Re: OT: Intels quickens cadence for new 8086s

In article <SaudnWNiWuWqKf3ZRVn-gg@xxxxxxxxxx>,
Dave Froble <davef@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
Bill Gunshannon wrote:
In article <TZqdnVcEq_4Hhf3ZnZ2dnUVZ_uWdnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxx>,
Dave Froble <davef@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
Bill Gunshannon wrote:

Even after we put in whole labs of Unix Workstations with Unix Servers
backing them up we continued to use VMS, in particular for the first two
CS Programming Courses. But it rapidly became a matter of the students
using VMS for those things they had to use VMS for while doing everything
they could on the Unix Workstations. I still run VMS here in the department
and we have at least one course that still requires that the students use
it. (This also helps with our accreditation which requires that the students
at least be exposed to more than one OS.) Even with DECWindows being
available so they can point-and-click to their hearts content they still
prefer Unix. Can't tell you why, I am not a sociologist.
How about a survey, near the end of a course, trying to find out what
students like in Unix vs VMS?

It is long past too late for things like this. Usage of VMS is down to
a negligible percentage, It might have been useful back when everyone
was a VMS user, but not of much value. But, I'll tell you what I might
try. I could try sending an email query to the last group to use VMS
and ask for comments. Anybody have any suggestions for what I might
ask? Of course, I can't guarantee that any of them will actually take
the time to answer. But then, that might say something too.

I can understand e-mail and browsing, but I'd think most use windows for
that.

Probably.

You're in a location and position to attempt to find out what the
students, and even faculty, think.

Now, asking the faculty might be worthwhile. What should I ask?
Remember, though, the numbers are down enough that the sample is
really statistically insignificant. Now, if there were enough of
us to ask this at hundreds of colleges. :-)

bill



I've not done such so don't have vast experience to draw from.

You made the statements that when both were available, many preferred
Unix over VMS. That would be the basis of the questions.

Yes, but those people are long gone. Most users today have little or no
VMS experience or eve exposure.


1) Have you used both Unix and VMS?

2) If so, which do you prefer, and why?

I can probably try, but my experience with various surveys that have been
done around here (we do periodic alumni surveys and senior exit surveys)
are that general questions like the above usually do not ellicit any kind
of usable response. More direct questions are usually required.

bill


--
Bill Gunshannon | de-moc-ra-cy (di mok' ra see) n. Three wolves
bill@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx | and a sheep voting on what's for dinner.
University of Scranton |
Scranton, Pennsylvania | #include <std.disclaimer.h>

.

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