Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!burkett
From: burkett@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Edward W Burkett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Coherent ... A Toy
Message-ID: <4446@uwm.edu>
Date: 13 Jun 90 13:09:02 GMT
Sender: news@uwm.edu
Reply-To: burkett@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Edward W Burkett)
Distribution: na
Organization: Computing Services Division, UW Milwaukee
Lines: 64


We just received Coherent and it is a cute little TOY but as it stands
that's all it is since you are limited to 640K, most of which is used by
the operating system itself.  We were lead by the company to believe that it
supported swapping and virtual memory. It definitely does not yet
they compare it to SCO Xenix 286.  The manual clearly says that it will not
work in 386 protected mode, why doesn't the company?

In article <3116@crash.cts.com> jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau) writes: 
>
>I base my assertion of no swapping being supported on what the software
>engineer at MWC told me when I called him drilling him on how close to the
>current implementations of Unix are.  He told me, no, it doesn't support
>swapping or virtual memory.  My biggest peeve against Coherent is no large
>memory model support (ala SCO Xenix 286 or MicroPort Unix SysV/AT).  In my
>opinion, MWC had no business benching Coherent against SCO Xenix 286 since it
>does support large model processes.

* Bill Heiser (heiser@world.std.com) writes:
*
* I guess they must have put it in the manual expecting to get it to work, but
* maybe ran into problems, so released the product without swapping.  Apparently
* they must not have the /conf stuff included for the same reason.

When we called MWC they said that in about a year they would be POSSIBLY coming
out with a version of Coherent for the 386 in protected mode. When asked how
much it would cost .... they squirmed and repeatedly said that they did not
know.

* kaleb@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Kaleb Keithley) writes:
*
* Coherent is a multi-tasking OS, includes a compiler that generates working
* code, and no doubt a whole slew of tools that make any flavor of DOS on a PC
* look like a Commodore Pet.

What's the point of having a multi-tasking OS that has a whole slew of tools
if you don't have any room in memory to run REAL applications.  I guess if
you just wanted to learn *NIX by PLAYING, it makes for a nice trainer.

* Mark Williams comes along and gives you a compiler in the deal, and all you
* can do is bitch!

Come on .... it`s a toy.

* Take your snivel rags home and give it a rest will'ya.  If you don't want
* it, then shut up.  Keep using DOS, see if I care!

OK

I don't want it and as it turns out that's the only GOOD part about it ....
I can send it back and get my money back.

Shut-up! Hmmmm .... If we can save a lot of people the headaches that I and
others went through purchasing something that doesn't do what we expected it
to do I think I'll voice my opinion just like YOU did.  That's the beauty of
a free country :-)

In Fact, someone suggested to me that this may be an advertising gimmick to
introduce an *NIX OS at a low cost simply to demonstrate the potentials to
users and then re-introduce the real think at a significantly greater cost.
Hmmmmmm.

        [I take no responsiblilty for any of the above statements.]
Ed Burkett