From: satishc@microsoft.com (Satish Chittamuru) Subject: Re: Packaging Linux Date: 21 Nov 1992 04:07:18 GMT
In article <17612@mindlink.bc.ca> Neklan_Brozensky@mindlink.bc.ca (Neklan Brozensky) writes:
> > Eric Matthews writes:
> >
> > If LINUX were packaged with a GUI in the same manner as the SLS
> > distribution,
> > LINUX would be competing with OS-2 and WINDOWS NT. LINUX, being free and
> > having
> > a large software base, would be very competitive.
> >
>
> Are you saying that right now it has a large software base?
>
> It doesn't have a large software base when you are positioning it to take on
> WIN-NT and OS/2. But it *could* *if* there was a way of running DOS and
> precompiled 386 sysV 4.2 programs... (running win 3.1 would be nice too..)
Agreed. However, seems to me that Linux isn't being positioned as a
OS/2 or WIN[NT] killer as much as it supposed to be a viable, usable
Unix look-alike for a cheap and easily accessible hardware.
> IBM learnt their lesson when they marketed OS/2 for 5 years with-out decent
> DOS support. Any future desktop operating system has to have it.
IBM did learn their lesson. The second statement however has to be
qualified. It is only true if someone is trying to become a major
commercial player in the home & low-end desktop market. Note the
word "commmercial". If you want to make money, DOS support is
necessary. If you don't mind being a niche player or if you aren't
expecting to become rich, then it isn't that important. I am not
saying that you shouldn't have it at all. All I am saying is that
not having DOS support doesn't spell doom for Linux.
> BTW I'm a new linux user, and like the original poster of this thread, I
> agree that A simple prepackaged Xwindow linux could really make some noise on
> the desktop, but *only* when it has DOS compatibility.
If you want really want DOS compatibility that badly, then you should
consider enhancing the existing DOS emulator.
However, I do agree that having a well packaged linux system will
definitely extend it's reach.
-- Satish K. Chittamuru satishc@microsoft.com ===== Disclaimer: The opinions expressed herein, either stated or implied, are solely my own and do not reflect Microsoft's views in any manner.