From: dg AT dcs DOT st-and DOT ac DOT uk
Message-Id: <28908.9702020153@dufftown.dcs.st-andrews.ac.uk>
To: opendos AT mail DOT tacoma DOT net
Subject: Re: [opendos] OpenDOS + Win95 w/FAT32? 
In-Reply-To: ian@viemeister.com's message of Sat, 01 Feb 97 19:59:20 -0400.
	     <32F3D8D8 DOT 1606 AT viemeister DOT com> 
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 97 01:53:52 +0000
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[...]
>> Dunno whether it works as FAT32 is not here at the time. It will be released
>> with Windoze 96 (or whatever they call it) AFAIK.
>
>Actually, Win95 OEM Service Release 2 has FAT32 built in.
>(And no, it wouldn't work, at least not until someone adds FAT32
>support....)

If we're going to change operating system, can we at least change operating 
system to a *decent* one, like MinixFS or Ext2FS? FAT32 is another gross hack 
on top of VFAT which is a gross hack on top of FAT16 which is a gross hack on 
top of FAT12 which wasn't a decent file system when it was *developed*, let 
alone these days. It doesn't even have automatic defragmenting!

If we used ext2, then not only do we get a fast, reliable file system, we get 
long filenames, *real* user/group attributes, symbolic links, 
autodefragmenting, and a/m/c timestamps. This has to be a good thing.

FAT32 compatability is not an issue, considering that anyone who uses OpenDOS 
will not be using Win95. So why not go for the technically superior solution?

-- 
------------------- http://www-hons-cs.cs.st-and.ac.uk/~dg --------------------
   If you're up against someone more intelligent than you are, do something
    totally insane and let him think himself to death.  --- Pyanfar Chanur
---------------- Sun-Earther David Daton Given of Lochcarron ------------------