minnich.EE@UDel-Relay@sri-unix (09/06/82)
From: Ron Minnich <minnich.EE@UDel-Relay> I finally got around to seeing a Fortune the other day. It is a real nice little machine, and appears to be running a fairly straightforward, up-to-date version of Unix(there is even a /usr/ucb directory). The machine I saw had an eight Mb hard disk, 5 1/4" floppy, 1/4 Mb memory, eight unused expansion slots, and a price of about $9500. Available options are high-res display (no numbers on this), 2 or four RS-232 ports per expansion slot- 2/$395 or 4/$495, more memory and of course more hard disk. The built-in controller will support up to three more hard disks. It does not look like they sell different Unix's for single and multi-terminal users, so one could buy an RS-232 board, hook up a terminal, and run. All the pieces are connected by phone-company style modular jacks. Does anyone out there know what sort-if any- memory management this machine provides. Is it possible for a runaway program to write over the kernel? Which brings me to the $10K question: Are there other machines that provide more for the money? The Wicat 150 looks like a pretty good deal. How is the Unix that runs on it? Will the Lisa run Unix? Smalltalk is all well and good, but for that price I want Unix as well. Comments, anyone? ron