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From: UH2@psuvm.psu.edu (Lee Sailer)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Unix popularity (was Re: The Unix story straight)
Message-ID: <91049.125858UH2@psuvm.psu.edu>
Date: 18 Feb 91 17:58:58 GMT
References: <2467@beguine.UUCP> <29814@usc> <70447@microsoft.UUCP>
 <3172@unccvax.uncc.edu> <70662@microsoft.UUCP>
Organization: Penn State University
Lines: 26

In article <70662@microsoft.UUCP>, edwardj@microsoft.UUCP (Edward JUNG) says:
>

... many useful and well-stated points deleted...


>2. The derivative Unix for '386, called Xenix, is the best
>   selling Unix in the world. (Note I did not say "is the
>   best Unix in the world"!)

And bless you for that.  however, in the interest of precision, I want
to know what you mean by "best selling."  I wouldn't be surprised if there
are more copies of MS Xenix in use today, since so many Tandy/Radio Shack
machines were sold.  Is it true that at one time there were more Tandy/RS
machines running a variant of Unix than any other manufacturer?

On the other hand, I would be surprised if MS Xenix sold more copies
*recently*.  What about SYSV, which is now delivered on many platforms?

Also, I would be surprised if there were *more users* of Xenix than of
other Unices.  There may be fewer BSDs and Ultixes, but they are usually
serving dozens of users, or more.  Also, I am not sure if it is fair to
call a Dental Receptionist who turns on the patient package every morning
a *Unix* user.

lee