[comp.os.os2.misc] Argosoft Unix for OS/2

lairdkb@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (Kyler Laird) (02/08/91)

I've been wanting to investigate this since I saw it.  This seems like a good
way to start.

The following excerpt  is from the November 1990 (Vol. 1, No. 3) OS/2 and
Windows Magazine.  The next and most recent issue, December/January, did not
contain this ad.
--------

The War is Over! UNIX And OS/2 Together At Last!
The Love Affair of the Century - ARGO/UX 4.3
---------------------------------------------------
Over 200 of the best UNIX tools and utilities are now available on OS/2.  You
no longer need to choose between the two operating environments.

We created a UNIX compatible kernel and ported most of BSD 4.3 to OS/2.  This
is _not_ a rewrite - the source was licensed from AT&T and UC Berkeley.  We
also added the best of contributed public domain software.

There is no need to switch between UNIX and OS/2.  All the programs may be run
either in the full screen or in the Presentation Manager window.  You may use
the CMD.EXE or any of the UNIX shells.

Who says that OS/2 is a single user workstation?  You may log in from any number
of your serial ports either directly or by modem as well as from the console.
File ownership and permissions are enforced and maintained in the extended
attributes.

We are not separating the tools into different sets and bundles.  ARGO/UX 4.3
has everything you would expect from BSD 4.3.

Argo soft Corporation will continue to provide other public domain and
commercial UNIX products.  Our development tools and 'C' runtime library make
porting to OS/2 fast and reliable.

Technical support is available over the phone as well as UUCP and BBS lines.
Manuals cover every command and configuration file.

We provide everything you expect from UNIX.  Do you need to communicate with 
remote sites?  Use full UUCP, NEWS, Kermit, Mail, tip as well as Citadel BBS.
Would you like to test your skills or relax?  Play adventure, rogue or read
fortune cookies.

Do you need to prepare documentation?  NROFF and TROFF are at your service.  
Jove, vi and sed are a dream come true.

Bourne and C shells are here with history substitution, aliasing, file name
completion and full command language.  Other public domain shells are available
on our BBS.

There are too many utilities to name them all.  They range from simple file
manipulation tools to sophisticated bibliography and reference processors.

And best of all, we will provide you with free updates and technical support 
for one year from the date of purchase.  That means that you will receive
free upgrades for OS/2 2.0 and all the new programs added to ARGO/UX 4.3.

Are you still using the DOS compatibility box for development?  Are you still
praying for OS/2 to be as rich as UNIX in tools and accessories?  Do you still
use 8 character filenames?  Suffer no longer!  ARGO/UX 4.3 will end your 
headaches and increase your productivity minutes after installation.

The price of _$499_ includes the $60 royalty to AT&T, printed and on-line
documentation and postage.  This offer will expire on November 1, 1990.

System requirements:  OS/2 1.2 or above, high performance file system (HPFS)
with 20Meg of free space.  Recommended: serial ports, modem.

The UNIX 'C' runtime library and compiler as well as UNIX to OS/2 porting
services are also available.  Call development support for details.

Argosoft Corporation
39120 Argonaut Way, Suite 519
Fremont, CA  94538
Voice:  (415) 795-7921
FAX:  (415) 795-7948

-----------------------

Any errors (except the caps in the headline) are probably mine.

No, I don't have any affiliation with Argosoft Corp.

I didn't spend all this time typing for any reason other than to get some
opinions (and maybe help out some other people like me).


I have some suspicion that this product may be vaporware.  The add was full-
page, but looked like it was set with simple NROFF.  It was in the November
issue (which I think came out in November), yet it stated that the offer
(of $499) only lasted until November 1.  Also, why hasn't anyone reviewed it?
It seems like a potentially wonderful product.

I think that a port of UNIX to OS/2 is reasonable.  HPFS should certainly make
it easier than trying to kludge the DOS FAT.  Also, OS/2 is multitasking to
start with.

Any opinions/experiences?

Well, I'm interested and will investigate also.

--kyler