evil@arcturus.uucp (Wade Guthrie) (08/29/90)
R N Robert writes: > I need to select a 386 unix for a system we're installing. [...] > Any comments will be appreciated, I've seen many pleas like this (I've even made one or two myself), but have gotten very little response. Maybe the reason for the low response is the high volume of questions; so, I'd like to post a strawman response to the "What 386 UNIX should I buy" question. Please feel free to follow-up or reply with changes. Guys! Gals! If you have an ammendment to the strawman -- **SEND IT** I EMPLORE you. I invite vendors to add to the advantages of their own product (and other people's products, if they wish). I'll post the most recent version every month or so. If this turns into a full-fledged FAQ (frequently asked questions) list, I might want to include a description of where to get the GNU stuff and where to get the patches for each of the individual systems as well. I propose the following: ** Santa Cruz Operations: SCO XENIX / UNIX (2 different products) email address: info@sco.com or support@sco.com advantages/features: - ease of system administration - excellent documentation - ability to compile to DOS from *nix - ability to transfer files between DOS and *nix - (UNIX) full/real AT&T unix - (UNIX) C2 security - most common 386 *nix on the market disadvantages: - most expensive 286/386 *nix on the market - development package (C compiler et. al.) is unbundled - text package (nroff, man pages, et. al.) is unbundled ** Santa Cruz Operations: SCO Open Desktop email address (see above) advantages/features: - SCO UNIX + X Windows + NFS + Ingres ** Everex: ESIX email address: uunet!zardoz!everex!jde advantages/features: - comes with X11R3 (X-windows) bundled in (Motif is extra) - low price for a full-featured i386 - lifetime support (reported to be pretty good, too) - inexpensive upgrade policy - Berkely fast file system (how about the other *nix's?) disadvantages: - no on-line man pages - poor SCSI driver (if you're into SCSI) - poor paper documentation (costs extra too) - difficult installation/system administration ** Interactive I386 email address: ? advantages/features: disadvantages: - expensive upgrade policy ** Coherent 386 email address: ? advantaged/features: - extreme low cost ($99) disadvantages: ? -- Wade Guthrie (evil@arcturus.UUCP) | "He gasped in terror at what sounded Rockwell International; Anaheim, CA | like a man trying to gargle while My opinions, not my employer's. | fighting off a pack of wolves" | Hitchhiker's Guide