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From: cy5@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Conway Yee)
Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent
Subject: Re: What's the Catch?
Keywords: coherent
Message-ID: <1991Apr9.184132.18152@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu>
Date: 9 Apr 91 18:41:32 GMT
References: <1991Apr5.163104.28033@spool.cs.wisc.edu> <1991Apr8.155202.27275@mcs.anl.gov>
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Reply-To: cy5@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Conway Yee)
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In article <1991Apr8.155202.27275@mcs.anl.gov> winans@sirius.mcs.anl.gov (John Winans) writes:
>But times do change & as an observation (that I am sure MWC has 
>made too) a 32 bit version of Coherent for less than $500 would
>probably become THE OS of the 90's.  Even if there is no source 
>available for the thing.  Just don't loose the loadable device 
<driver stuff and I think us hacker types will stay happy.

Why?  For most UNIX sites, the suits demand AT&T UNIX.  Commercial
software is not sold for Coherent or even most flavors of UNIX.  
Instead, binaries only & vendor specific (i.e. SCO) packages are the
rule.  A 32 bit Coherent would not change this.  Most if not all 
commercial software vendors will not come out with Coherent specific
versions.  Besides, a 32 bit version of MINIX exists and you get the 
source.  Few would argue that the existance of a 32 bit MINIX has 
caused it to become a runaway bestseller.  In order to call a 32 bit
Coherent THE OS of the 90's, you have to justify why it would be better
than:

1) the many flavors of AT&T UNIX (you can claim cost advantages 
   but not third party support)
2) MINIX which comes with source and is similarly priced.

					Conway Yee, N2JWQ
yee@ming.mipg.upenn.edu    (preferred)             231 S. Melville St.
cy5@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (forwarded to above)    Philadelphia, Pa 19139
yee@bnlx26.nsls.bnl.gov    (rarely checked)        (215) 386-1312