wolfskeh@acf9.nyu.edu (Mark Wolfskehl) (10/17/90)
Can anyone clarify something for me? Is Minix for the PC public domain. I had thought it was, but I can't find it on any ftp sites, and I saw an add for it in a computer magazine. If it is PD, does anyone know of any ftp sites that have it? Thanks. Mark Wolfskehl wolfskeh@acf9.nyu.edu
rusbara2@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Bob Rusbasan) (10/17/90)
In article <wolfskeh.656107403@acf9> wolfskeh@acf9.nyu.edu (Mark Wolfskehl) writes: >Can anyone clarify something for me? > >Is Minix for the PC public domain. I had thought it was, but I can't find >it on any ftp sites, and I saw an add for it in a computer magazine. > >If it is PD, does anyone know of any ftp sites that have it? Thanks. Minix is not public domain. It is sold for, I think, around $100. It is distributed by Prentice Hall, but I am told not to order through them because they are terribly slow in filling orders for it. I heard a while ago that there were ftp sites with it. I don't know what the deal was. Also, the moderator at comp.binaries.ibm.pc has been sent a demo version (without source and possibly some features) that he'll hopefully post soon. If anyone knows of ftp sites with the demo version I'd like to know about them. If you want to know more about Minix it has its own newsgroup. Get the freqently asked questions posting. Bob Rusbasan bob@en.ecn.purdue.edu
jkenyon@us.cc.umich.edu (Jim Kenyon) (10/17/90)
I thought Minix required a license of some sort -- we used it here (still do I think) for the undergrad op systems class and had to have a license. The cost to buy it out right was pretty small, as I remember. -- Jim Kenyon -- jkenyon@css.itd.umich.edu University of Michigan, 401 Washtenaw Ave Division of Kinsesiology, Motor Behavior Lab Ann Arbor, MI 48109 -- (313) 763-0498
rennolet@mosquito (Rennolet (Kumar)) (10/17/90)
In article <4628@sage.cc.purdue.edu> rusbara2@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Bob Rusbasan) writes: >In article <wolfskeh.656107403@acf9> wolfskeh@acf9.nyu.edu (Mark Wolfskehl) writes: >>Can anyone clarify something for me? >> >>Is Minix for the PC public domain. I had thought it was, but I can't find >>it on any ftp sites, and I saw an add for it in a computer magazine. ... stuff deleted ... >Minix is not public domain. It is sold for, I think, around $100. It is >distributed by Prentice Hall, but I am told not to order through them >because they are terribly slow in filling orders for it. > ... stuff deleted ... >Bob Rusbasan >bob@en.ecn.purdue.edu I would like to let the community know that Prentice Hall is NOT necessarily slow (although any company can goof up in particular cases). I have ordered two copies of minix from them and received both within a couple of weeks. They were very friendly and efficient, but do not have extended hours, so call early (if you are out west). The other place carrying it is the Software Toolworks, which advertised in such places as MicroCornucopia (before its demise) and Computer Language (which is what Dr Dobbs calls itself these days). There is a LARGE amount of activity in the minix newsgroup these days. If you tune in for about a week you will see almost every possible question (and answer). charles@thurse.MN.ORG rennolet@umn-ai
norm@oglvee.UUCP (Norman Joseph) (10/18/90)
In <4628@sage.cc.purdue.edu> rusbara2@sage.cc.purdue.edu (Bob Rusbasan) writes: >In article <wolfskeh.656107403@acf9> wolfskeh@acf9.nyu.edu (Mark Wolfskehl) writes: >>Is Minix for the PC public domain. I had thought it was, but I can't find >>it on any ftp sites, and I saw an add for it in a computer magazine. >Minix is not public domain. It is sold for, I think, around $100. It is >distributed by Prentice Hall, but I am told not to order through them >because they are terribly slow in filling orders for it. The following information is excerpted from a posting by MINIX's author, Andy Tanenbaum, to comp.os.minix and other groups on 9 Sep 1990: --------------------------------->8 cut here 8<------------------------------- From: ast@cs.vu.nl (Andy Tanenbaum) Newsgroups: comp.os.minix,comp.os.misc,comp.sys.atari.st,comp.sys.amiga,comp.binaries.ibm.pc.d Subject: New MINIX available (UNIX clone with full source code) Message-ID: <7485@star.cs.vu.nl> Date: 9 Sep 90 11:13:47 GMT 1. WHAT IS MINIX 1.5 MINIX 1.5 is a new version of an operating system that is very similar to UNIX. MINIX has been written from scratch, and therefore does not contain any AT&T code--not in the kernel, the compiler, the utilities, or the libraries. For this reason it can be made available with the complete source code (on diskette). It runs on the IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, 386, and most clones. Versions are also available for the Atari ST, Macintosh, and Amiga. [...] 9. HOW TO ORDER MINIX 1.5 MINIX 1.5 is being sold by Prentice-Hall. The product numbers and prices are as follows: - MINIX 1.5 for the IBM: 5 1/4" (0-13-585076-2) $169 - MINIX 1.5 for the IBM: 3 1/2" (0-13-585068-1) $169 - MINIX 1.5 for the Amiga (0-13-585043-6) $169 - MINIX 1.5 for the Atari (0-13-585035-5) $169 - MINIX 1.5 for the Macintosh (0-13-585050-9) $169 (available Oct. 1) Sales tax and shipping are extra; Prices are slightly higher outside the U.S. All versions include the executable binaries, a detailed manual, the complete source code (on diskettes), and an attractively typeset, cross-referenced listing of the operating system code. P-H is making a big effort to get software stores to keep MINIX in stock. The easiest way to order it is to go to a software store and ask them for it. If they don't stock it, they can always order it. Alternatively, you can order directly by email, FAX, phone, or mail from Prentice-Hall as follows. In North America and the Far East To order by email: books@prenhall.com To order by FAX: (201) 767-5625 To order by phone: (800) 624-0023 or (201) 767-5969 To order by mail: Microservice Customer Service Simon & Schuster 200 Old Tappan Road Old Tappan, NJ 07675 In UK/Europe To order by email: books@prenhall.com To order by FAX: +1 (201) 767-5625 (US number) To order by phone: +44 (442) 231-555 (UK number) To order by mail: Order Dept. Prentice-Hall International 66 Wood Lane End Hemel Hempstead Herts. HP2 4RG ENGLAND For email and FAX orders, please include the product name and number, your name and address, and your MasterCard or VISA card number and expiration date. If you wish delivery by Federal Express (costs extra), please indicate so. MINIX can also be ordered from the following addresses: In England: The MINIX Center Forncett End Norwich Norfolk NR16 1HT England 0953-89345 In Germany: Steve Steinkrauss Feldtorweg 24 D3406 Bovenden 1 Germany In the Benelux: Fred van Kempen Postbus 184 2100 AD Heemstede Holland Tel: +31 23 287935 FAX: +31 23 294229 In Scandinavia: Frank O'Donell P.O. Box 88 1371 Asker Norway In Spain and Deborah Worth Portugal: Appartado Numero 50672 Madrid Spain In Italy: Jim Blaho Piazza Santo Spirito 17 50125 Florence Italy In Greece: Vassilis Zahos Kritonos 5-7 GR 11634 Athens Greece In Turkey: Atilla Gullu Milli Mudafaa Cad 14/7 Kizilay Ankara Turkey [...] 10. LEGAL STATUS OF MINIX Although MINIX is supplied with the complete source code, it is copyrighted software. It is not public domain. It is also not like GNU. However, the copyright owner, Prentice-Hall has granted permission to bona fide universities to copy the software for use in courses and in university research projects. It is also permitted for MINIX owners to change the software to suit their needs and to distribute diff listings containing their changes freely. The shrink-wrap license that comes with MINIX states that you may legally make two backup copies of the software. Prentice-Hall is being much less strict than other software vendors. Please do not abuse this. Companies that wish to embed MINIX in commercial systems or sell MINIX-based products should call (212) 995-7788 to discuss licensing terms. 11. NEWS ABOUT MINIX Since its introduction in January 1987, there has been a large an active USENET newsgroup about MINIX, comp.os.minix. It currently has about 25,000 members. Over 12,000 messages have been posted to this group so far. These messages have contained questions, bug reports, bug fixes, new software, and diff listings to allow current users to update to new releases for free. It is the intention to continue this policy into the indefinite future. MINIX users on Bitnet can be put on a mailing list by sending mail to: info-minix-request@udel.edu. Various archives store newsgroup traffic for newcomers to the newsgroup. [...] 13. WHERE CAN I GET PAST POSTINGS AND PROGRAMS? Many sites keep archives of MINIX-related material, ranging from archives of articles posted to more organized repositories of programs posted to the net. The complete MINIX distribution is NOT (repeat NOT) available from any online archive. This is not permitted. Only the newsgroup traffic is stored there. List Archives: bugs.nosc.mil Current louie.udel.edu July '87 - Dec '89 (?) vm1.nodak.edu Current year wsmr-simtel20.army.mil July '87 - Dec '89 (?) Formal Archives (MINIX sources): aerospace.aero.org doc.ic.ac.uk dsrgsun.ces.cwru.edu en.ecn.purdue.edu funet.fi hobbes.cs.umd.edu hub.cs.jmu.edu The Mars Hotel BBS NL-MUG plains.nodak.edu sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au terminator.cc.umich.edu --------------------------------->8 cut here 8<------------------------------- Hope this helps answer some questions. -- Norm Joseph - (amanue!oglvee!norm) cgh!amanue!oglvee!norm@dsi.com, or Oglevee Computer Systems, Inc. ditka!oglvee!norm@daver.bungi.com ---<*>--- "Shucking Usenet oysters in pursuit of a pearl." -- Bill Kennedy
silver@xrtll.uucp (Hi Ho Silver) (10/20/90)
To the best of my knowledge, Minix is _not_ PD. It's very cheap, though, so its price shouldn't be a problem. -- HI ROGER |Nikebo says "Nikebo knows how to post. Just do it."| silver@xrtll _________|-----------------------|_______________|------------|_____________ yunexus!xrtll!silver (L, not 1) | Hi Ho Silver | costing the net thousands Silver: Ever Searching for SNTF |i need a grilf | upon thousands of dollars
2113av@gmuvax2.gmu.edu (John Porter) (10/24/90)
In article <1990Oct17.152959.6991@cs.umn.edu> rennolet@mosquito.UUCP (Rennolet (Kumar)) writes: >and Computer Language (which is what Dr Dobbs calls itself these days). WHAT! Surely you're joking. _Computer Language Magazine_ and _Dr. Dobbs'_ _Journal_OSTFTPP_ are two completely separate entities and always have been. -- jp