From: root@rwsys.wimsey.bc.ca (Superuser)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: Why no ANSI C compiler?
Date: 28 Dec 92 20:53:29 GMT
Organization: RWSYS Exporter BBS system

magus@drktowr.chi.il.us (Louis Giliberto) writes:
> Greg Comeau (comeau@csanta.attmail.com) wrote:
> : In article <9212135427@drktowr.chi.il.us> magus@drktowr.chi.il.us (Louis Giliberto) writes:
> 
> But who would pay >$200 for a compiler on a $99 OS?  The point is this:
> most people have Coherent as a hobby/homework system.  If they were willing
> to spend a couple of hundred on a second-company compiler, they would
> probably be willing to spend a grand on the OS.
> 
> Maybe your market research knows something I don't.  I wish ya luck with
> it, but I'm not so sure it will fly.
> 
> -Louis
> --
> ---------------------------------------------------------
>  Louis J. Giliberto, Jr.   ! magus@drktowr.chi.il.us
>    -sysadmin drktowr       ! lgilibe@orion.it.luc.edu
>   Chicago, IL  USA         ! 
> ---------------------------------------------------------
> 
I agree with you, Louis, but I think things are going to
change. Here's why:

1. Coherent seems to be on a fast track into a fully
capable os suitable for biz. 

2. Dos is < $100, and yet compilers sell for much more than the os. 
If people think there is some advantage to the more expensive compiler, 
they'll probably buy it.

3. I believe that the market for 3rd party stuff for Coherent 
has yet to take shape. There is a need for a forum where 3rd 
parties can advertise. As far as I can tell, the net is the only
effective way to reach any substantial numbers Coherent users. 
With the 'netiqeutte' demands for no ads, it must be really hard 
to get a Coherent application to market. A forum will emerge
because there will be advertiser demand.

4. With the addition of X and TCP/IP "set for early '93", Coherent
will reach a position of competing with most USL systems in capability.

5. Applications written for sysV can be ported to Coh in a flash with
a compiler that handles the source. Comeau is in a favorable position
for people who are affected by the outcome of the os wars and 
though Coherent is a dark horse, its coming up very fast, priced
for massive sales.

6. The coff compatibility means that there will be no need for 
big application shops to port anything. The USL binaries should 
simply run on Coherent right out of the box. Your lotus/dbase/wordperfect
crowd will have their cake at less cost per seat than dos. This
will remove an obstacle for Coherent.. the lack of applications.
 
7.  A strong marketing blitz from MWC after X & TCP/IP are stable
could explode sales. 

I buy books from a small computer store nearby. The guy who runs the
store asked me the other day..
	"I keep hearing about this Coherent. Do you think I 
	 ought to stock it?" 
No small neighborhood computer shop is going to ask that about USL 
based operating systems.

I highly doubt that MWC is set up to distribute to small stores all
over the world; that's not what I'm getting at. Just that Coherent is
taking off in the market place. Attention is coming in circles 
not usually associated with unix-like operating systems. These
circles are more of 'mass' market than unix enjoys and the potential
for Coherent seems incredible (IMHO).

Randy

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