From: davidsen@ariel.crd.GE.COM (william E Davidsen) Subject: Re: Linux vs. OS2, DOS, Windows, PCGEOS, etc. (convince me) Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1993 17:03:48 GMT
In article <wwy488q@rpi.edu>, burtp@aix.rpi.edu (Philip Nason Burt) writes:
| Linux:
| FREE. lots of public domain stuff around. nice GUIs
| implemented. commercial software prices through the roof
| (Framemaker for Windows - $500, for UNIX - $5000!!!!), you
| need a degree in systems administration to run it properly.
That isn't quite true, but Linux is definitely harder to admin than
any other system I've used (any that goes back to V6) because it changes
a lot right now. If you grab a version and don't upgrade it is a nice
POSIX implementation, but if you are bothered by things like the memory
mapping changing between minor revisions, or the names and functions of
all the serial devices changing, either avoid Linux or get a version and
don't upgrade for a while.
You didn't mention commercial UNIX vendors, but there are a number,
and many people find these adequate for running applications, even if
you can't recompile the kernel three times a week. You can also get a
full function MS-DOS environment under UNIX, if you don't need windows.
I think everyone will tell you to skip DOS, Windows3 and OS/2, NT is
an unknown, but the beta version is pretty much functional, but lacking
software and a command line interface of any power.
You should decide what you want to do with your system, and when you
will upgrade. If you just want to run the apps you mentioned, get DOS,
ugly and limited but cheap. If you want a good platform and are able to
use the tools available freely go Linux (and don't upgrade). If you want
to be able to get commercial software and still run the free stuff,
think a budget commercial UNIX (Dell for $995 comes to mind, there are
others).
-- bill davidsen, GE Corp. R&D Center; Box 8; Schenectady NY 12345