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----- Original Message ----- From: Phillip Helbig <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 18:35 Subject: Re: pointers and allocatables > Richard Maine writes: > > > Phillip Helbig writes: > <snip> > > I suspect that "obsolescent" wasn't invented by J3, but I'm not sure! > > To my ears, "obsolete" sounds more objective. For example, punched > cards are obsolete, since modern computers don't even have the > possibility to read them. On the other hand, "obsolescent" has a ring > of "we think this should be obsolete", i.e. it's more of a judgement > call. For example, a character-cell terminal might be called > obsolescent in these days of DECwindows, X-terminals and whatever, but > this is more because some folks prefer newer stuff, i.e. the older stuff > still works. > > This is just my own impression; I don't know what the official > definitions imply. IF my impression is correct, then "obsolescent" is > probably the better term, since these things are more judgement calls, > i.e. there is no objective reason why the stuff couldn't continue to > work. > Ladies and Gentlemen: According to the Oxford Universal Dictionary: Obsolescent ... 1. Becoming obsolete; going out of date. Obsolete ... 1. That is no longer practised or used; discarded; out of date. Mr. Maine is right on target, so to speak. Paul J. Nikolai Centerville, Ohio, USA %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%