Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!rpi!clarkson!usenet
From: demarem@clutx.clarkson.edu (Michael J. de Mare,222 Hamlin,,2684041)
Newsgroups: comp.os.minix
Subject: Re: minix for Tandy 2000
Message-ID: <1991Mar28.153203.11048@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu>
Date: 28 Mar 91 15:32:03 GMT
References: <10943@rama.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@grape.ecs.clarkson.edu
Reply-To: demarem@clutx.clarkson.edu
Organization: Clarkson University
Lines: 48

I tried to send this via e-mail, but it failed, so anyone who
does not care about the Tandy 2000 hit n now :-)

lvw@rama.UUCP (Lyndon VanWagner):
> I know that this question probably won't be answered, simply because there
> are only a few of us left.  Back in 1985 I was foolish enough to buy
> into non-clone hardware, because the machine was functionally superior
> to the IBM PC.  I have a Tandy 2000 with 720KB memory, MSDOS 2.11,
> 640x400 graphics, and non-standard bus (EuroCard format).  Its BIOS and
> graphics memory are repositioned, so the OS and applications have access
> to 720KB instead of the usual 640KB.

Yeah, I have one too.  Don't worry, t won't last enough longer to
make it worth porting Minix to it...you ever hear of "planned
obselecnce"?...first the video card goes crazy causing it to
crash about every five minutes...then the hard disk goes..before
you know it you have a very very expensive paper weight.
>
> Now my laughable question.  Is there another poor, foolish, but honest
> citizen out there who has ported minix to their Tandy 2000?  What tools
> are necessary to rewrite the terminal and disk drivers and such?
>
Well, I have the Tandy 2000 Technical Reference Manual..and it looks
to me like porting it would be a major job.  All the interupts and
I/O ports are at the wrong addresses...the controllers act in a
nonstandard way...basically, it is not worth the effort.  Also note
that the 2000 is a 186 system, so there is no protected mode, you
aren't really any better running Minix on there then on an ordinary
PC.
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Lyndon C. VanWagner		Internet:lvw@rama.sc.harris.com
> Software Engineer		-or-	rama!lvw@uu.psi.com
> Framework Development Group	UUCP:	...!{uupsi,tropix}!rama!lvw
> Harris Corporation		PHONE:	(716) 924-9303 ext. 226
> Scientific Calculations Division, Fishers, NY 14453
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cornfield's Law (paraphrased):
> 	Before anything can change, everyone must agree.
> 	By the time that happens its a different problem.
> -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mike de Mare
Professional Student


Crime does not pay ... as well as politics.
		-- A. E. Newman