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From: dyer@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix
Subject: Re: Microport 2.30.10 Beta response
Message-ID: <248@spdcc.COM>
Date: Thu, 10-Sep-87 14:41:29 EDT
Article-I.D.: spdcc.248
Posted: Thu Sep 10 14:41:29 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Sep-87 09:32:33 EDT
References: <373@micropen>
Reply-To: dyer@spdcc.COM (Steve Dyer)
Organization: S.P. Dyer Computer Consulting, Cambridge MA
Lines: 39

I am not interested in funding any kind of Microport/XENIX war that
some people might be interested in starting, but I think that the
non-SysV-ness of SCO XENIX is greatly exaggerated.  SCO XENIX 2.2
for the 286 and 386 gives you shell layers (for those who care),
sdb, 12 virtual consoles, and all sorts of other neat stuff; it looks
like a 5.2 system without coff; don't know how better to characterize it.
The system administration environment is still somewhat V7ish, which
doesn't make too much difference to me.  The programming model is
pretty much vanilla Sys V.

The primary criteria in choosing between Microport System V and SCO XENIX
seems to be in the areas of bugs (or lack of same), price, and support.
SCO XENIX is definitely more expensive, but I think it is also fair to
say that the SCO XENIX 2.2 release for the 286 is substantially more
bug-free than the equivalent from Microport, and this was also true
when comparing SCO 2.1.3 with the contemporaneous Microport release.
When you buy SCO XENIX 2.2 you get: working serial line support (9600
baud all day without crashes or data loss), working streaming tape drivers,
and a very robust crash-free system.  It feels "mature", as if it actually
went through a thorough testing phase before being shipped.  The same can't
be said for the Microport offering, judging by the public comments we've seen
in this group.

I also have to give high marks to SCO's support.  It, too, costs money,
and you have to deal with the silliness intrinsic to a binary-only product
with a large installed customer base: you usually have to talk to a drone
who knows only enough to take your phone number and assign you a problem
number.  HOWEVER, SCO folks do indeed follow up quickly, and I've been able
to get many of my problems solved, questions answered and updates received.
It's been well worth the money to me.

I think it basically comes down to price.  How much are you willing to pay
for a reliable product with good support?   Is it a better deal to get a
somewhat buggier UNIX system for $500 less?  That's a legitimate question, and
the marketplace gives you an arena to choose.
-- 
Steve Dyer
dyer@harvard.harvard.edu
dyer@spdcc.COM aka {ihnp4,harvard,linus,ima,bbn,m2c}!spdcc!dyer