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From: phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.intel
Subject: Re: comp.sys.intel
Message-ID: <13801@amdcad.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 18-Nov-86 14:33:38 EST
Article-I.D.: amdcad.13801
Posted: Tue Nov 18 14:33:38 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 18-Nov-86 21:58:11 EST
References: <110@wldrdg.UUCP> <13772@amdcad.UUCP> <111@wldrdg.UUCP>
Reply-To: phil@amdcad.UUCP (Phil Ngai)
Distribution: na
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices, Sunnyvale, California
Lines: 36

In article <111@wldrdg.UUCP> tony@wldrdg.UUCP (Tony Andrews) writes:
>Okay, so I over-generalized slightly. The 386 is a reasonable chip
>and will support UNIX quite nicely. But the SVR3 port to the 386
>just makes all UNIX processes small model, which is effectively
>the same address space as a 32032 or 68K. The segmentation isn't
>really used other than to support 286 binaries.

I assume when you say small model, you mean things fit in one segment.
Really, that's how things should be. Trying to manage objects too big
to fit in one segment by using multiple segments is clearly a losing
proposition. Now, Intel advertises the 80286 as a 16 bit machine.
People who try to use it as a 32 bit machine really shouldn't complain
when they find out it doesn't work well.

It does sound like SVR3 doesn't use segments for anything useful. I
don't think there is any version of Unix which does. But a long time
ago, an operating system named Multics did some neat things with
segments. That Unix doesn't use them doesn't mean segments are a
useless idea.

>Of course, my opinions are just opinions and so are yours and Intel's.
>That's not the point. I just couldn't stand such a blatant example
>of the pot calling the kettle black.

Well, I think a lot of so called Intel propaganda has actually been
people putting words in Intel's mouth. I've never seen Intel refer to
the 80286 as a 32 bit machine. All the flames I have seen have been
from people trying to use it as such. Now who's fault is that?

-- 
 The distance from the North end of Vietnam to the South end is about
 the same as the distance from New York to Florida.

 Phil Ngai +1 408 749 5720
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