Message-Id: <199705120719.JAA20861@grendel.sylaba.poznan.pl>
Comments: Authenticated sender is <grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl>
From: "Mark Habersack" <grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl>
Organization: PPP (Pesticide Powered Pumpkins)
To: dfremlin AT facstaff DOT wisc DOT edu (John Fremlin)
Date: Mon, 12 May 1997 09:20:56 +0100
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Subject: Re: A few FS notions
Reply-to: grendel AT hoth DOT amu DOT edu DOT pl
CC: opendos AT delorie DOT com
In-reply-to: <YvQcz8ew4OeR092yn@facstaff.wisc.edu>
References: <199705060826 DOT KAA22458 AT grendel DOT sylaba DOT poznan DOT pl>
Precedence: bulk

Once upon a time (on 10 May 97 at 0:22) John Fremlin said:

> >> a "small" Linux version takes 15 MB.
> >Not true. Slackware 3.x has a *one floppy* version of Linux for you to try.
> 
> Where? Where? Gimme! Wonder of wonders! (Reading the Slackware FAQ
> it appears that one disk is only useful for "maintenance and
> installation", oh well).
There's a slaktest/ subdir in the Slackware dist. Sure, it's not a 
full-fledged systems with all the goodies, but you can get the feeling. Even 
if you install all A* disks, you can fit in 10 megs. And using UMSDOS you 
don't even have to create a new partition.

> > have to make it a modern operating system. And while maintaining a
> >*certain* level of compatibility (the highest possible, of course) we have
> >to sacrifice the features (or misfeatures) that are obstacles on our way.
> 
> Wonderful! I can't wait for a 32-bit DPMI (v1.0) OpenDOS version.
> 
> A modern OS? What are you talking about? DOS is IMHO hardly
> material for a modern OS.
Wrong. DOS *can* be made into a modern OS. It's just a matter of 
implementation of the new, advanced features, while maintaining a "safe 
compatibility" mode.

> I think OpenDOS should concentrate on a *customizable* OS - give
> people the a choice of many shells, filesystems etc. with
> networking capabilities.
Isn't that a modern OS? Add memory protection and multitasking/threading and 
there you go!
-----------
On promenades where drunks propose to lonely arcade mannequins,
where ceremonies pause at the jewellers shop display feigning
casual silence in strained romantic interludes till they
commit themselves to the muted journey home. And the pool player
rests on another cue. Last night's hero picking up his dues, a
honeymoon gambled on a richochet...