Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!usc!sdsu!crash!pnet01!jca
From: jca@pnet01.cts.com (John C. Archambeau)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: MINIX
Message-ID: <1008@crash.cts.com>
Date: 30 Dec 89 04:56:07 GMT
Sender: root@crash.cts.com
Organization: People-Net [pnet01], El Cajon CA
Lines: 44

rob@cbnewsk.ATT.COM (rob) writes:
>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.

The problem is corporate bureaucracy.  See comp.os.minix for the appropriate
party to yell at.  P-H owns Minix and it's illegal to distribute it in any
form other than what P-H says is kosher.

Andy Tanenbaum has to basically threaten P-H with a sledge hammer to get
anything done.  It's gotten to the point where he has an attorney just for
making sure P-H does everything reasonably right now.
 
     // JCA

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