MaxThink

Posted by Stephen R. Diamond
Dec 13, 2007 at 09:55 PM

Never having used DOS, I am speaking here very provisionally. It seems to me that when a developer ported a DOS program to Windows, the developer must have reconceptualized the program for the new environment. Features might be replaced when they could not easily be implemented smoothly in a graphical user interface, in addition to adding the features that Windows affords. Someone who actually knows might comment on whether the first clause is true.

It seems to me—again, very conjectural—that Neil refused to take the above upgrade path. He thought he got it right the first time, and proceeded to implement the same features in Windows. Perhaps this direct translation approach explains the Java implementation (somehow). I don’t think Neil _likes_ Windows. Although it seems inherently unlikely, perhaps he thinks more of Vista, since he came out quickly with a Vista-compatible version.

An interesting question is whether DOS was actually more congenial to the development of powerful outliners than Windows. Even without knowing anything about DOS, I think I can “feel” the DOS logic in MaxThink. Grandview, MaxThink, and Brainstorm were all originally DOS products and the latter two retain to different degree remnants of their heritage. It may be that their origin in DOS is not only their weakness but their strength.

Stephen Zeoli wrote:
>So, I just paid my $29 for a MaxThink license. I got an e-mail from Neil (probably
>automated) telling me how to get unlock codes for any computer I want to use it on. This
>was refreshing—a developer who didn’t require a new license for each computer. (I’m
>not saying that this is rare, but it isn’t as common as it should be.)
> >There are many
>weaknesses with MaxThink, as has been pointed out here. In its intentions, MaxThink
>is the most powerful outliner I’ve seen since GrandView. I wanted to support Neil’s
>vision, if not his execution of that vision. And, despite its faults, MaxThink is a
>very useful tool… one I’m glad to add to my array of apps. Yes, that is CRIMP
>talking.
> >Steve Z.