From: pat@sleepy.UUCP (Pat Eyler   )
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd
Subject: linux, 386BSD, and free UN*X systems
Date: 26 Sep 92 14:46:52 GMT
Organization: Boeing Computer Services, Seattle

I am including an interesting challenge that was made to the linux community.
It seems to map rather well to 386BSD.  I'm certainly not the one to address 
this, but I'd sure like to see an article on both OSes.

------begin included stuff------
 Linus and you Gentlemen:
 
 I have recently read an article in the Oct. issue of UnixWorld with the
 title of "The PC Unix Explosion".  Somewhat troubled by  the neglect of
 non-commercial  packages  such  as  linux in  that  article and  by  the
 implication that such packages might be inferior to commercial packages,
 I sent a letter to the editor.
 
 Rik Farrow's response to my letter is enclosed in the following.
 
 He practically challenges me and other linux afficionados to put forward
 an article presenting linux, its installation, etc. As I am just a user,
 I prefer to let the real authors and contributors speak.
 
 In my opinion, it could be a real opportunity to present linux in a very
 popular magazine and give it the exposure it deserves. Anyone to take up
 the challenge?? 
 
 
 Marius Hancu (hancu@crim.ca)
 
 P. S. Rik's answer follows.
 
 =======================================================================
 Marius:
 
 -----
 	Your letter seemed to beg an immediate response.  My responsees
 are indented one tab.
 
 -----
 It really seems that you have a crass industry bias. 
 -----
 	Actually, we chose a commerical bias.  Not everybody wants source.
 	I am currently attempting to determine what percentage of our
 	readership has EVER built public domain software.  I hoping a
 	large percentage does, but I have no proof.
 
 In the PC Unix Explosion, you failed to really make a  fair presentation
 of the linux and 386BSD, the  best free Unixes.   I have installed linux
 on a  386PC and found this  is the best choice for  a  person who is not
 willing  to pay  the 120O$ of SCO. It  offers  all the  features and the
 advantage  of having an  enthusiatic creation/support team all over  the
 world.  It definitely  has the best compilers  and  tools from the  Free
 Software Foundation  (gcc, g++, bison, gmake, etc.),  X windows  (with a
 reconfigurable window  manager able to emulate  twm, olwm and mwm), etc.
 All the  code  (including source   code), manuals, are    obtainable  by
 anonymous ftp for free.  You are also wrong in terms of price figures: a
 fully functional Unix PC can be obtained for something in  the  range of
 1000US$, should  the  user be  clever enough to  use   an 386 PC  from a
 no-name manufacturer and linux.
 -----
 	Well, on the cost issue, you could get a pretty decent starter
 	system, with UNIX installed, for $2519.90 US from Dell.  This
 	comes with 486 running at 25 Mhz, Super VGA, 120 MB disk and
 	8 MB memory (and a mouse).  Now I don't think that *you* would
 	want this system, but for someone with little or NO UNIX experience,
 	this might be a LOT better than a source system.  And how do you
 	think someone with no UNIX experience is going to get a network
 	connection, know how to use ftp, and build their own UNIX system?
 
 One only really needs some DOS experience to install it.
 -----
 	Having no DOS experience, I have managed to install UNIX on DOS
 	boxes with only a little hair pulling, around fdisk partitioning
 	and telling the PC PROM about my hardware.  But unless you get
 	a pre-installed UNIX system, you always have to do that.
 
 
 You should provide  a  fair service to your  readers  by indicating  the
 appropriate newsgroup about  linux, comp.os.linux, and one  of the  main
 ftp locations,  tsx-11.mit.edu,  directory pub/linux,    on which     an
 anonymous ftp can be performed to get all the code.
 
 I would really like you to correct this major omission by including asap
 a full article  on the free Unixes,  including  a feature interview with
 its author, Linus Torvalds from Finland (torvalds@kruuna.helsinki.fi). A
 large segment of your readership wants  to install Unix at home  and you
 simply do not provide the best choice and information. It's a mistake as
 big as neglecting the Mac  market in  favor of  PCs. Thousands of people
 all over the world are already using linux.
 
 -----
 	I would like to invite you to put your words into action.  I
 	suggest that you submit a proposal for a tutorial on obtaining,
 	building, and installing linux or 386BSD.  If you are not interest-
 	ed, perhaps you can find someone else that can do this.  Remember
 	that you are limited to 3000 words of text and 200 lines of examples.
 	The proposal should be done first, essentially as an outline of
 	the proposed article.  Published authors receive a $250 US 
 	honorarium and recognition from their peers for being able to
 	write about an important topic.
 
 	I am quite serious about this.  I simply drew the line arbitrarily
 	at commercially available PC UNIX versions with a least some
 	support available, and no special features (such as realtime,
 	or only supported by Macs, like Mach10). 
 
 Rik Farrow
 Technical Editor
 UNIXWorld Magazine
 
 Reply-to: rik@uworld.com
 
 
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd