own experience has been that your experience
would be much more pleasant and enriching if you would get an old
clunker 486 for $25-$50 and put DR-DOS on it by itself. Bill G never has
played well with the other kids, and there's little reason to believe he
ever will.
 
--
Tom Webb
Come visit at http://wordwonder.com