Overview
of
the
Mac
13
has been accurately entered, the user will execute the com-
mand. In many instances,
the
operating system then responds
with its own written messages which must be answered by the
user. In effect, a series
of
written messages controls the
operation
of
the computer.
The
Mac also has an operating system known as the
Finder™. However, the Finder
is
a visual rather than a literate
operating system. With the Finder, commands are entered by
moving a pointer
to
a symbol
or
message
on
the Mac's screen.
Although some learning
is
required to master the Finder, this
process
is
far easier
than
sifting through thick manuals filled
with complex commands.
The difference between the Mac's visual environment and
a literate environment can best be illustrated with
an
example.
Suppose
that
you owned
an
IBM
PC
computer,
and
you
wanted
to
create a second copy
of
a text file named LET-
TER
I.
TXT
on drive A with a new name. The following steps
would be required
to
create
that
file
and
to check the disk to
verify that fact:
I. Insert a diskette in drive A which contains the
necessary
DOS
startup files and LETTERI.TXT.
2.
Power on the IBM PC.
3.
Enter the following command:
COPY LETTER1.TXT LETTEA2.TXT
4. Enter
DIR.
The various files, including LET-
TER2.TXT, contained on the disk will be
displayed.
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