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From: rob@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (rob)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: MINIX
Message-ID: <1706@cbnewsk.ATT.COM>
Date: 27 Dec 89 17:19:45 GMT
References: <987@crash.cts.com>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 32

From article <987@crash.cts.com>, by jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau):
] 
] The author of Mac Minix has turned it over to Prentice-Hall since they
] technically own the distribution rights to Minix (both PC and ST).  Whether
] you can get your hands on it is subject to when they start distributing it (if
] ever).  For more information, see comp.os.minix.  It does not look good from
] an availability standpoint.  If P-H does decide to distribute it, it will take
] a year or so before you can actually go out and buy it.
]  
]      // JCA

Why such a long lead time? MacIDRIS (a similar, but not as good product) is
already available and will only get better. Given the PD support of MINIX
via working groups like comp.os.minix, etc., I am SURE that many MANY 
Mac/UNIX hackers would take it in whatever form it is currently in. Who
needs fancy, bound docs anyway. Give me something that works even partially,
with looseleaf docs (handwritten if necessary; who cares? :-) ) so I can get
going with it NOW!!! How many sales will P-H lose by waiting until the
distribution gets 'pretty-fied'?

Please tell me who to contact at P-H to apply some pressure. Where do I send
the telegram? Whose feet (ring? :-) )do I have to kiss? Maybe they would
consider a pre-release with NO GUARANTEE? After all, we are ALL used to a
90 day warranty for Apple hardware. A 0 day warranty for pre-release software
that I am WILLING TO PAY FOR seems appropriate.

.....rob coben (Independant Consultant currently at AT&T)
               +-----------------------------------+
	       |The above is strictly *MY* opinion.|
	       |Nobody pays me enough for it to be |
	       |           their's....:-)          |
               +-----------------------------------+