RON@PSUVM.BITNET (04/08/88)
I just received the second edition of K&R's C text from P-H. In the back of the book is a C/Unix order form, which lists a "MINIX for the IBM PC/XT/AT Reference Manual" ISBN-013-584400-2 at $34.50. Does anyone know anything about this book? Does it include material which is not in the O.S. text?
jds@mimsy.UUCP (James DaSilva) (04/15/88)
In article <38605RON@PSUVM> RON@PSUVM.BITNET writes: >I just received the second edition of K&R's C text from P-H. In the >back of the book is a C/Unix order form, which lists a "MINIX for the >IBM PC/XT/AT Reference Manual" ISBN-013-584400-2 at $34.50. Does anyone >know anything about this book? Does it include material which is not >in the O.S. text? No. Or at least, not that I could tell. It seems to contain the Minix specific portions of the original Book. It hasn't been updated. For example it contains the same source listing as the book, that of Minix 1.0, and only gives the man pages for the 1.0-1.1 commands. This is the same manual that comes in the 3-ring binder version of Minix 1.2. Given that these manuals are not up-to-date, I think that the best thing for people to do is to by The Book and The Software (v1.2). While it is true that The Manual is cheaper than The Book, there is a lot of good information in The Book that makes it worthwhile. I can't see a good reason for ANYONE to buy The Binder, since it is just The Manual + The Software in a big, awkward non-standard sized binder. I would love to see the evolution of two different Minix versions. "Educational Minix" could remain true to the version in the book, except for bug fixes, and could be made even cheaper. This version would satisfy Tanenbaum's wish that Minix not depart from the architecture described in The Book. "OS Hacker's Minix" could evolve farther in the direction of efficiency, functionality, and being able to support a serial driver :-). This version could be the version sold with The Binder, and an updated manual printed on a laser printer would be of sufficient quality, and insertsto the manual could be easily shipped when upgrading. I think this version would better suit the market that Prentice Hall is going after when they promote Minix as an alternative operating system. - Jaime ---------------------------------------------------------------------- usenet: uunet!mimsy!jds James da Silva internet: jds@mimsy.umd.edu "Stand on each other's shoulders, not on each other's toes."
ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) (04/18/88)
In article <11070@mimsy.UUCP> writes: >In article <38605RON@PSUVM> RON@PSUVM.BITNET writes: >>I just received the second edition of K&R's C text from P-H. In the >>back of the book is a C/Unix order form, which lists a "MINIX for the >>IBM PC/XT/AT Reference Manual" ISBN-013-584400-2 at $34.50. Does anyone >>know anything about this book? Does it include material which is not >>in the O.S. text? > >No. Or at least, not that I could tell. It seems to contain the Minix >specific portions of the original Book. It hasn't been updated. James da Silva's comments are basically correct. The 3-ring binder thingie is just the MINIX portion of the book (in a different order) and packaged differently. The paperback MINIX REFERENCE MANUAL is bit for bit the same as the 3-ring binder. The only reason for packaging it this way is to make the whole thing look like "software" rather than "book" so that computer stores will stock it. It is not entirely correct that the manual is 1.0. Some bugs have been corrected in the listing, namely those that were known before it went to press. Still, it is not 1.2. I don't envision multiple versions of MINIX for academic/nonacademic users, one book compatible and one not. Life is too short for that. I haven't even resolved the problem of how (if ever) MINIX for the PC and ATARI ST will be integrated. On the positive side, MINIX networking is now running on our Ethernet. MINIX machines can remotely log in to one another, transfer files, and execute remote commands. They can also talk to our VAXes and SUNs. However, this stuff is not polished enough to go out the door yet, so no matter how you stand on your head, you can't have it until it is good enough (or we can't stand working on it anymore, or the programmer goes off to China for half a year) whichever comes first). Thus please don't ask for it. I will post plenty of information when the time comes. But not yet. I am foursquare against premature ejaculation. Andy Tanenbaum (ast@cs.vu.nl)