Practical Use
2 messages in this thread
I am have been considering purchase of a RD-Rom drive with a new computer
system. Yesterday, a MacIntosh user showed me a system he had. Everytime he
wanted to change programs in the disk he was using, he had to exit
completely from his drive. He said that there was a particular order to
having to start his system.
My question is this: now I can move from application to application and
drive to drive in any fashion. On a PC, will I be able to go into and out
of appications just as easily from CD-Rom drive to C drive, and from one
application to another within Windows?
His system seemed so cumbersome as to not be worth it for some of the
research functions I have in mind.
Thanks for any help. Paul
Paul:
You will find that, because most of the discs you use from different
publishers run different retrieval/presentation software, you will have to
run each disc as a separate program. You may also find that the programs
may remain resident – to some extent – so that they are a little easier to
switch back and forth within a working session. If your research is
conducted on discs from one publisher, you will probably be able to switch
discs more easily.
There is no doubt this appears to be a hassle, and may, in fact, be a
hassle. Whether it is more hassle than it is worth is a function of the
difficulty of using the research materials in other formats. You might try
ordering a couple of products "on approval" to see how the process goes.
This is not a standard practice, but some publishers may cooperate with you
in order to get the sale.
Good luck, and let us know what you find.
Best – Rich Bowers