[comp.os.minix] Why do you want 16 bit compress?

mccabe@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Daniel McCabe) (11/22/90)

For those of you unfamiliar with *nix and/or compress, you might ask
why you want 16 bit compress.  The reasons are:

1) compatibility with *nix
	The default bit size in *nix is 16, versus 13 for minix and most
	*nix archives have .Z files in 16 bit format.

2) efficiency
	16 bit compression results in files that are slightly smaller than
	those created with 13 bit compression.

Cheers,
danm

ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) (11/23/90)

In article <17714@thorin.cs.unc.edu> mccabe@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Daniel McCabe) writes:
>For those of you unfamiliar with *nix and/or compress, you might ask
>why you want 16 bit compress.  

Nevertheless, please do not use 16-bit compress for any net postings or
you will get negative feedback from the majority of readers, who have Intel
CPUs.  As to compatibility, most UNIX systems can handle 13-bit as well.

Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)

jms@cs.vu.nl (Jan-Mark) (11/23/90)

In article ... ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) writes:
# In article ... mccabe@hatteras.cs.unc.edu (Daniel McCabe) writes:
# >For those of you unfamiliar with *nix and/or compress, you might ask
# >why you want 16 bit compress.  
# 
# Nevertheless, please do not use 16-bit compress for any net postings or
# you will get negative feedback from the majority of readers, who have Intel
# CPUs.  As to compatibility, most UNIX systems can handle 13-bit as well.
# 
# Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)


	For real compression, use COMIC, it runs on UNIX and MINIX alike.
	(And SM-DOS)

	Jan-Mark.
--

				 (:>	jms
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