Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!lll-winken!uunet!tektronix!sequent!roc
From: roc@sequent.UUCP (Ron Christian)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Designing for the FHF (was Re: Proprietary hardware)
Message-ID: <13799@sequent.UUCP>
Date: 4 Apr 89 17:25:48 GMT
References: <2140@cpoint.UUCP> <3743@stiatl.UUCP> <1204@naucse.UUCP> <1410@husc6.harvard.edu> <18167@gatech.edu> <4899@cbnews.ATT.COM> <18204@gatech.edu> <13332@sequent.UUCP> <1989Mar28.171856.21202@utzoo.uucp> <570@ispi.UUCP>
Reply-To: roc@crg2.UUCP (Ron Christian)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
Lines: 30

In article <570@ispi.UUCP> jbayer@ispi.UUCP (Jonathan Bayer) writes:
>While I like the idea of an (almost) free computer, I don't think it is
>worth it.  Considering that you can go out and buy an *88 board for
>under $ 100, and a 286 board for under $ 300, it isn't worth it to
>design and build your own (ok, just build).

Design and build.

>By the time you get done
>buying the chips, circuit board, and other misc. parts, you will have
>spent a lot more than that.

Maybe, maybe not.  Don't underestimate the brainpower we can direct
at this problem.  There's more talent on the net than just software
hackers.

>On the other hand, if you are doing it for
>the _fun_ and the learning experience then it makes sense.

We're drifting from the point here.  The idea was to make a cheap,
public domain unix box.  That precludes the *88, and in my opinion,
even the *286 chip.  We want something advanced enough that we can
get some real work done.  I've used Unix on a 286, and it's just not
something I'd want to own.  If we can't do better than the IBM AT,
it's not worth the effort.

I think we *can* do better.


			Ron