On 30 Jan 03 at 23:10, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: >[Anecdote] > >I have, and continue to use, PC Write 2.x and 3.x for certain stuff. >The files are straight ASCII with markup notation. The only issue >is making sure I either have a printer that supports the older printer >definitions used with PC Write, or take the time to roll my own -- the >printer definition files are also ASCII -- and it's possible, if you know >the command set, to write a definition file for *any* printer. > >I imagine if I just *had* to, I could write a filter that would take RTF as >its input and spit out a PC Write ASCII/markup file. Likewise, I'm sure >that it's possible to convert RTF (since it's just another markup language) >to just about anything else as well. Because of this, PCW will never "die" >even though it's not supported: I can always take a screwdriver/wrench >(spanner)/hammer/drill/etc and create whatever I need for it. > >[/Anecdote]
Yes, PCW will die. Be sure. It will die with the last person, knowing how to use the screwdriver etc. There are two ways to prevent this: a) to found a religious sect that takes care that this kind of knowledge will be handed over from generation to generation. b) to deprive a relevant group of intelligent computer users from access to hardware complying with MS "standards". I think the time for the second condition is over now, as a computer that cannot run Windows is almost considered to be no computer at all. Also a relevant group of this kind will probably not exist for a long time, for a relevant group would be a market, too. Without any doubt the political limitations of world trade in times of Cold War had a positive impact for screwdriver technology. ----------------- My personal preference for word processing is still MS Word for DOS. I use version 6.0 that came out 1993, Word 5.5 was made available by MS on the internet. The interface and functionality is very close to the later Windows versions, but the file format is still rather of the screwdriver kind: header - text - formatting information - file description. MS provided a couple of conversion tools (unfortunately the .rtf format of 1993 seems to be hopelessly outdated, today) and even software to edit printer drivers. I even could overwrite a table of the 8bit characters in the main .exe file. On a P166 I can run Word with Slackware 3.5 and dosemu. When I compare the size of the binaries with Ted or even some Linux text editors I get the feeling that dosemu is much more than an emergency tool, but a real choice for application software. Linux offers a lot new possibilties to work with files, network etc. But the 1990s DOS programs are still more mature than many Linux software. BTW: I heard that printing text (8bit characters and accompanied with formatting and font information) is no longer supported by the latest printer hardware. So writing a printer definition file will not be possible any more? Is that true? Will the screwdriver (as well as the screwdriver sect) die, because there will be not screws any more? Regards Christof Lange _______________________________________________ Christof Lange <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Prokopova 4, 130 00 Praha 3, Czech Republic phone: (+420) 222 78 06 73 / 222 78 20 02 http://www.volny.cz/cce.zizkov To unsubscribe from SURVPC send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with unsubscribe SURVPC in the body of the message. Also, trim this footer from any quoted replies. More info can be found at; http://www.softcon.com/archives/SURVPC.html
