Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!rpi!uupsi!sunic!news.funet.fi!naurulokki.tut.fi!mk59200
From: mk59200@naurulokki.tut.fi (Kolkka Markku Olavi)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: MINIX on the Amiga...
Message-ID: <1990Sep20.150550.297@funet.fi>
Date: 20 Sep 90 15:05:50 GMT
References: <14066@mentor.cc.purdue.edu> <90262.224308JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu>
Sender: news@funet.fi (#News )
Reply-To: mk59200@naurulokki.tut.fi (Kolkka Markku Olavi)
Organization: Finnish University and Research Network FUNET
Lines: 39


In article <90262.224308JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu>, JKT100@psuvm.psu.edu
(JKT) writes:
|> >2. MINIX 1.5 FEATURES (IBM, Macintosh, Atari, and Amiga versions)
|> >  - Full multiprogramming (multiple programs can run at once)
|> 
|> Ok, we've all heard how MultiFinder on the Mac supposedly multi-
|> tasks too, but when you actually inspected it, it actually task
|> switches.  Because this posting did not use the term "multi-task"
|> is it possible that the programs do not actually run at once, but
|> task switch, with only one running at a time?

You seem to suffer from terminology confusion.  MultiFinder uses
"non-pre-emptive" or "co-operative" multitasking, UNIX, MINIX, and
Amiga Exec use "pre-emptive" multitasking.
"Task switching" or "context switching" occurs in both kinds of systems.
If you want multiple processes _actually_ running at once, you need also
several CPUs, this is called _multiprocessing_.

|> >4. HARDWARE REQUIRED
|> >          Commodore Amiga 500 or 2000 with at least 1M of RAM. One 720K
|> >          diskette drive is sufficient. A hard disk is not neccesary
|> >          (or even supported).
|> 
|> Obviously someone thinks the Amiga is an IBM clone, saying that the
|> floppies are 720K...  :-(

MINIX uses its own disk format which is the same on Atari ST and Amiga
(and possibly 3.5" IBM), and stores 720K on the disk.

|> More importantly, is it truly necessary for them to require a HD
|> driver?  Is there no way they could make use of existing drivers
|> with a simple interface?  Seems silly to re-invent the wheel....

Because MINIX fully replaces the Exec, it canot use hddisk.device or
other Exec device drivers.  The sowtware must be rewritten from ground up.

--
	Markku Kolkka
	mk59200@tut.fi