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Return of the Old-School Text App?
An Anonymous Coward asked this insightful question: "Remember Lotus 1-2-3? The breakthrough app that opened the door to PCs in the workplace? Remember the (gasp) TEXT version? What about the TEXT version of Wordperfect? I'm no big fan of X, I don't like to handcuff myself to the mouse. These text apps would be wonderfully suited for a port to Linux! Take the old 1-2-3 UI, add in all the new functionality, slap it into ncurses (or whatever floats your boat) and set it free (or release it for Linux). There must be dozens of these older 'dos' programs that are considered dead that could have new life breathed into them by Linux (and BSD, don't forget BSD). Think if we pestered IBM they could let something like the old 1-2-3 go? What do you think?" Hmmm! This idea has some possibilities, but would the software companies go for it?
The problem isn't as much the old school getting ignored as it is the opportunity cost of not using modern machines to their full potential. Although it may not be the most vogue thing to do, modern computers are quite capable of video production. This is an application which just doesn't seem to work in text consoles. You could just enjoy the thrill of doing it in text but that's a lot of development money for tinkering when you could put that money into an X program someone can actually use.
Folks are used to pretty interfaces now. That's all kids see in school from day one. Nice Encarta applications and games, games, games. Folks in the workplace would probably revolt if they had to go back to those text apps, too.
There is a small population out there who find GUI's either difficult too work with or wasteful in terms of computing power, but the key word is small. I just don't see a lot of effort being placed into recoding those apps in text mode for Linux when there is so much more compelling work that needs to be done in other areas.
Hates people who have stupid little sigs
Corel is still selling character based WP.
I just set up a new SCO box for a client to replace their old (non Y2K ready) server.
They've got a bunch of Wyse terminals using WordPerfect v8 for Unix, Character Terminal Edition or some such. The character edition is included with the X version, I don't believe that you can purchase it seperately.
WP character edition looks a helluva lot like good old WP 5.1, btw.
I don't believe this is included in WP for Linux, anyone know for sure?
Are you drawing a distinction between the ease of use of text apps vs GUI's with hot keys? If not, why not just spend some time making the current apps more keyboard controllable rather than trying to add modern features to all the old apps? I hate having my hand always bouncing back and forth too but It's not so much X's fault as the app GUI designer's is it?
Davo -- Free speech, free software, AND free beer.
Three words: Wide Area Networks.
I have a client looking at an office automation system. They are really thrilled with the program, problem is, they have 40 offices around the country, with anywhere between 5 and 100 users at each office. All of which have to be pulling from one database. The app is a Windows based, client server app. It will be a maintenance nightmare. Something like eight different products are knitted together, each going through anywhere between a revision every two years to four revisions per year. Times hundreds of workstations. Times dozens of servers.
Uh, yeah.
I'd love to see a Unix-based text-mode app. Put it on a big Unix box (whatever flavor). Use telnet to get to it from PCs, dumb terminals where appropriate. Very modest WAN links. Getting a little slow? Update the one box. Software update? Update the one box. App update require an update to the terminal emulation software? Install the new TES at the clients at your leasure, when done, update the app.
GUIs are pretty. Oh, but are they maintenance nightmares!
Some apps just work better on text mode systems. I've not seen evidence that GUI-based accounting software gives you ANY serious improvements. And, as far as just throwing text in proper order, I have never seen anything beat DOS WP5.1 in the hands of a legal secretary.
I know I am a very distinct minority here, but I don't like seeing fancy GUI word processors in schools. Most students should be working on the CONTENT of their work, making sure their words are in logical order, their ideas are expressed clearly, their thoughts are complete and conveyed well rather than trying to make it look pretty. I'm not saying there is no place for presentation, but a writing class should be teaching writing, not graphic arts. A math class should be teaching math, not graphic arts. A public speaking class should be teaching speaking, not graphic arts.
My local school district is looking at spending millions of dollars to put in all kinds of wonderful technology. They will be paying for it years after it is obsolete. Scarry. They want fancy video cameras, digital cameras, etc. I'd like to set them up with a few *nix/*BSD systems -- labs full of terminals/old PCs as word processors, available in the morning, all day long, and late into the evening. I'd like the kids to learn basic programming -- not to make them all computer programmers, but to teach the thought-process of step-by-step problem decomposition, and to help them with things like programming VCRs or other things requiring the ability to understand guiding the electronic devices that are all over our lives now. I'm working on the school board nicely, but I know I will loose this one, so I'm just trying to keep them from squandering my money too badly.
Nick.