[unix-pc.general] International character set requirements needed

bruce@balilly.UUCP (Bruce Lilly) (12/28/90)

In article <1990Dec27.043500.27639@cbnewsk.att.com> hansen@pegasus.att.com (Tony L. Hansen) writes:
>< From: heimir@rhi.hi.is (Heimir Thor Sverrisson)
>
><< There are some methods of data interchange, such as most email systems,
><< that are inherently 7-bit.  It would be nice if we could just banish
><< them, but compatibility is an albatross.
>
><   So why don't you guys
>< simply open up your mailers and be ready with a 8-bit clean version by
>< the end of 1991!
>
>1991? Why not now? The System V release 4.0 mail program is completely 8-bit
>clean! (If you can find anyplace within SVr4 mail which isn't, I'll
>personally guarantee that the next version of mail which comes from UNIX
>System Laboratories will have a fix for the problem.)

Is AT&T SVR4 available for the AT&T 3B1 and/or 7300 UNIX(TM)PC?
   ^^^^                        ^^^^
No? You've got to be kidding.

Reality check: it is impossible for everybody everywhere to upgrade (if
that's the right term (it might be)) to version N of any software.  Even
if economic limitations are ignored, other considerations, such as
inertia, inadequate disk space, compatibility requirements with other
software and (ahem :-) lack of vendor support prevent many people from
upgrading.

Of course, if you can make a port of SVR4 available at a reasonable price
for the 3B1, I'll upgrade. (i.e. put up or shut up)

Don't take this too seriously -- I'm really a big fan of AT&T. I just get
somewhat aggravated when I'm told (by AT&T) that I can't purchase (at any
price) AT&T software to run on my AT&T hardware (like the time I asked if
WWB was available for the 3B1).

>					Tony Hansen
>				att!pegasus!hansen, attmail!tony
>				    hansen@pegasus.att.com


--
	Bruce Lilly		blilly!balilly!bruce@sonyd1.Broadcast.Sony.COM