[Info-vax] somewhat off-topic: command line on iOS

[Stephen Hoffman]

On 2021-01-03 21:46:16 +0000, Dave Froble said:

> I'm not sure a browser is the best tool for downloading data from the 
> web.  Rather easy when it works.  Doesn't always work well.

Transferring files around can use the Apple Files app on iOS and 
iPadOS, or a file-transfer app (as was referenced in my previous reply 
to this thread), or the Safari web browser, depending on the situation. 
Sometimes even as Mail attachments.

If the SMB server isn't loaded on OpenVMS, those OpenVMS file transfers 
will involve FTP, sftp, or maybe via HTTP/HTTPS or WebDAV—though those 
services are not always configured and enabled.

> Tablets are interesting, as in "may you live in interesting times".
> 
> Their purpose is to be a communications device for accessing the web. 
> For most else they really suck.
> 
> Usually no "real" KB
> No easy to get at things
> Too small
> Confusing
> ....

I utilize iPad and iPhone heavily.

The local iPad configuration has a hardware keyboard when I need that, 
and a virtual keyboard the rest of the time. With the iPad, I'm usually 
using the virtual keyboard too, save for when I might need to input 
volumes of text.

Apple has keyboard offerings including keyboard and keyboard dock 
models, and pretty much any recent iPad can connect to a Bluetooth 
hardware keyboard, and most third-party Bluetooth keyboards will work 
just fine.

I'm routinely transferring files and text and documents around too, and 
have clients for ftp, sftp, telnet, and ssh installed, when that's 
needed.

Do I use an iPad for programming or other cases when a larger display 
is appropriate? No. (Mostly no.) iPad and iPhone are heavily-used 
adjuncts to a Mac, and not replacements. Not for my workload. Others' 
workloads can and do differ.

If you always need a keyboard, then MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or 
another laptop might be a better choice, as iPad and keyboard 
combination tends to be heavier than the laptop. But iPad without the 
keyboard is rather lighter.

iPad models can be acquired with integrated cellular, while cellular on 
Macs is always an add-on. Or either via hotspot, if your cellular plan 
offers that.

iPad can also be used as an external display and graphics / touchpad 
for a Mac, for those devices that support the so-called Sidecar feature.

> In my opinion (yeah, what do you care about my opinion) you're 
> approaching this poorly.  If what you want is some type of relay 
> between the web and VMS, why not go for something reasonable.
> 
> I use WEENDOZE for some things.  I really don't like the more recent 
> versions of WEENDOZE.  Nor do I like the directions web sites are 
> taking.
> 
> Since I haven't done it yet, the following is speculation.  What I'm 
> thinking of doing.  Read what some have posted here about Unix/Linex 
> and select some version.  Get or build a cheap PC, good enough to run 
> your OS of choice.  Use it to gather whatever data you want, and use it 
> to transfer that data to VMS.
> 
> Or play with the tablet ....

Or the Apple equivalents of that hardware, for those inclined.  macOS 
does well for inter-operations with OpenVMS, and will look familiar to 
somebody accustomed to iPhone or iPad. And for sharing iCloud, for 
those willing to use hosted services.




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