Peter@sri-unix (07/06/82)
It is becoming clear that the state of teh personal computer, and for that matter, the small business computer, is becoming limited not by the hardware that abounds in the field, but by the software that has, in some glaring examples, been written by individuals or groups that appear to have had little idea of what the market desired. Operating systems for microcomputers (at least the two leading ones, CP/M and Unix, and their respective generics) have been greatly maligned, to the point where one wonders when someone will set out to define and implement something better. I would like to do just that. However, one way to avoid the problems of the "first generation" operating systems that have prevailed in the past is to look at the market FIRST. What I am wondering is: how many individuals out there who use microcomputers regularly would be willing to attend a semi-formal conference with, say, a scheduled 20-30 hours of meeting time, with the specific intent of formulating a specification for the next generation operating system. The intent is to base the system on what the conference attendees decide is the need of the current and future market. I am willing to organize such a conference if there is a reasonable amount of interest in attending. I would like to limit the attendance to less than 5 individuals, if at all reasonable. Probably the best way to do so would be to limit attendance to San Francisco Bay area professionals. (Any thoughts on this?) In any case, if you have any interest in this at all, send me mail, and I will be glad to provide more details; things are currently in the idea stage only. Peter Henry hplabs!pdh PDH@SAIL (Arpanet) real mail: Peter D. Henry PO Box 9932 Palo Alto, CA 94305