Message-ID: <32EDE79B.6DF9@eik.bme.hu>
Date: Tue, 28 Jan 1997 12:48:43 +0100
From: "DR. Andras Solyom" <solyom AT eik DOT bme DOT hu>
Reply-To: solyom AT eik DOT bme DOT hu
Organization: Technical University of Budapest
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: What's all the hype about OpenDOS
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>> That's just because the average end user doesn't know crap about UNIX.
>> Linux, AFAIK, is simply UNIX written specifically for the 386 processor.

>No kidding.  That's why it is not an end-user product.  And I think it 
>could be.  Other Unices work out of the box, why can't Linux do
>that?

If you are experienced with an operating system then you can solve the
problems that arises when you install anything on it. If you are a
newbie ...

First: I have never had any problem installing Linux, if it included the
correct drivers for my hardware. The same is true for other OSes. I have
installed DOS, Win2,-3, -95 many times without problem. BUT many people
asked me to help them install or manage DOS or Windoses, because they
could not do it. Why, some people around me does not even know how to
copy files from the hd to a floppy using Windows! (They mostly use
Winword or Excel.)

Second: If you have installed your OS, you can manage it even with
control panels, at leas in Windows and in Linux. (In Linux you can use
the RedHat distribution which has a Win95 like X window manager with
taskbar, start menu, control panel and the like, etc.) And the design of
Linux is much more clean that e.g. Win95. (Try to modify your internet
settings! You must look into the internet AND the network applet on the
control panel. Or modify the command strings for your modem if you want
to feel what I am talking about.)

The reason, IMHO, that we do not want to switch to Linux from DOS is
that we want our computer to be compatible with the majority of the
software (e.g. games )out there.

But I am a little bit sceptical about OpenDOS's future. It is too late
now for DOS. Like it or not the dominance of DOS was a result of
Microsoft's and IBM's software strategy. Now everyone (except us...)
wants to use some version of Windows.

					Andras