RE: GUI necessary?

["Stone, Brad V (TC)" <bvstone@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Roger,

You're argument for GUI are ok, but you're comparing a query database
product (excel, quicken, etc) to a fully integrated software system
installed on a completely different type of machine, used for different
purposes.

I have polled users who we have added GUI functionality to AS/400
applications and they all say the GUI slows them down.  There's no
substitute to the field exit key.

You want multitasking?  Open two sessions.  Submit reports to batch.
You want pull-down menus?  They can be done on green screens.
You want select boxes?  Adding prompting subroutines is not a problem.  

Also, the switch from DOS to a Windows system on a PC can't compare to the
AS/400.  Ones an interactive machine, and the other has both interactive and
batch (multi-tasking) capabilities.

Sure, Windows added productivity and multitasking on the PC (when you had
enough memory, that is), but the two environments are very different.

Bradley V. Stone
Taylor Corporation - OASIS Programmer/Analyst   
bvstone@taylorcorp.com


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger Pence [SMTP:rp@rogerpence.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 02, 1998 10:05 AM
> To:   MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject:      GUI necessary?
> 
> >But ... I can think of VERY FEW instances where a GUI is necessary ... or
> even
> >advantageous.
> 
> 
> Wow! That's a pretty strong statement. Are you saying that a
> multi-tasking,
> Windowed interface does not add to your productivity? Prior to windowed
> desktops (note, the reference to teh generic concept not Gate's cash cow)
> the only way you could do more than one thing with the AS/400 was with
> multiple terminals or kludgy old group jobs.
> 
> The value of GUI is more than simply offering your users checkboxes and
> pulldown menus. GUI offers your users an easily switchable context of
> applications, launched at their need. Beyond the sexy appeal of GUI, it's
> fundamental importance is in letting users control their desktop context.
> Go
> poll the bean counters today using a 5250 emulator and Excel concurrently.
> Ask them if they'd like to go back to the days of a PC on desk and a 5250
> dumb terminal on the other. Hardly. It doesn't matter that one of the apps
> they're using (perhaps the one they're using most) is a green-screen
> wannabe. They are in control and can launch the apps of their choice, and
> download data to these apps, as needed.
> 
> As for GUIs not making good heads down data entry devices, that's a
> green-screen myth of the highest order. Have you ever used Quicken? It is
> hands down the best data entry I've ever used!
> 
> Whew. I feel better. Gotta go back to work.
> 
> rp
> 
> +---
> | This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
> | To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
> | To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
> | To unsubscribe from this list send email to
> MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
> | Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator:
> david@midrange.com
> +---
+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---