@richaesthetic @mike

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxLozouqtsKHzceC7aZUE-jd95Zw0-AoRA?si=EgEizbeiK5p2aRN1

I have this strong memory of the arguments about DOS being needed for real work because GUIs just were too restrictive. This was when there were wars between MS-DOS and Windows, with Mac and Windows users lumped together in the “WIMP” camp (windows, icons, mice, pointers).

This lasted into the 2000s with the Unix / Solaris / Linux camp, and they did make a strong argument with full POSIX tools and shells (pipes, redirection, the whole kit). But by the 2010s even they would never consider using pure text mode, and the graphical terminal apps are absolutely doing way more than just an evolved version of “QEMM” or any multitasking option of the DOS era.

The last frontier may be remote access — I can still feel the newly-conquered territory of Microsoft Remote Desktop and friends, capturing the flag from ssh (and telnet, vt102, etc RIP).

So when Quinn talks about the new frontiers of productivity with iPad users — who now outnumber Mac users in sales? — working in new fields, and (my favourite part) unburdened by the overheads of “PC ownership” (whether that means virus checking, file maintenance, or the old beloved disk defragmentation habit) … when he brings that up, my mind turns to this memory.

Ah that reminds me … I really need to make a free screensaver that simulates DEFRAG.EXE.