Item | Workbench | System7 | Windows95 |
---|---|---|---|
Add-in system extensions? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
24bit support? | No | Yes | Yes |
Multiple screen support? | Ish1 | Yes | No |
Networking? | No | Yes | Yes |
CD-ROM support? | Ish2 | Yes | Yes |
Comms & Internet? | No | No | Yes |
Security? | No | Ish3 | Ish3 |
Pre-emptive 32-bit multitasking? | Yes | No | Ish4 |
Runs from floppy? | Yes | Yes | No |
Foreign Language support? | Ish5 | Ish6 | Ish7 |
Video friendly? | Yes | No | No |
Plug & Play? | Yes | Yes | Ish8 |
CLI & GUI? | Yes | Ish9 | Yes |
Systemwide programming Language? | Yes | No | No |
Representational Interface? | Yes | Yes | No |
Universal menus? | Yes | Yes | No |
Memory Protection? | No | Ish10 | No |
Sytem preferences changes possible during operation? | Yes | Yes | Ish11 |
Three button mouse support? | Yes | No | Yes |
Undelete function? | No | No | Yes |
Hard drive self repair? | Yes | Yes | Yes - with the Plus Pack |
Hard drive optimisation? | No | Yes | Yes - with the Plus Pack |
Virtual memory support? | No | Yes | Yes |
Quickstart Applications menu? | No | Yes | Yes |
Disk compression? | No | No | Yes |
Standard keyboard shortcuts? | Ish12 | Yes | Yes |
Disabled help? | No | Yes | Yes |
Online help? | No | Yes | Yes |
Ishes
Terms defined
Add-in system extensions?
Can you add extra utilities to the system at startup. The Amiga does
it with WBStartup, the Mac has an Extensions drawer and the PC has a
Startup drawer.
24bit support?
Both Windows and System7 support 24-bit screens
Multiple screen support?
The Mac supports multiple monitor displays as standard.
Networking?
The Mac has always had a networking protocol (AppleTalk) built-in and
has recently added further networking facilities with MacTCP. The Mac
is also the only machine of the three that has the necessary hardware
included as standard, although a networking card for the PC can be as
cheap as £35.
CD-ROM support?
Do the machines support the use of CD-ROM. The Mac is the only one
that will boot from a CD without needing to do any extra work.
Comms & Internet?
Windows95 comes with a simple comms package and fax facility. It also
has mail facilities andthe Plus Pack adds further functionality.
Security?
How secure is the operating system. Can you hide files, protect files
from deletion or unauthorised access.
Pre-emptive 32-bit multitasking?
The Amiga really scores here, being able to multitask on the minimum
of memory and processor speed. Fully pre-emptive multitasking is not
planned for Macintoshes until 1997.
Runs from floppy?
Unsurprisingly, the Amiga is the least hampered by having to boot
from floppy although it can be done on a Mac.
Foreign Language support?
Is the integration of other languages easy in the OS.
Video friendly?
The Amiga is the machine most suited to working at video level. Most
Macs come ready to work with multiscan monitors (there are some macs
that have video output).
Plug & Play?
The ease with which new hardware can be added to the system. The
Amiga has always had AutoConfig, but PC owners have long struggled
with setting up new cards.
CLI & GUI?
Can you get to the guts of the machine without needing to interact
through a GUI.
Systemwide programming Language?
Another area where the Amiga scores. ARexx is a very powerful tool in
the right hands even though most of us rarely bother with it.
Representational Interface?
Does the screen accurately represent the way your machine is?
Windows95 falls down on this point because the icons displayed have
no relation to the location of the files on your hard drive and the
floppy drive icon is always visible even when there is no floppy in
it.
Universal menus?
Under System7 and Workbench the menus are always in the same place:
the top of the screen. With Windows the menus are attached to the
active window and/or to the right mouse button, thus losing
consistency.
Memory Protection?
Can portions of memory be closed off or even shut down in the case of
a software problem.
Sytem preferences changes possible during operation?
Workbench has a problem with applications open on the Workbench
screen itself(a problem that can be solved by application programmers
turning applications into commodities), but otherwise preferences can
be changed without needing to reboot.
Three button mouse support?
Multiple button mice are available for Macintoshes, but they are not
supported under System7, additional software drivers need to be
installed.
Undelete function?
Can files which have been deleted be recovered.
Hard drive self repair?
When write errors occur, Workbench and System7 equipped machines will
revalidate the drive so that although the file in question might
become unusable, the drive's integrity is maintained.
Hard drive optimisation?
You can optimise the Mac's hard drive by simply holding down a
combination of keys while the Mac is booting
Virtual memory support?
Because virtual memory systems, for the most part, rely on the
existence of an MMU and so few Amigas come equipped with one, the
Amiga has never had system support for virtual memory.
Quickstart Applications menu?
System7.5 provides both the familiar Apple menu and also a dock
similar to Toolmanager's called the Launcher. Windows95 provides
users with a task bar menu which contains every application available
in Windows, along with recent files opened.
Disk compression?
Windows95 automatically disk doubles the hard drive that Windows is
being installed onto and will also take care of new applications when
they are installed.
Standard keyboard shortcuts?
Are all system operations given the same shortcuts every time.
Disabled people
Are there facilities to help disabled people use the OS (such as
larger fonts for people with visual problems, or sticky keys for
people who aren't able to hold down two keys at once).
Online help
Is there help available for any or all aspects of the operating
system.