Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!umich!samsung!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!ux1.cso.uiuc.edu!bc From: bc@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu (B.C.) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix Subject: Re: Minix Information Sheet (Last Changed: 2 Feb 1990) Summary: Buy the manual NO MATTER WHAT Keywords: rtfm warning documentation Message-ID: <1990Feb3.182624.22832@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu> Date: 3 Feb 90 18:26:24 GMT References: Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana Lines: 77 [Somehow, when I first tried to post this, my poster just copied the original and discarded my changes. Oops, I figured out why. ] In article overby@plains.nodak.edu (Glen Overby) writes: >2. HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MINIX? >MINIX is described in detail in the following book: > > Title: Operating Systems: Design and Implementation > Author: Andrew S. Tanenbaum > Publisher: Prentice-Hall > ISBN: 0-13-637406-9 (Hardcover) > 0-13-637331-3 (Paperback, outside of U.S. and Canada) You might think you can get away with using MINIX without this book. Nope. In order to effectively use MINIX, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST BUY THIS BOOK. Note that the info sheet merely recommends it. IT IS VITAL. BUY IT. Also note that the info sheet doesn't say what it costs: $47.95, and worth it. >3. HOW CAN I GET MINIX? >MINIX is being sold by: > > Prentice-Hall > Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632 > 1-800-223-1360 > 1-201-767-5937 > 1-800-624-0023 (Software Department) > > Prentice-Hall Int'l > 66 Wood Lane End, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire HP2 4RG England (+44 > 442 231555) > > The Minix Centre > Forncett End, Norwich, Norfolk, England NR16 1HT (0953-89345) > >When ordering it, please specify one of the following versions: > > MINIX 1.3 for 640K IBM PC $79.95 (0-13-583444-9) > MINIX 1.3 for 512K IBM PC/AT $79.95 (0-13-583303-5) > MINIX 1.1 sources on mag tape $79.95 > MINIX 1.3 code + reference manual (PC) $116 (0-13-584426-6) > MINIX 1.3 code + reference manual (AT) $116 (0-13-584418-5) > MINIX-PC upgrade (1.2 to 1.3) $29.95 (0-13-584723-0) > (Sources *ONLY* -- you will need to already have > a working PC-Minix system to use this) > MINIX 1.1 for the Atari ST $79.95 (0-13-584392-8) > > Textbook: Operating Systems: Design and Implementation (0-13-637406-9) > Reference Manual: MINIX for the IBM PC, XT, and AT (0-13-584400-2) If you are ordering one of the 1.3 versions which go for $79.95 (the ones without the book), you should be aware that you get NO DOCUMENTATION EXCEPT THAT WHICH IS ON THE DISKETTES. Unless you have a book, you will NOT be able to use MINIX. The Info Sheet doesn't mention this, but you ABSOLUTELY MUST have access to the book. You could, in theory, use MINIX without the book, but that's not a good idea, because you will have virtually no clue as to what's going on. And don't ask ast@cs.vu.nl (which Prentice-Hall will tell you to do if you call them) or overby@plains.nodak.edu (Glen Overby) for help, all they'll say is RTFM. Believe me. I tried it. In summary: BUY THE MANUAL. If you don't want to buy the manual, BUY IT ANYWAY. If you don't think you need it, BUY THE MANUAL ANYWAY. If you are not going to buy the book even after this, then don't bother getting MINIX. Again: BUY THE BOOK. (Glen, I have suggested to you more than once that it needs to be made more clear in the info sheet, and I will keep posting this every time you post the info sheet until I see that the info sheet states that the book is absolutely necessary, rather than just a good idea.) > Glen Overby > uunet!plains!overby (UUCP) overby@plains (Bitnet) Ben Cox b-cox2@uiuc.edu