Re: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] AJAX does Linux

At 10:36 PM 6/25/2004, you wrote:

>It gives you full hardware support of newer hardware. Real DOS is not
>network friendly, for one thing. It allows you to run other things,
>like text editors, get files from other computers, etc. while the CNC
>program is
>still running. it will handle CNC programs of any size, but maybe their
>DOS program does, too. it allows for a very nice screen presentation, some
>of the DOS CNC programs are not so good at this.

I have "unlimited file size" with the Centroid. Had to pay for it though.

Agree that DOS doesn't do the things you mention - text editors
etc. Please understand - I am not pushing DOS. Got away from it years ago
with OS2 and now run Unix on one of my computers, so I repeat - I'm not
pushing DOS. BUT.....

Perhaps it depends on the shop application. I'm a one person shop with one
CNC machine and other manual machines. I don't need to network with
myself, and don't need to play games or write letters on the computer that
is running my CNC mill. Yes, I'm being sarcastic, but perhaps there is a
situation where DOS does just fine and other situations where a more robust
OS would be beneficial.

I would swap over to Linux in a heat beat if someone could show me how it
would be worthwhile - to ME. Right now Centroid wants in the $300 range to
swap from DOS to Linux. I don't see that much benefit. If you buy a new
system from them right now, Linux may be part of the deal. May cost
more. I don't know, but I do know an upgrade from a current DOS to Linux
will cost something.

The hardware issue is definitely something to consider. Linux will allow
use of CDs, USB etc., but I'm not sure I would use any of that in my little
shop even if it were available for free. I'm not concerned with security
issues either. I even disconnected the password access to the machine
setups on the Centroid. No one here but me. Why do I need an access code?

Before making any parts, I seriously considered adding another hard drive
to store parts info. Now that I have run some parts and have seen how easy
it is to program each part, I don't even save the parts I have already
run. Saving them is easy to do on a floppy disk, but when creating them
again, should the need arise, it is faster to write a new program than find
the floppy I stored is some "safe place".

Really, I would like to be convinced that doing away with DOS would do
something great. I don't like MS, don't like Windows and have spent a lot
of money over the years getting away from both, but in this case it looks
to me like DOS ain't such a bad deal.

Doug C.