Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!spool.mu.edu!munnari.oz.au!bruce!monu0.cc.monash.edu.au!monu6!dec01!rik From: rik@dec01.fcit.monash.edu.au (Rik Harris) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: AM cdiff's (flame) Keywords: flame Message-ID: Date: 31 May 91 06:52:33 GMT Article-I.D.: dec01.rik.675672753 References: <910527186@ukmug.uk.mugnet.org> <1991May30.140729.15683@Arco.COM> <1991May30.185417.27756@cunixf.cc.columbia.edu> Sender: news@monu6.cc.monash.edu.au (Usenet system) Reply-To: rik.harris@monash.edu.au Organization: Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Melb., Australia. Lines: 43 es1@cunixb.cc.columbia.edu (Ethan Solomita) writes: > This is in no way meant as disrespect towards MINIX or >its creator, but this is NOT the same as a product such as Unix, >Finder, AmigaDOS, OS/9, etc. This is code MEANT to be used >primarily in an educational environment to teach the principles >of writing an operating system. > One of the main selling points of Tannenbaum's book is >that it includes the MINIX source and discusses it. If they >didn't reveal the source, IMNSHO, the book would be just another >of the many books on operating systems and they'd make >practically no money. Instead, BECAUSE the source is public, it >is a popular book. I don't consider Andrew's book as "just another ... book on operating systems". His books and research papers are very readable and most understandable. I have learnt quite a lot on Operating Systems and Computer Networks from Andy's books and papers. The fact that he wrote his own OS is a plus, indeed. You can buy all you need to get minix running, with quite a lot of documentation with the program, and don't need the book to get the source. > Now consider my position. At Columbia, you can get the >MS-DOS and Mac versions for FREE because this is for educational >purposes. Meanwhile, I can't get a version for my Amiga, since >Columbia doesn't support us in any way, unless I pay prentice >hall $169. This is for a product that is redistributable for >educational purposes. This isn't going to make them money. >Certainly not from me at least. Instead, it means that, instead >of doing work from my room on my machine, I have to go to some >silly computer lab and work on PS/2s. Joy. So perhaps you should complain to Columbia, along with all the other potential Amiga users, to get them to buy it. Otherwise, do what you would do with any other software that is only available on PC's, and go off to the labs. rik. -- Rik Harris - rik.harris@monash.edu.au || | | |\ | | \/ +61 3 571-2895 (AH,ans.mach) +61 3 573-2428 (BH) || |__| | \| | /\ Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, || Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Australia || RULES