Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!think.com!mintaka!ogicse!pdxgate!eecs!kirkenda From: kirkenda@eecs.cs.pdx.edu (Steve Kirkendall) Newsgroups: comp.os.coherent Subject: Re: Coherent vs. MINIX Message-ID: <2875@pdxgate.UUCP> Date: 17 Jun 91 18:18:12 GMT References: <10834@idunno.Princeton.EDU> Sender: news@pdxgate.UUCP Reply-To: kirkenda@eecs.UUCP (Steve Kirkendall) Distribution: comp Organization: Portland State University, Portland, OR Lines: 33 In article <10834@idunno.Princeton.EDU> rlwald@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Robert L. Wald) writes: > I just ordered Coherent (which was delayed a week (they said) since >they weren't going to ship it until 3.2 came out. I'm going to take >a look at it, but the more that I think about it, the more I think >that I will probably return it and get Minix. Is there *anything* >that Coherent has that Minix doesn't? Is it supposed to be >more reliable? I notice that Minix only supports 3 users, anyone >know where the limitation is? One console + two serial ports = three users. > The main problem is that Minix will support large model, and Coherent >won't until next year. I don't understand this, frankly. Large >model works on 8086's, let alone 80286's, so why can't coherent support >it? Is it because of a lack of real memory protection in an >80286? Then why does XENIX work? MINIX DOES NOT SUPPORT LARGE MODEL PROGRAMS! Standard Minix is limited to 64k+64k, just like Coherent. In fact, its standard compiler is much worse that Coherent's so the 64k limit is even more... um... limiting. Minix can be patched to support 386 small model, which is fairly roomy. Coherent will (we are told) soon support the 386 too. However, neither operating system is ever expected to break the 64k barrier on anything less than a 386. They *could*, obviously, but it would be difficult and time-consuming... and consequently much more expensive. You mentioned Xenix? Here's a wacky suggestion: buy both of them. Coherent is more stable and more professional. Minix has source code. So why not use selected Minix programs under Coherent? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve Kirkendall kirkenda@cs.pdx.edu Grad student at Portland State U.