Eddie,
> Why in the 21stC are we using an O/S based on DOS.
In the commercial environment, for backward compatibility with a vast installed
user base. On the software side, I have met this sort of thing with commercial
COBOL and FORTRAN-based products. It often cheaper overall (at the time) to
continue maintaining such software rather than change to something radically
different.
If one wishes to replace (or re-implement) the underlying OS it may be
necessary to throw away an awful lot of application code that perhaps is tied
more intimately than one would wish into the underlying system. The cost of
such a re-implementation, although it might be worth it in the long run, does
not go down well with the accountants, amongst other people.
The same applies with user interfaces. I have just installed a Windows 7 system
for a client whose XP system hard disk had gone seriously belly-up. Yes, we did
have a full backup but some of the products she was used to (Outlook Express
and Cardfile for example) are no longer supplied and will not necessarily run
correctly, if at all, on the new system. I enquired about getting a second hand
XP box but it emerged that this would cost perhaps twice as much as the new
system. It was therefore necessary to bite the bullet and do some client
re-training. This is not always easy.
Needless to say, the client did not have an XP distribution disc set.
John F5VLF
PS Regarding on-off switches, I have encountered system boxes whose on-off
switch is a software one. To perform a proper power off it is necessary to
unplug the box from the mains supply.
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