Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!mcsun!unido!tools!fl From: fl@tools.uucp (Frank Lancaster) Newsgroups: comp.sys.acorn Subject: Re: ARM3 spec changes; R260 <-> SPARC Message-ID: Date: 9 Jun 91 13:01:23 GMT References: <10615@castle.ed.ac.uk> <7333@acorn.co.uk> <7392@acorn.co.uk> Sender: news@tools.UUCP Distribution: comp Organization: TooLs GmbH, Bonn, Germany Lines: 74 In-reply-to: mark@acorn.co.uk's message of 3 Jun 91 10:32:33 GMT mark@acorn.co.uk (Mark Taunton) writes: > clock rate. BTW, I get better figures on the R260 I use. Which > Dhrystone (1 or 2) is being used? Dhrystone 1.1 > The problem with any other distribution scheme is that it costs more > (=> increased system price) and besides, there are several different > media & formats which people might want to use - we can't support them > all. > Indeed. The standard distribution is designed for discfull use, since > the R260 comes with a hard disc. We also sell the R225 discless > workstation, for networked operation, and suitable software is > supplied with that. Crude analogy: if I want an open top car, I don't > expect the manufacturer to supply me with tools and detailed > instructions on removing the lid of my saloon :-) > With the RISC iX 1.2 kernel there is little need to remove unused > device drivers: the system automatically reuses most of the memory > they take up. I strongly advise against attempting reconfiguration > patches without documentation: do you *really* know what you are > doing? > In any case, a Kernel Binary Kit is available: it provides all that is > needed to reconfigure the kernel for specific requirements, *and* > explains the limitations on parameters - contact your supplier. This actually all refers to my main point. When entering the UNIX market Acorn will have to allow itself to be compared with the leading UNIX workstation distributors (mainly SUN). SUN provides it UNIX software nearly complete. Why distribute a kernel link kit at extra cost? Why supply discless booting software only with discless workstations? There are enough reasons why one could want to boot a workstation that has a disc discless. In the latest price list I have seen that Acorn supplies this again at extra cost! Why supply the programming documentation at extra cost? This is something I could just barely accept with RISC OS as it is mainly targetted at users not at programmers. But in the UNIX world you will not get far with that attitude. > AAAAAaaaaaarrrrrgggggggghhhhhh!!!!!!!! Debugging the kernel may be > fun, but we really can't support you if you pull stunts like that! > Reconfiguring the screen modes is undocumented because it's not > something we intend anyone to do. What if your patch goes wrong (or > you don't fully understand what you are modifying), and the kernel > then malfunctions in such a way as to corrupt your filesystem? Hmmm. I actually think that I know very well what I'm doing. We have a lot of experience with UNIX systems (at least 6 years) and I have enough experience with the VIDC hardware. Acorn may not think so, but reconfiguring the screen modes to give a better picture on a multisync monitor improves the overall evaluation of the R260 a lot. 50Hz monitor modes which cover nearly only half of the screen don't give the machine good PR. Anyway I wasn't trying to change the resolution of the screen modes only their appearance (but changing the actual resolution should also be possible, why use the VIDC hardware in this limited way? RISC OS is actually better designed to cope with the Acrhimedes hardware). I still think that Acorn should make the most out of their hardware. Concentrating on the Britsh market and end-users will lead to stagnating sales in about a years time and nobody in Germany will see the R260 as a serious competitor to the _REAL_ UNIX workstations. Frank Lancaster --------------------------------------------------------- Against the run of the mill, static as it seems We break the surface tension with our wild kinetic dreams, Shapes and lines, of grand designs... -- RUSH