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Aucbvax.6475 fa.works utcsrgv!utzoo!decvax!ucbvax!works Sun Mar 14 23:44:51 1982 Apollo >From BUSH@Usc-Isie Tue Mar 9 07:01:39 1982

Date: 6-Mar-82 1600-EST From: Nathaniel Mishkin <MISHKIN.YALE> Subject: Re: Innovation

The window problem is a typical example of Apollo's approach. I'm sure they wanted the whole zippy window thing from the start. ...

I believe it is typical. I've been working with the Apollos for almost a year and I happen to know that Apollo was unfamiliar with the Alto when they designed and implemented their original display manager. I wish they had taken more time and looked around more before releasing their system. A la PR1ME, they produced an initial product as quickly as possible, and have since refined it (with the aid of substantial user feedback). Xerox, on the other hand (with considerably greater resources) refined the Star before releasing it. I also wish the system were more flexible (in the general direction of the Lisp machine). Currently, for example, you either use the Apollo display manager in its entirety, or write your own. There is no way, for example, to replace the display manager's editor with your own. Assuredly, the product will mature, but it could be less restrictive and could easily have been more mature to begin with. -------

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