Xref: utzoo comp.unix.xenix:7498 comp.unix.i386:368 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!ames!sun-barr!decwrl!rust.dec.com!paine From: paine@rust.dec.com (Willy Paine) Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix,comp.unix.i386 Subject: Re: Xenix vs. Unix? Message-ID: <8909072155.AA03053@decwrl.dec.com> Date: 7 Sep 89 21:55:33 GMT Organization: Digital Equipment Corporation Lines: 49 I have read many message about Xenix vs. Unix? I used to run Xenix/386 and I have installed many Xenix and some 386/ix. I am very happy with 386/ix, even I spend alot of time waiting and patience getting tech support. I am totally deaf so I have to find someone to call in voice, get FAX number or email. Without using voice phone calls, Interactive Tech Support is much better than SCO while SCO might be better if there is voice phone. I am told that SCO will refuse to help you unless you pay 75 dollars for tech support. I find that getting the latest version of drivers are from third party or hardware manufacturer NOT from SCO or Interactive because some of driver are already out of date. I had alot of trouble with Wyse multi-port board installing in Xenix/386 last year and I found out that driver that comes with SCO is for Xenix/AT NOT 386!!! SCO could not keep track of drivers at all so it is better to call 3rd party. I got drivers from Archive Tape and Digiboard for my 386/xi without any cost at all. They are more friendily than either SCO or Interactive. I have heard that several are switching to SCO from 386/ix, just because there is more drivers but SCO will not make the system easier. I have consulted many Unix rookies and I do find that their expectation are very high that SCO's drivers would be just as easy as to install MS-DOS but it is not true at all. They don't even know that they are getting better support from third party than SCO or Interactive. I am not Unix Wizard (I am not qualified to post comp.unix.wizard ) but I have over seven years of Unix experience (mostly large system) and getting hardware to work is my NO. 1 headache. I have told unix rookies that they should be prepared for several months on installing any unix machine before it becomes stable. Making regular backup is very important and I do both tape and floppy disk backup!! Also beware that you should not buy any used or old hardwares like tape drives because the chance on getting driver is not so good. This applies both in both SCO and 386/ix. Recently I tried to install old DigiBoard in 386/xi and tech support does not have one for either newest system at all. I have no comments on choosing SCO or 386/ix but each has its own advantage. SCO has more formal support while 386/ix (System V) is easier to accept public domains program than SCO. This is my own opinion. Have fun with Un*x.... willy uunet!apex!nwnexus!seaeast!willyp or willyp@seaeast.wa.com p.s. I am speaking for my own hobby not for corporation......