🚀 go-pugleaf

I am looking to buy a 486 system in the next month. I guess that Im going with
the PC architecture because it's so @#$% *CHEAP* right now, but I have many
reservations about this platform because of the operating system....

I have been a unix user, albeit not a guru or a sys admin, and Ive gotten used to
the features of sun sparcs stations and the NeXt stations (which uses Mach --
which I understand to be a friendlier, more compact version of Unix). I don't
want to give up such features as large (by PC standards) workspaces (somewhere
around 1000x1000) and 15+'' monitors. 

I also use and like Xwindows and demand a flat memory model. (640K is just
*unbelievable* with todays technology level!) 

I am going to pass over the idea of a 'personal workstation' because not only is
the hardware too much for me right now (ala $7,000 for a color system from NeXt),
but the software is just wayyyyyy to pricy for an individual. (Even a small
company really.)

I am also considering a Mac or Amiga platform, but like I said before, the PC
market is so cheap, you really can't beat it. Anyway, I need some advice about an
OS for a 486 machine. I have three goals in mind:

1) I want to run PC games. (Always a stickler for compatibility...)
2) I will use a few commercial programs, such as a word processor, spreadsheet,
etc.
3) I will do my own programming and would *really* like a system that has some
graphical libraries like Xwindows and Xt or NextStep (I hear) to do quick GUI
code. This is an area that really seems to be lacking everywhere I look, except
perhaps the NeXt.

So what can you'all advise me about an os? I could live with rebooting the machine
when I want to play a game, I guess. I don't want to deal with DOS or MS windows
and all of the memory kludges and headaches that go along them, but I also don't
want to be without any programs except the ones I hack myself... 

What does OS2 have to offer? And how does it compare to unix? (Besides during
installation.) How feasible is it to have a computer that runs alternate
operating systems? I'm not a hardware genius so keep these answers in simple
english if you can....

Now I really *DON'T* want to start an OS flame-war. I just want some good advice
from people that have used PC unix's, os2, and maybe some of the other machines
(Amigas or Macs) as well. I know that DOS has 'millions' of programs out that,
and that "I ought to stay compatible with them", but I have realized that this is
not really an issue for me. Most of those older PC programs either weren't very
good, had bugs, or just don't apply to my needs. I want a machine to move
*forward* not *backwards*. 

Thanks in advance

-Keith