From: woodacre@mips.com (Michael Woodacre)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next.advocacy
Subject: Re: Open Letter: Don't get rid of UNIX
Date: 3 Sep 1992 22:19:17 GMT
Organization: MIPS Computer Systems, Inc.
Distribution: world
Reply-To: woodacre@mips.com (Michael Woodacre)
NNTP-Posting-Host: krell.mips.com

In article <jbone.715555262@splat>, jbone@splat.dell.com (Jeff Bone) writes:
> 
> DISCLAIMER:  This represents MY opinion ONLY, and is probably 180 degrees
> from what my employer's position is!
> 
> KEYNOTE:  NT DOESN'T EXIST YET!  NT IS SINGLE-SOURCE!  NT IS JUST WRONG!
> 
This is not true, NT does exist - it is in the hands of thousands of
developers - all the developers that attended the windows conference
in San Francisco is July received a CD ROM copy. How can you say NT is
just wrong if you don't even know what it is?

> 
> waltrip@capd.jhuapl.edu writes:
> >
> >       <...bunch of pro-NT drivel- er, stuff deleted...>
> >
> >	Well, for those who just like UNIX or who like or need UNIX utilities
> >	or the UNIX API, NT has POSIX.  A core of UNIX utilities is included
> >	in POSIX and with contributions from GNU and other sources, you can
> >	expect a pretty good representation of what's already available on
> >	various UNIX boxes.  Since NT has a microkernal architecture, a UNIX
> >	server with the full suite of UNIX utilities might be brought along
> >	as an extra cost option for those not satisfied by POSIX (which, after
> >	all, represents a UNIX subset).  If it's that important, push for it.
> 
> You know, the thing that really chaps me is this implicit assumption the
> WHOLE non-UNIX world has that NT is going to show up on the scene and UNIX
> is going to disappear.
I don't believe anyone who is backing NT would expect UNIX to disappear
overnight but the simple fact is that NT will provide many of the OS
facilities that previously were only avaliable to UNIX users. NT may not
be the ultimate OS but it will probably be more than good enough for the
vast majority of computer users. Of course there will still be room for
other OS's in specialised areas.

>  Point of fact:  NT is vapor, as yet. 
As I said before, this is Not True. Try calling microsoft and asking to become
an NT developer, give them something like $69, and I think you will quickly
revceive a copy of the developers version of NT.

> Point of fact:
> UNIX has been around, in one form or other for years, and been stable enough
> to be the industry-standard high-end OS for several years.  *IF* NT ships
> with useable functionality, IF it has the same elegance/functionality/
> toolset that makes UNIX so popular, IF it is bugfree enough to be usable,
> then PERHAPS it would be a reasonable competitor for UNIX. Why has UNIX
> been around for so long?  'Cuz it has the RIGHT IDEA. 
> Will NT have the
> Right Idea?  Dunno. 
> 
> BUT!
> 
> NT will compete with UNIX right out of the starting gate, JUST BECAUSE
> IT HAS SCADS OF $$$ AND MICROSOFT BEHIND IT!  This SUCKS! 
Clearly you don;t understand market forces - something only has to do
a reasonable job that most of it's users want - it doesn't need to be
the ultimate solution to everything to suceed.

> Developers
> with integrity will port to NT IF IT'S A DECENT OS, *not* just because
> the WA Giant is shoving it down their throats.
Or if they want to stay in business, due to the large number of PC users
of in the world who want to buy software

> 
> >	truly huge market (given that Windows 3.1 is currently shipping in
> >	excess of a million copies a month, it would seem reasonable to project
> >	that NT will ship at least a million copies next year).
> 
> SO, bigger is better.  Might instead of right.  Typical, figures.  Baloney.
> Give me a real OS or shoot me in the head!!!  VIVA UNIX!
> 
> >Opinions expressed are my own.
> 
> Yeah, me too. ;)
> 
> 
> jb
> 
> 
> 
> --
> -- Jeff Bone ------------------------------------------------------------
>       "Imagination is more important than knowledge."  - A. Einstein
> ------------------------------------------------------- jbone@dell.com --
>                                                                        --

   Michael S. Woodacre | Phone: (408) 524-8120
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