Re: Got to laugh

In article <439502b0.8797390@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Don Pearce
<donald@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> On Thu, 01 Dec 2005 09:27:15 +0000 (GMT), Jim Lesurf
> <jcgl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> >In article <43930300.44604328@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Don Pearce
> ><donald@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> >
> >> I use Firefox - haven't used IE for quite a while now. What's the
> >> situation for spreadsheets, though?
> >
> >I use 'Pipedream' for that. But TBH for most data processing I tend to
> >write progs in ANSI C or C++. (There are both commercial and GNU
> >compliers for these.)
> >

> I expect that sort of stuff to be freeware for Windows - is it the same
> for Risc OS?

GNU obviously, yes. But Pipedream and the 'Norcroft' compiler I use are
both commercial products. There may be alternatives I'm not aware of.
I just use the ones I have become familiar with and prefer.

BTW I think Firefox is also being ported IIUC, but I don't know as I
haven't investigated that.


> >
> >
> >> I've been reading up a bit, and I gather that applications don't get
> >> installed in the Windows sense, merely copied to an appropriate
> >> directory, so if you want to remove them, simple deletion does the
> >> trick. Is that really how it is?
> >
> >Basically, yes. Some apps store 'settings' in a seperate directory
> >(folder). But they also get put into clearly named subdirectories so
> >can be deleted just as easily. Hence the situation is far simpler and
> >clearer than the Windows approach.
> >

> That is attractive. The installation business is the main reason why
> every so often you need to re-install Windows.

Another point here is that RO essentially keeps the core of the OS in
ROM/RAM and does not do any 'disc swapping'. The OS does not need to
be stored on HD as it is compact enough to be kept in ROM. (Although
various settings and extras will be on HD.)

Apps when run are also loaded into RAM and usually don't do any swapping
or overlaying.

This means that the HD can get much less of a thrashing when you work as
things are normally only written to the HD when you press 'save' or drag
something to a filer window. No mysterious 'disc activities' as you work.


> >
> >FWIW The mains companies who work in this area also get income from
> >being able to develop ARM hardware and software for use in all the
> >'embedded' applications of the chip family. e.g one of the main
> >commerial browser vendors for RO desktop machines get most of their
> >income from software (inc versions of the browser) for non-desktop
> >devices.
> >

> Never knew that...

ARM have been very successful. Indeed, one of main reasons 'acorn'
dissapeared was that the value of their shares in ARM (which they launched)
were worth far more than Acorn itself. This caused the owners of Acorn to
decide that they could make a large pile out of a deal which 'sold off'
(essentially shut down) Acorn and left them with a large windfall in
profits/tax terms. Sort of an 'asset strip'...

Fortunately for RO users, other companies stepped in and took over making
and developing new machines. But the situation now is that there are far
more 'ARM' designs of chips in non-desktop machines than in desktop
computers. This is for various reasons: low power consumption chips,
compact code, modular OS, etc.

Slainte,

Jim

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