🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <434@mks.UUCP> wheels@mks.UUCP (Gerry Wheeler) writes:
>Well, you know, the one thing that very few people seem to be knocking
>is the actual ST hardware.  It has occasional problems (chip sockets,
>etc.), but is generally pretty good.  Nice video.  A keyboard layout I
>like.  Portable when it has to be. 
>
>So, maybe all those who agree should also agree on which OS we are going
>to use on that hardware instead of the current one.  In my mind, it's a
>tossup between OS9 and MINIX.  Idris is out there, but I think it's too
>pricey.  Any others?

I don't think any 3rd Party OS is going to make the ST a real machine.  If
the OS was a standard BSD or Sys V UNIX it would be different, but the ST
is *NEVER* going to run either of these operating systems becuase of the 
hardware.  There's no MMU.  For a raw 68000 machine, the ST is nice.  But
without at least a 68010 and an MMU, it needs a good vendor backing it up.
And Atari sure ain't that.

MINIX, OS/9, and Idris all suffer from a lack of main-stream applications.
They're all fine for hackers, but none are widespread enough to be good
choices for "joe average" computer buyer.  And without vendor support from
Atari, TOS isn't going anywhere either.  A lot of people that already have
an ST will benefit from OS/9, MINIX, etc. but it's not a long term solution
to Atari ST market penetration or Atari growth.
-- 
David Beckemeyer			| "Yuh gotta treat people jes' like yuh	
Beckemeyer Development Tools		| do mules. Don't try to drive 'em. Jes'
478 Santa Clara Ave, Oakland, CA 94610	| leave the gate open a mite an' let 'em
UUCP: ...!ihnp4!hoptoad!bdt!david 	| bust in!"