[WinMac] FW: Good NT Book; Re: Choice of AppleShare IP 6.0 vs. NT
Omar Chávez(OmarChavez[at]fliteline.usa.com)
> Dear Mr. Schwartz, > > Let me first say -for the record- that I am absolutely impressed with > your reply. It is uncommon to get a calm, balanced and objective > response when it comes to comparative analysis (particularly in > regards to Religion, Politics and Computer Platforms). > > I really appreciate that you're not only expressing your views and > fundamenting your arguments with references, but also including URL's > for easy verification and referral. Very thoughtfull of you, indeed. > > My next web-surfing session will undoubtedly include those Alpha > Clones sites you mentioned. My concern would be quality of components > and support from the vendors, since the prices you mention are > certainly eye-opening. > > For instance, my HP Netservers are replaced within 24hours if they're > unable to fix the hardware problem on-site (usually with a loaner that > keeps my network running while my server is being repaired). Apple has > the same kind of deal, as well as IBM and Compaq. > > Have you had any experiences with any of those Alpha Clones vendors? > > As far as tweking the registry and using the "last known good > configuration," as well as multiple reboots during installation, all > those are perfect examples of why I would like to move away from NT. > It's just too time consuming compared to Netware or AppleShare, and > precisely those elements characteristic of Windows NT (whether 3.5 or > 4.0) are what increases the TCO of such platform (IMO). > > What additional benefits are there in NT that could justify dedicating > so much time and so much investment in hardware? I have been running > NT 4.0 for almost a year and frankly, I am not impressed. Am I missing > something? > > You are right in pointing out the superior underlying technology of NT > as compared to the MacOS, but if all I wanted was a better kernel I > would migrate to UNIX (Solaris, SCO or even Linux). By the way, are > you familiar with that option? > > Maybe you can provide me with an Alpha server with NT or Solaris at a > good price point? Tech support by e-mail and fax is OK as long as is > expedite. Perhaps you would like to help us change PC's for Macs in > our remote offices in the future? (3 to 6 months) I see that you are a > Mac consultat, at least that's what your signature says (though your > posts seem to originate more from an NT consultant than a Macintosh > one). > > Lastly, I would appreciate if you could give me any input on > AppleShare IP 6.0 serving PC and Mac clients using a Faircom > C-tree-based application in a network of 50 nodes. > > Again, thank you so much for your time and knowledge. > > Sincerely, > > Omar Chávez > Technical Services Director > ********************************************************* > Flite Line Equipment Corp. > Corporate Headquarters > 1100 NW 163rd Drive > Miami, FL 33169 * USA > Tel (305) 626-0004 * Fax (305) 626-0566 * OmarChavez@fliteline.usa.com > --Los Angeles--Chicago--San Francisco--Washington DC--Honolulu--Miami- > ********************************************************* > > > ---------- > From: Dan Schwartz > Sent: Monday, October 12, 1998 2:08 PM > To: The Windows-MacOS cooperation list > Cc: OmarChavez@fliteline.usa.com > Subject: Good NT Book; Re: Choice of AppleShare IP 6.0 vs. NT > > > Dear Mr. Chávez: > > Four salient points: > > 1) You can buy very nice 533 mHz Alpha clones from DCG for well > under $2,000. > <http://www.dcginc.com>. Also, Enorex, DeskStation, Microway, > Carrera, and > Aspen make nice Alpha clones... > > Please click on <http://www.alphant.com> for more info on the > purchasing, > care, and feeding of Alpha's running NT. You'll be glad you did > > -> Now, where did you go, Power Computing, when we need you? > > 2) If you are getting BSOD's (Blue Screen of Death) in NT, they > can > *usually* be quickly solved by using the "Last Known Good > Configuration." > In addition, I borrowed a trick from Conflict Catcher: I create a > "Minimal > Services" Hardware Profile (startup configuration), including not > starting > the Networking Services; > > 3) Along these same lines, get a copy of Kirk Erichsen's > "Optimizing > Windows NT" [ISBN 0-7645-3110-7] The recovery & repair techniques on > pages > 743-757 is worth the (AMAZON.COM mail order) price of $39.95 alone > > 4) I somewhat agree with the assessment about NT's Mac print > spooler to be > somewhat troublesome. BUT: > A) If you are printing to a raster printer, then you DO need to > be a bit > more careful in the spooler setup, since you are using a LaserWriter 8 > driver to send a PostScript® file to the NT spooler to be RIP'ed; > B) This is one area where the MacOS excels: If you have > PostScript > printers, just print to these machines directly. You don't need to > spool > through NT (in most cases), since Print Monitor DOES do a very nice > job. I > always give credit when credit is due, and MacOS printing has ALWAYS > been > its strong suit. > > [More comments inline] > > At 11:12 AM 10/12/98 -0400, Omar Chávez wrote: > > > >> NT's Express Setup is actually easier than navigating through > >> MacOS > >> 8.1's arcane installation process. > >> > >> I disagree with that. For most people APIP is a lot easier to setup > >> than NT. Any Macintosh user with Intermediate knowledge of the OS > is > >> able to install APIP, whereas to install NT you need at the very > least > >> a PowerUser, more likely a Network Engineer (MCSE). > > Surprisingly, no. I found the learning curve/changeover from > AppleShare > 4.0.2 & 4.2.2, and Apple Internet Router 3.0.1 to NT/S 3.51 (as well > as > NT/S 4.0) to be surprisingly easy. Yes, M$ "knocked off" most of the > MacOS > GUI... But the underlying kernel is much more robust than the MacOS > 8.x. If > you have a single NIC *AND* everything inside is on the HCL, then you > can > just about hit "Enter" for all the defaults... Except you need to > pause > during the Networking installation to add Services for Macintosh. > Reboot, > then apply SP3 & SFM hotfix, and all will be fine. > > > >> > >> What part of 600 mHz don't you understand? > >> And you tell me that an Alpha 600 is in the same price range as an > >> AWS9600? I really doubt it. I think that the original poster was > >> referring to Workgroup Servers, not Enterprise Servers. In > workgroup > >> servers with a price point of less than $6,000.00 the AWS gives you > >> more bung for the buck IMHO. > ^^^^ > You mean "bang"... I hope :) > > Yes; but at $2000 a 533 mHz NT Server is still a better buy. > >> > >> Lastly, you can run NT/Server as a workstation OS with the Server > >> services > >> in the background. If an app crashes, it simply gets flushed and > >> doesn't > >> bring down the whole machine. Try running Photoshop simultaneously > >> with ANY > >> version of AppleShare and watch what happens > >> I would say that any network comprised of more than 10 nodes > DEMANDS a > >> dedicated server. > > It depends on what the server is doing. If it is being used as a > simple > file server, then about 10 connected users is about right. BUT, it all > depends on what apps the clients are using; and what software the > server > local user is running. > > >> > >> Also, what ever happened to the lifetime toll-free tech support > from > >> Apple's Business Systems Division > >> Apple still offers a much better deal in Tech support than > Microsoft. > >> > >> My current network is NT, but I am seriously considering moving to > >> ASIP6. NT is stable and fast most of the time, but when you start > to > >> get a "blue screen of death" you better start verifying your bank's > >> account, since its going to cost you dearly in terms of time and > >> money. > > True to a point. But if you follow the HCL's, and the KISS > principle with > NT, then BSOD's just don't occur. Shutting down extraneous services > helps > enhance stability quite a bit. Also, having enough RAM and tweaking > the > Registry a bit also helps stability as well as speed. > > Let's try to work together to solve the problems you *are* > having: More > likely than not it's just a 3rd party driver problem. > > >> > >> Omar Chávez > >> Technical Services Director > >> ********************************************************* > >> Flite Line Equipment Corp. > >> Corporate Headquarters > >> 1100 NW 163rd Drive > >> Miami, FL 33169 * USA > >> Tel (305) 626-0004 * Fax (305) 626-0566 * > OmarChavez@fliteline.usa.com > >> --Los Angeles--Chicago--San Francisco--Washington > DC--Honolulu--Miami- > >> ********************************************************* > > > Yours truly, > Daniel L. Schwartz, > Electrical Engineer. > > Dan's Macintosh Consulting > Suite 1306 > 1840 Frontage Road > Cherry Hill, NJ 08034-2205 > > 609-795-8965 > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > > <mailto:expresso@snip.net> > > Webmaster for <http://www.faulknerstudios.com> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > >
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