On 11/12/2014, Lisi Reisz <lisi.re...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Wednesday 10 December 2014 19:39:41 Paul E Condon wrote: >> 2. 'Multi-seat' is several seats, which could only imply several persons >> occupying those (several) seats. > > Yes, and all connected to a single somputer, but with two or more keyboards, > > monitors etc., logged in simultaneously. Becoming more common in schools > etc, though usually now through a thin client rather than connected directly > > to the one computer. This last still happens, though. > > Lisi >
And, what is the difference, then, between a "Multi-seat" computer, and, a multi-user computer? I have used various multi-user operating systems, ovver the years, some with dumb terminals, some with "smart(?) terminals", and, some where a dumb terminal was connected to a multi-user computer, which was networked to another multiuser computer; one such instance, was an IBM-based network, where a multiuser IBM computer (I forget which specific model) was networked to an IBM 3081, and, on another network, using a DEC RTSTS/e system running on a DEC PDP 11/44, and.via that and the associated network, linked to a VAX 11, running VAX-VMS. I had, some years earlier than that, (late 1970's, I think, used MS-DOS 3 or 3.3 computers that were networked to a VAX running BSD 4.2. Computers generally do not include seating, but, increasingly, can service multiple users, either concurrently, or, separately, using multiple accounts. Many years ago, I was able to dial in to a computer, using my PC-XT, to access UNIX (the host person, had set it up, top enable people to gain experience, using UNIX), and, via that, the AARNet, I think it was. Now, we have computers, wherein, we can have multiple accounts, so that different users can use the same computer, at different times, in "the same seat", using the "switch user" facility, so that multiple accounts can be open that the same time, on the same computer. Or, we can access them, simultaneously, using something like telnet (and ftp, and, I think, rsh, etc, etc, etc). So, the term "Multi-seat", appears to be a malapropism, and, I suggest, should be replaced, in usage, by the more correct term; "multi-user", which is a far more established, and, more respectable term. Surely, it would have all been so much simpler, if the original poster in the thread, had put the question "To what personal uses, do people put their computers?". People use "home computers" for multiple roles, including personal uses, work, administering other computers, etc, etc, etc. And, people use work computers, for personal use, whether they take their (now, more portable) work computers home, and use the work computers at home, or at work, or, on busines trips, and, sometimes the computers (work computers, and, "personal computers", or, "home computers"), for mixed uses, simultaneously, playing games, while waiting for a work application to load, or, checking work email, while searching for personal material on the World Wide Web, etc, etc, etc. And, then, we have the scenario, where a person works from home; so, thence, is a computer used there, a "work computer", or, a "home computer"? So, why the original poster in this thread, did not make all of this, so much simpler, by simply asking the question "To what personal uses, do people put their computers?", I do not know, especially, if the answer to that question, is the information that was being sought. Thus, I reiterate (I do not use the word "repeat", in this context, as that tends to mean, "Fire the artillery (or, other firearms) again"); see the quote in my signature; and, ensure that the question being put, is the appropriate question. -- Bret Busby Armadale West Australia .............. "So once you do know what the question actually is, you'll know what the answer means." - Deep Thought, Chapter 28 of Book 1 of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: A Trilogy In Four Parts", written by Douglas Adams, published by Pan Books, 1992 .................................................... -- To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to debian-user-requ...@lists.debian.org with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact listmas...@lists.debian.org Archive: https://lists.debian.org/CACX6j8OvjEsJKQGO7fqHpCYmu1KXUFH_VKCD=b0pjxmukbh...@mail.gmail.com
