Dave.umcp-cs@UDel-Relay@sri-unix (09/11/82)
The following comments are strictly my opinions and observations. The reader is obliged to confirm the accuracy of my statements. I was recently, last May, faced with deciding amongst the 68k processor machines running Unix. I eliminated Wycat from the running immediately, because they didn't have Unix working at the time; they didn't even have MCS working very well. (Since, I have observed mention of them in this digest-- has Unisoft really done their Unix port for them?) I set aside consideration of the Forward Technologies machine, because their market seemed to be the high-res graphics industrial applications, and the $25k price reflected that. So, I considered Fortune and Codata. Fortune didn't want to deal directly with me; rather, they sent me to Computerland, who didn't even have the distributorship contract signed at the time. My local Computerland dealer had heard of the machine, but I knew more about it than he. Codata, on the other hand, was extremely responsive with technical details of their CTW-300 machine running Unisoft Unix. I chose the Codata machine for the following reasons: a) I know the reputation of the guys at Unisoft, and trust their capability in porting Unix. b) I consider the Multibuss architecture to be superior to that of the Fortune's proprietary one. (What about the press Fortune has recently received on their misfortune in the hardware department)? My experience, 3.5 months after buying the machine from Codata, has been very satisfactory. No doubt, there are glitches, bugs, and "features" in the software that would cause some constrenation on the part of the owner who didn't have any Unix wizardry in-house, but this is being remedied over the 12 month or System III implementation completion, which ever comes last. The hardware has performed remarkably well. No, I have no association or affiliation with Codata; I really like the machine! In some consulting work, I encouraged another business to buy one also. No problems over a sample of two. Since I bought the machine, another Unix on a 68k processor has popped up, the Hawk 32 by Computhink. I've heard bits and peices about the Sun machine Bill Joy is working on, but don't have any details. - Dave Stoffel