-=> Quoting John Augustine to All <=-
 JA> Windows has DISADVANTAGES (All of them are NOT Listed here):
 JA> 1. Windows is VERY INEFFICIENT ("Gobbles" up TOO MUCH MEMORY).
        I have to disagree with you on that one.  Sure, a DOS
program may require a system with more memory when run under
Windows then simply under DOS.  But this is the short sighted
way of looking at things.  What you're not taking into
consideration is the fact that Windows allows you to use more
than one program at the same time.  If all you do is play
games, then you have no need of multitasking.  However, there
are many situations where the capacity of doing more than one
thing at a time is a great boon, if not a necessity.
        For instance, when I program under OS/2, I have the
following programs active:  a text editor (EPM), a compiler (Watcom
or EMX), a resource editor (Guidelines), as well as a few online
books (references to OS/2 API).  Sure, I could work in a
single tasking environment, such as DOS, but I'd waste a lot
of time:  I'd have to start up the resource editor to modify/create
dialogs and/or windows, close it so I can start the editor and
create the supporting code, then close is and start the compiler
to test what I've created.  And if I needed to look up some
information, I'd have to start up the book facility, read it, and
then go back to work (printing all of this information is sure to
be over 1000 pages, so that's not an option).  My productivity
would surely stop in such an environment.
        For Windows developpers, or anyone that performs some
serious tasks, being able to multitask applications is amazingly
simple to learn, and soon becomes an invaluable capacity.
 JA> 2. Storage for Windows and all it's related Files requires a
 JA> TREMENDOUS amount of Hard Drive Disk Space.
 JA> 3. Windows Based Software requires MUCH MORE Disk Space compared
 JA> to Dos Based Software.
 JA> 4. Windows is a Haven for Viruses.  There are MANY "Places"
 JA> (Opportunities) for a Virus to "Strike" or "Infect".
        It's not as bad as you make it out to be.  Sure the OS
contains more files than DOS.  But these are there to provide
the additional capacities.
 JA> 5. Power Interruption, while you are in Windows, is "VERY
 JA> UNPLEASANT".
        The more sophisticated the system, the more fragile it
can become.  Some are more robust than others, but none can be
full proof.
 JA> 6. Windows Based Applications are a "PAIN" to remove when you
 JA> want to Discard the Application.
 JA> 7. It is a "Pain" to "Try" (Try before you Buy) a Windows Based
 JA> Shareware Program, because most of them have to be
 JA> "Installed".
        These two basically tell the same thing.  I do agree that
the installation of Windows software can be difficult to undo
completely.  However, I find that the installation of windows
software is much easier than that of DOS software.  For instance,
it can be HELL to provide applications/games with the proper
memory configuration.  Once you've figured out how to create an
environment where all your memory is EMS, all XMS, or half and
half, then you can create multiple boot floppies, or program
DOS v6.0 in multi-config mode.  But getting there is no simple
task.
 JA> Conclusion:
 JA> "Life" is Easier in Dos, but people are "Forced" to use Windows
 JA> because the Programs they want to use, UNFORTUNATELY, are Only
 JA> Windows Based.
 JA> In all fairness, Windows does have some Advantages, but there
 JA> are More Disadvantages in my Opinion.
        You may feel that life is easier in DOS, but if you do not
use Windows, or any other multitasking environment, you're missing
out on a lot of power, such as the ability of using more than one
application at the same time and easily sharing information between
applications (copy and paste).  Sure there are disadvantages, but
the advantages are not to be dismissed so easily.
        Stephane [TEAM OS/2]
--- Blue Wave/OS2 v2.20
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