harald@leo.UUCP ( Harald Milne) (03/30/88)
Sorry, but I did speed read the article while in line at the local
bookstore. What can I say.
Anyway, the review wasn't bad. In fact, I thought it was quite good
generally speaking. What p*sses me off, is that it probably wouldn't
have gotten honorable mention at all, were it not for the much vaunted
"messy dos" compatability. (Note the title of the review)
Why am I posting this? Well there was mention of release dates for
the 80286 card (MAY) and the 68020 card (Late fall).
I hope the date for the 68020 card is wrong. Why so long? Does CBM
marketing think there is something significant about this "time frame"?
Is this release date pending packaging of UNIX? I've seen a production
quality board 5 months ago with my own eyes. Last minute design changes?
Ok, I give. Dave, if you are reading this, please disregard. You have
obviously done your job long ago! I know it's out of your hands.
On another note, at NCGA '88 in Anaheim, it was all mum about the
above. Of course, who am I to ask.
Oddly, CSA had announced a price reduction for their 68020 card at
the show.
Why?
Strange signals. Something for the rumor mill.
Needless to say, I want the A2620 card REAL BAD!
And just how much is the CSA card worth without an MMU and UNIX on
the horizon? Or ANY third party card for that matter, unless of course
you don't wan't UNIX, just power. (Fine with me, but I like keeping
my options open)
Well, at least my crystal ball was correct in predicting UNIX. It was
easy, job opening at CBM for UNIX guru, MMU on 68020 card. You figure it
out.
As to all the p*ssing and moaning about UNIX being SYS5, gawd everybody
was moaning about not having UNIX. Some people are never happy. (I can
understand since I personally prefer BSD, that's religion for you) I do
have one prediction about UNIX. Your gonna want good ole Amigadog!
Trust me! All of a sudden, it ain't a dog no more!
Which oddly now brings me to the much vaunted resource tracking
capabilities of UNIX. Why is that so desirable? Well when you have 200
users online on a single computing platform, how are you going to tell
them they all have to go away for a while so you can perform system
magic. And why does this happen? Because something is broken in system
software, and the ONLY cure without rebooting or fixing the problem on
the spot, is, you guessed it killing/unlocking with resource tracking
facilities. So who cares when it's you, and only you, on the system.
Just you! At least you know when you nerve pinch, the software is
broken, don't use again until fixed. I know a lot of developers will fry
me for this statement. But hey, it's broken, fix it.
Well enough religion for now. I have not spoken for 2 months, I'm dying
from viral bronchitis, and I had to get a few things of my chest so to speak.
Something to talk about.
This article has nothing to do with Byte magazine.
And so forth.... Ramble on.
So fry me for saying so.
--
Work: Computer Consoles Inc. (CCI), Advanced Development Group (ADG)
Irvine, CA (RISCy business!)
UUCP: uunet!ccicpg!leo!harald