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From: merlyn@hogpc.UUCP (S.HUMPHREY)
Newsgroups: net.arch,net.followup,net.micro
Subject: Re: AT&T and the 3B*2
Message-ID: <425@hogpc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 29-May-84 14:35:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: hogpc.425
Posted: Tue May 29 14:35:28 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 1-Jun-84 22:02:03 EDT
Lines: 52

To clear up some incorrect information about AT&T's 3B*2:

As correctly stated already, the basic or minimal 3B2
comes with a 10 Megabyte hard disk, a 720 Kilobyte floppy
drive, and 512 Kilobytes main memory, and a "core" set of
UNIX** utilities. (Not stated is that the 3B2 can be configured
with a 32 Megabyte hard disk and 1 or 2 Megabytes main memory).

The most INCORRECT information (which may have originated from
the salespeople--please, I blame no one, just wish to clarify)
is that the "core" package includes the C compiler but no assembler
or loader, etc.

First, the basic 3B2 does NOT come with the C compiler.
The goal here is to provide a basic machine that runs the bare
essentials of the UNIX commands, for those who want a computer
for reasons that don't include programming. In this way such
people can save money by not buying the C compiler, but at
the same time have a UNIX machine that can run other applications
and still have some UNIX commands for normal UNIX file access,
file manipulation, user environment manipulation, etc.

Second, when one buys the C compiler, one buys THREE sets of
floppies, FIVE diskettes in all. On these diskettes one gets the
C compiler, header files, ASSEMBLER, LOADER, and other programs
like yacc and lex. One of the three packages is called the
C Programming Language Utilities and includes the C compiler,
another package is called the Software Generation Utilities and
includes the assembler and linker/loader, and the third package
is called the Extended Software Generation Utilities and includes
yacc and lex. Please tell this to anyone from AT&T who tries to sell
you the C compiler without the assembler!

Third, vi does come with TERMCAP; it has to, as vi does not work
without it! Vi and TERMCAP come with any 3B2 configuration.

Why, one might ask, package UNIX into pieces? There are two
reasons. One is that, with the 10 Megabyte hard disk configuration,
not ALL of UNIX (kernel, libraries, header files, utilities)
will fit on the disk AND leave much room for user files.
Second, even with a 32 Megabyte hard disk configuration, one may
not WANT all of UNIX (does EVERYBODY use BASIC, for instance?
How about FORTRAN? How about a line printer spooling program?)
With the packaging onto separate disks, some separately purchased,
one is able to put together a UNIX system that balances need with
disk space and cost.

				Steve Humphrey
				AT&T Information Systems

* 3B is a trademark of AT&T Technologies (Western Electric)
** UNIX is a trademark of AT&T Bell Laboratories